Ooty also known as the "Queen of hill stations" is
part of Nilgiri mountains (Blue mountains) in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It
is one of the most popular tourist resorts in India.
The trip to Ooty from Bangalore in May 2011 was one of the
memorable trips. The distance from Bangalore – Mysore – Bandipur – Ooty route is
about 280 Kms and the route is overall good except for the road between Gundlupet
and Bandipur . The ride through the Bandipur
& Madumalai forest is
interesting as you come across monkeys and wild buffalo. After Madumalai , you
start enjoying the journey even more as you drive through the hairpin bends on the
mountains to reach Ooty. You may be
tempted to take a break to enjoy the beauty of Nilgiri Mountains tea estates.
You can reach from the nearest airport / railway station at Coimbatore which
is 80 Kms from Ooty.
If you really want to enjoy the scenic beauty of nature in
peace, you should explore places nearby
Ooty as the town is a commercialised with lot of crowd.
Attractions:
Tea Estates: One of the main attractions of Ooty are the
beautiful tea estates spread across the mountains. You can also visit the tea
factory in Ooty to see how tea is made.
Toy Train Ride: If you want to experience your childhood
days of travelling in train, you must not miss the toy train ride between Ooty and
Mettupalyam which passes through many enchanting curves and tunnels along the lush green countryside.
Botanical Gardens: Visit to botanical garden is a visual
treat. It is spread across 50 acres with wide-ranging varieties of plants and
flowers and is one of the most famous gardens in India and is very well
maintained.
Government Rose Garden: It is the largest rose garden in
India and largest collection of roses. It is worth a visit.
Doddabetta Peak: Located about 10 km from Ooty, it is the
highest peak in the Nilgiris mountains.
Pykara Lake: Located between the green valleys of Ooty is
the Pykara lake where one can spend peaceful time away from the crowd. Compared
to Ooty lake this lake is less crowded and clean.
Emerald Lake: Another beautiful lake located in silent
valley is another place where one can enjoy the nature at peace. You may come
across some monkeys here.
Ooty Lake : If you are comfortable in crowds, you can explore
this place. You can also enjoy boating in the lake. This place is a children’s
delight with lot of joyrides available.