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Ooty (a.k.a. Udhagamandalam)
Ooty offers the urban tired souls a chance to resume their affair with Nature, to whom they truly belong.
The heavenly hill resort like a blushing bride peeks from behind lofty Nilgiri hills. The unassuming beauty of this heavenly hill resort beckons you to come and and embrace the tranquility and solace that Ooty has to offer.
The Hill resort of Ooty in Tamil Nadu, India, is located in the midst of four high hills; Doddabetta, Snowdon, Elk hill and Club Hill. These hills belong to the Nilgiri range or the 'blue mountains.' A British Collector by the name of John Sullivan discovered the hill station of Ooty and developed it as a summer resort, realizing its potential. The original name of Ooty was 'Udhagamandalam, but it was shortened to 'Ooty' after the arrival of British, which might have had something to do with the difficulty one feels at pronouncing such a difficult name! Apparently the British Collector was right about Ooty and now it is one of the most popular hill stations in India, particularly of South India.
The Hill resort of Ooty in Tamil Nadu, India, is located in the midst of four high hills; Doddabetta, Snowdon, Elk hill and Club Hill. These hills belong to the Nilgiri range or the 'blue mountains.' A British Collector by the name of John Sullivan discovered the hill station of Ooty and developed it as a summer resort, realizing its potential. The original name of Ooty was 'Udhagamandalam, but it was shortened to 'Ooty' after the arrival of British, which might have had something to do with the difficulty one feels at pronouncing such a difficult name! Apparently the British Collector was right about Ooty and now it is one of the most popular hill stations in India, particularly of South India.
| State | : | Tamil Nadu |
| Location | : | The Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu |
| District Area | : | 30.67 sq km |
| Altitude | : | 2286 m |
| Population | : | approx. 93,921 |
| Literacy | : | 80% |
| STD Code | : | 0423 |
| Best time to visit | : | February to May, September to November |
| Temperature | : | Summer: Max. 24.3°C, Min. 10°C Winter: Max. 21°C, Min. 5°C |
| Climate | : | Pleasant summers and cold winters |
| Rainfall | : | 991 mm |
| Clothing | : | Summers: Light Woolen Winters: Heavy Woolen |
| Local Languages | : | Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi and English |
Udhagamandalam or Ooty is the headquarters of the Nilgiri district and is popularly known as the 'Queen of Hill Stations'. This hot tourist spot is laden with beautiful sites to savor. Some of the chief attractions are as below:
Botanical Garden
A gamut of regionally exclusive and ornamental plants find place in this garden. The Botanical garden is also the venue for the Flower Show held in May every year. It also houses a fossil tree trunk 20 million years old.
St. Stephen's Church
The St. Stephen's Church, located on the Mysore road, near the Collectorate, is one of the oldest churches in the Nilgiris. Built in 1829, the church has a fine pew with a raised chancel. There are stained-glass paintings on the Eastern side as well as behind the chancel. The glass paintings portray Mary holding baby Jesus in her arms and the crucifixion of Christ among others. On the Western wall, above the paneled doorways, is a large life-like painting of the Last Supper.
Government Museum
Plan your tour to the Government Museum on Mysore road. Be a witness to a host of tribal artifacts, district's ecological details and representative sculptural arts and crafts of Tamilnadu.
Ooty Lake
You can opt for a joy boat ride on this artificial lake. The lake garden has toy trains for complete recreation. Constructed in 1824 by Major John Sullivan, the then the Collector of Coimbatore, the lake is a hot picnic spot among the tourists.
Ketty Valley View
Located on the road to Coonoor, this idyllic spot is a cluster of tiny Villages that extend to the plains of Coimbatore and Mysore plateau.
Glenmorgan
About 25 km from Ooty is the picturesque Glenmorgan, which is famous for its tea estate. A captivating lake at the foot of this estate constitutes the fore bay for the Pykra powerhouse that is above 3 km down the hills at Singara. Glenmorgan and Singara are a tourist delight. There are about ten Todas (tribal) settlement in the vicinity.
Upper Bhavani
10 Km from Korakundah and about 20 Km from Avalanchi, Upper Bhavani has some of the best sholas like the Thar Shola enroute. The area is a rich and undisturbed wildlife habitat. You can enjoy trekking from Bangithappal via Sispara to Silent Valley.
Doddabetta
Lying at the junction of Western & Eastern Ghats, Doddabetta is the highest peak (2623 meters) in the Nilgiri's, about 10 km from Ooty. You can view the cosmos and surrounding through a telescope house run by TTDC.
You can also enjoy a myriad of tourists' hunts, which include, Kalhatty Water Falls, Wenlock Downs, Elk Hills and Snowden Peak and relish your visit to this enticingly beautiful region of Ooty.
Botanical Garden
A gamut of regionally exclusive and ornamental plants find place in this garden. The Botanical garden is also the venue for the Flower Show held in May every year. It also houses a fossil tree trunk 20 million years old.
St. Stephen's Church
The St. Stephen's Church, located on the Mysore road, near the Collectorate, is one of the oldest churches in the Nilgiris. Built in 1829, the church has a fine pew with a raised chancel. There are stained-glass paintings on the Eastern side as well as behind the chancel. The glass paintings portray Mary holding baby Jesus in her arms and the crucifixion of Christ among others. On the Western wall, above the paneled doorways, is a large life-like painting of the Last Supper.
Government Museum
Plan your tour to the Government Museum on Mysore road. Be a witness to a host of tribal artifacts, district's ecological details and representative sculptural arts and crafts of Tamilnadu.
Ooty Lake
You can opt for a joy boat ride on this artificial lake. The lake garden has toy trains for complete recreation. Constructed in 1824 by Major John Sullivan, the then the Collector of Coimbatore, the lake is a hot picnic spot among the tourists.
Ketty Valley View
Located on the road to Coonoor, this idyllic spot is a cluster of tiny Villages that extend to the plains of Coimbatore and Mysore plateau.
Glenmorgan
About 25 km from Ooty is the picturesque Glenmorgan, which is famous for its tea estate. A captivating lake at the foot of this estate constitutes the fore bay for the Pykra powerhouse that is above 3 km down the hills at Singara. Glenmorgan and Singara are a tourist delight. There are about ten Todas (tribal) settlement in the vicinity.
Upper Bhavani
10 Km from Korakundah and about 20 Km from Avalanchi, Upper Bhavani has some of the best sholas like the Thar Shola enroute. The area is a rich and undisturbed wildlife habitat. You can enjoy trekking from Bangithappal via Sispara to Silent Valley.
Doddabetta
Lying at the junction of Western & Eastern Ghats, Doddabetta is the highest peak (2623 meters) in the Nilgiri's, about 10 km from Ooty. You can view the cosmos and surrounding through a telescope house run by TTDC.
You can also enjoy a myriad of tourists' hunts, which include, Kalhatty Water Falls, Wenlock Downs, Elk Hills and Snowden Peak and relish your visit to this enticingly beautiful region of Ooty.
Ooty is a destination that can be visited all through the year. Summers are pleasant, winters are cool, and monsoons are beautiful.
Summers during March to May have an average temperature in the range 15°C to 20°C. Summers maximum temperature never crosses 25°C.
Winters during November to January are very pleasant and cool with minimum touching below 4°C and maximum ranges about 15°C.
Monsoons offer good rainfall during June to September. February-March is spring and October-November is autumn.
Summers during March to May have an average temperature in the range 15°C to 20°C. Summers maximum temperature never crosses 25°C.
Winters during November to January are very pleasant and cool with minimum touching below 4°C and maximum ranges about 15°C.
Monsoons offer good rainfall during June to September. February-March is spring and October-November is autumn.
By Air
Coimbatore airport is the nearest airport to Ooty. It is 105 km away from Ooty. A number of private airlines give their services to Coimbatore. Coimbatore is well connected with many south Indian cities by air including Chennai, Bangalore, Madurai and Hyderabad. Pre-paid Taxi fare from Coimbatore to Ooty is about Rs 2500.
By Railways
Mettupalayam, which is 47 km away from Ooty, is the nearest major railway station. There are regular train services from Coimbatore and Chennai to Mettupalayam. Mettupalayam and Conoor are connected to Ooty with toy trains .Taxis are available from Mettupalayam to Ooty and fare is about Rs 1000.
By Road
Ooty is well connected with all most all south Indian cities by bus. There are regular bus services from Mysore, Bangalore, Madurai, and Kanyakumari and also from many cities in Kerala. State owned and private vehicles ply on this route. Many tourist services providers offer package trips to Ooty from many south Indian cities. These will charge about Rs 4 per km.
Coimbatore airport is the nearest airport to Ooty. It is 105 km away from Ooty. A number of private airlines give their services to Coimbatore. Coimbatore is well connected with many south Indian cities by air including Chennai, Bangalore, Madurai and Hyderabad. Pre-paid Taxi fare from Coimbatore to Ooty is about Rs 2500.
By Railways
Mettupalayam, which is 47 km away from Ooty, is the nearest major railway station. There are regular train services from Coimbatore and Chennai to Mettupalayam. Mettupalayam and Conoor are connected to Ooty with toy trains .Taxis are available from Mettupalayam to Ooty and fare is about Rs 1000.
By Road
Ooty is well connected with all most all south Indian cities by bus. There are regular bus services from Mysore, Bangalore, Madurai, and Kanyakumari and also from many cities in Kerala. State owned and private vehicles ply on this route. Many tourist services providers offer package trips to Ooty from many south Indian cities. These will charge about Rs 4 per km.
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