Ooty (Queen of Hill Stations)

Ooty (Queen of Hill Stations)

About:-

Udhagamandalam also Ootacamund and abbreviated as Udhagai and Ooty is a town and municipality in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located 80 km north of Coimbatore and is the capital of the Nilgiris district. It is a popular hill station located in the Nilgiri Hills.

Originally occupied by the Toda, the area came under the rule of the East India Company at the end of the 18th century. The economy is based on tourism and agriculture, along with the manufacture of medicines and photographic film. The town is connected by the Nilgiri ghat roads and Nilgiri Mountain Railway. Its natural beauty attracts tourists and it is a popular summer destination. As of 2011, the town had a population of 88,430.

History:-

Udhagamandalam was originally a tribal land occupied by the Toda along with other hill tribes who coexisted through specialisation and trade. The major tribes of Nilgiris area are the Toda, Kota, Badaga and Kurumba. The old Tamil work Silappadikaram states that the Chera king Senguttuvan, who ruled during the 2nd century CE, on his way to the Himalayas in the north, stayed in the Nilgiris and witnessed the dance of the Kannadigas.

The Toda in the Nilgiris are first referenced in a record belonging to Hoysala king Vishnuvardhana and his general Punisa, dated 1117 CE. The Toda people were known for raising water buffalo and the Badaga people for farming activities. Nilgiris was ruled by various dynasties like Satavahanas, Cheras, Gangas, Kadambas, Rashtrakutas, 

Cholas, Hoysalas, the Vijayanagara empire and the Rajas of Ummattur (on behalf of Wodeyars of Mysuru). Tipu Sultan captured Nilgiris in the eighteenth century and extended the border by constructing a hideout cave like structure. The Nilgiris came into possession of British East India Company as part of the ceded lands, held by Tipu Sultan, by the treaty of Srirangapatnam in 1799.

Attractions:- 

Botanical Gardens:-

Laid out in 1848, the government Botanical Gardens is located at the slopes of the Doddabetta peak. The terraced garden is maintained by the Tamil nadu horticultural society and covers an area of 22 hectares. The best time to visit the place is anytime except the monsoons. Now this place will be the first thing the people would mention when you visit ooty, and well, in my opinion it is pretty awesome. Now be prepared for a long walk when you visit this place, I would advise you not to get any kids or people who can’t walk for long. The place is amazing for photographers and casual visitors alike get a supply of food and drinks or you can also buy some snacks at the gardens. I visited this place because of my photographer friends and was totally amazed due to the amount of greens and flowers around me under an amazingly cool weather.

Tea Factory:-

Small and nice, tea factory that is frequented by tourists who visit ooty, although not much to do here, but it was quiet a new experience to me when I visited the place. You can smell the aroma of the fresh tea leaves as soon as you near the place. I love how machines process the fresh tea leaves and package it. There’s also a shop where you can buy the tea processed at the factory. They also provided tea prepared from the freshly processed leaves and it tastes amazingly fragrant. This is a good place to show to the kids as well and I’m sure they’d be delighted.

Doddabetta Peak:-

A visit to Doddabetta Peak was the reason I went to Ooty in the first place. I had heard a lot about the picturesque Nilgiris and the amazing views this place has to offer. The place stands at a height of around 8,650 feet and makes it the highest peaks in south India. This place offers amazing trek spots and plenty of quiet and picturesque locations to solitary wanderers like me. You might want to pack some really good pair of binoculars when you reach this place to enjoy it to the fullest. There is a small eatery placed here courtesy of the tourism department of Tamil nadu that offers some okay tasting food at a cheap price.

Hyderabadi Biriyani House:-

I was pretty hungry and was looking for a place where I could get a good amount of food for a moderate price. While there are a couple of cafes in ooty which offer some good snacks but I was looking for something more solid. I reached the place, and I could smell the fragrant flavors of the Biriyani. Some people might need to mention beforehand for the amount of spice they want though. The portion they served was nice and did quiet a great job at sating the munchies out of me. I have always been a Mughalai food enthusiast and this place I must say did a fine job at delivering the taste. Don’t keep your expectations too high and I’m sure you’ll come back with a full tummy and no sweat. The place is located at Mysore Road, Hill Bunk.

Avalanche Lake:-

The reason I came to ooty was to actually visit the aforementioned Doddabetta peak but wasn’t quite satisfied with amount of indulgence I was seeking with the nature. Although It was suggested by a local there and wasn’t on my itinerary, this place made me love my visit to ooty. Located in the heart of the Nilgiris 28 kilometers from ooty, Avalanche lake is certainly a wanderer’s haven. The surrounding landscape is simply mesmerizing. You can camp beside the lake in tents and enjoy trout fishing. There’s also a hatchery located nearby where you can get the fishing rod and other fishing equipment at. It’s an amazing trek location that made me stay here for 2 days at this place. The place derives its name from a landslide that occurred sometime in the early 1800’s.

Government Rose Gardens:-

The Largest rose gardens in India, the Government Rose Gardens lie on the slopes of the Elk Hill at an elevation of 2200 meters above sea level. It also has one of the largest collections of roses with more than 20,000 different varieties.

Pykara River:-

Known as a sacred place for the Toda people, Pykara River flows through the plateau and form several cascades and waterfalls. The Pykara falls are one of the most popular tourist attractions in Ooty and are famous for the shola trees, Toda settlements and wildlife.

Ooty Mountain Railway:-

Declared as a UNESCO world heritage site, the railways were built by the British in 1908. The trains are still powered using the traditional steam engines.

Ooty Lake:-

Covering an area of around 65 acres, the Ooty Lake is a manmade lake formed in 1824 under the British. It features a boathouse which offers boating facilities to the visitors and is famous for hosting boat races during the summer month of May.

Mudumalai National Park:-

Also known as a famous Tiger Reserve, the Mudumalai National Park is a home to several wildlife and bird species. The Bengal Tiger, Leopards, Indian Bison, Asiatic Elephants and several other rare species of birds and animals can be found here.

Emerald Lake:-

Although the lake is off limits for the visitors, the emerald lake is located in midst of a reserve forest. The lake can be viewed via a viewpoint on the dam located nearby.

St. Stephens Church:-

Built in the early 19th century, St. Stephens Church is one of the oldest churches in the Nilgiris District in Tamil Nadu. The foundation of the church was laid in 1829 and shares the date with the birthday of King George IV.

More Attractions:-

• Stone House
• Toda Huts
• Wax World
• Tribal Museum
• Deer Park
• Mariamman Temple

Hotels In Ooty:-

• Accord Highland Hotel Ooty
• Woodberry Residency
• Accord Highland Hotel Ooty
• Meadows Residency - Ooty
• Taj Savoy Hotel, Ooty
• Ooty - Elk Hill, A Sterling Holidays Resort
• Gem Park-Ooty
• Fortune Hotel Sullivan Court

Transport:-

Road:-

Ooty is well connected roads. It is 535 km (332 mi) from Chennai (via Salem, Erode, and Coimbatore), 80 km (50 mi) from Coimbatore and 155 km (96 mi) from Mysore. Ooty is situated on NH 67 and is connected by road via the five main accepted Nilgiri Ghat Roads. Bus services operated by TNSTC connect major towns in the state and nearby towns in the district such as Coonoor, Kotagiri, and Gudalur.

Rail:-

Udhagamandalam railway station is connected with Mettupalayam by NMR metre gauge service.

The Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR) is one of the oldest mountain railways in India and was declared by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in July 2005. It is the only rack railway in India.

Air:-

The nearest airport is Coimbatore, around 96 km (60 mi) away. Ooty has three helipads, one at Theettukal and two at Kodanad. The Theettukal helipad was approved by Airports Authority of India for defence and VIP services. Pawan Hans was supposed to start its service with Bell 407, but being present amidst farmland, dislocation of the farm animals there has put the operations on hold for commercial activities.