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Hill station in Tamil Nadu, India
Photo: Prof. Mohamed Shareef from Mysore, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Ooty, short for Ootacamund and officially Udhagamandalam (Tamil: உதகமண்டலம் Udagamaṇḍalam), is a popular hill resort in the state of Tamil Nadu in Southern India. The name Udhagamandalam is derived from the Toda word "othakal-mund" which means "house in mountains". Ooty stands at 2,240 m (7,347 feet) above sea level in the Nilgiri Mountains. Here you can escape the heat of the region around: The weather is quite pleasant at a mean of 20-25°C during the day around the year. Ooty is one of the first places in India to get rid of plastic carry bags, so if you are heading there, remember to carry your own reusable bags, not plastic.
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This place has grown as a famous temple of Lord Muruga, and is known as 7th Hill house of the lord. The view from the temple is great. There is an observatory at the top of hill for the public to enjoy the magnificent panoramic view.
The peak of Dodabetta (literally meaning the big mountain) stands at an altitude of 2,623 m. It is the highest peak in Nilgiri and the second highest peak of South India. About 8 km from Ooty the peak provides panoramic view of the surrounding area. On a clear day the views can extend to the plains of Coimbatore and the flat highlands of Mysore. There are boards highlighting the area viewed. The peak houses a tower-like structure known as the telescope house. This elevated circular structure provides a great view of the surroundings. The place houses several eateries and makeshift shops. The area is a wildlife zone and the peak can only be reached by car and auto, as trekking is prohibited.
Some call it the "Lamb's Rock", as it naturally took the shape of a lamb. Go through a very small forest and then you can see the rock.
Be sure to visit this palace-turned-hotel of the Mysore Maharaja. Extremely beautiful place and quite affordable tea-snacks and slightly expensive buffet dinner. The palace and its estate are beautiful and are open to guests. The locals often will call it Mysore Palace to avoid confusion with the Fern Hill Hotel.
If you are on a sightseeing tour to Ooty, you might want to visit the Government Botanical gardens, which were laid out in 1847. The picturesque gardens that are maintained by the Horticulture department of the state, cover an area of about 22 ha. The gardens have well over 650 species of plants and trees, including a fossil of a tree, which is believed to be more than 20 million years old. The garden is very popular with nature lovers and those who long to walk among greenery and see rare ferns and shrubs up close. If you are in Ooty in the month of May, then you can also be a part of the summer festival, which is held here annually. The festival holds flower shows and various cultural programs showcasing the talent of the locals and the renowned artists.
Todas were the original inhabitants of Ooty region. They are one of the tribes of the Nilgiri region. The Toda temple consists of an inverted U-shaped structure made of Bamboo. The temple strands at the centre of a circular enclosure, located below ground level. A small, low gateway leads to the interiors of the temple. One has to crawl through the gateway to access the interiors of the temple. However, outsiders are not allowed inside the temple. The entrance is marked with several motifs representing the sun, moon, stars and buffaloes. Buffaloes are an integral part of Toda culture. A group of buffaloes can be seen roaming near the temple complex. The Toda dress consists of a shawl with bright red and black stripes. Several festivities are held at the Toda temple complex. Ask the locals for the festivity details.
It is an amazing and very large area garden. There are 27,000 rose plant of 400 varieties. It is the largest collection of roses in India. It is a beautifully landscaped garden spread across several terraces. A paved pathways meanders through the garden. Decorative fountains are also part of the garden. The garden offers a great view of the town of Ooty. A shop sells rose seeds. The roses blooms from late April to early June, so going there off-season is not very interesting.
It's a natural beauty. After the end of the forest a lake is there. Be careful while walking as the path has slope. Down the slope lies the waters of Kamaraj-sagar Dam.
One very nice place is that. Don't miss it. The view is very pleasant.
Several tree gardens and factories are there. On the way you will get lots of them. They will approach you with free tea taste and offer some tea packets to buy. But be cautious if you don't have much knowledge about tea, better not to buy from them as the packet tea has not the same taste as they gave you to taste. The spices' quality is not so good.
Wax Museum
It is a private investment not supported by the government. Don't expect much like other foreign wax museums which are helped by tourism authorities for advertisements and promotions. But for sight seeing its good. More attractive is the very old house, where the museum is set up. Candles are available. But it is suffering from a lack of funds for expansion so they request tourists to visit and to get financial help from them, which is the only form of support.
Built in 1886 in honour of the Governor of Ooty. The cost of the construction was raised through public funding. Today the ornate fountain is an important landmark of the hill station.
Stone House or Connemara Cottage or Kal Bungalow
The museum is housed in the bungalow of John Sullivan, the then collector of Coimbatore. Built in 1823 it happens to be the first stone house of Ooty. The museum came up in 1989 to conserve and promote the cultural legacy of the Nilgiri district. The museum houses several galleries consisting of the flora & fauna and the tribals of Nilgiri. There are galleries covering diverse topics like archaeology and numismatics.
Located atop a hilltop the St. Stephen's Church is the oldest Church in Ooty and one of the oldest churches of Nilgiri District. The foundation stone of the church was laid in 23 April 1829, to coincide with the birthday of King George IV. It was opened on Easter Sunday, 3 April 1831. The church is complete with a clock tower and the entrance is through a porch on the southern side. The interiors are spectacular with stained glass on the alter and the side walls. The walls also houses several memorial plaques. The church compound houses a graveyard behind the church. It is an active graveyard but there are several old graves. The entrance to the church compound is through a twin metal arched gateways from the south. Three pillars support the two decorative metal arches. At the foot of the central pillar stands the zero stone and mile stone of Ooty. It is from this very point the distance of Ooty are measured.
Initially it served as a school on weekdays and church on Sundays for the local Christians. In 1858 it started functioning as a full fledged Church. The present structure has gone through several renovation. The interior is free of ornamentation.
The twin-towered massive cathedral dominates the skyline of Ooty. The Church dates back to 1897. Since, 1955 the church is serving a Cathedral for the Catholics of Ooty. In 1987 during repairs, a large section of the church roof collapsed. This led to major renovation. The new church was opened to the public on 7 July 1989. Today a long flight of stairs lead to the cathedral. The interiors are beautifully laid with large glass painted windows. There are several statues, including the 14 stations of the cross.
Paddle and speed boat rides in the lake. There are various rides like pirate ship, flying saucer, toy train, etc. There are other activities like haunted houses. Number of eateries serving a wide range of food. A place to hang out with family and kids.
It's popular here. In one hour you can go around the lake or longer rides you can visit countryside around Ooty. Some knowledge of horses would be good as the guides are local men who don't speak too much English, teaching is minimal. On top of the price you have to pay for guide.
Traditional South Indian restaurant.
Delicious meat and fish dishes of Calicut taste.
C-Store
Serves vegetarian delicacies, including maggi.
Best non-veg hotel in Ooty. Serving biriyani and other dishes for more than a decade.
lower bazaar, near bus stand, ooty
34 rooms facing the lake, restaurant, room service, 24 hrs hot & cold water, in-house laundry, carpeted rooms, cable TV, parking, camp fire, doctor on call, travel desk, group accommodation available for small and large groups.
Very central hotel near horse race track with good economical restaurant on basement. Hotel and restaurant are under Jain management. The rooms start from ₹1200
Great view of Ooty and surrounding hills. 5 minutes drive to go to the town market and restaurants. The hotel has its own restaurant and a bar.
A short walk along the main road - turn right coming out of the train station, or left coming out of the bus stop (which is opposite the train station). It is tidy and with good views of the lake and hills. ₹550/night for upstairs room (Sep 2010). Location is very good - short walk to train station and bus stop, short walk to boat house, Thread Gardens and other tourist attractions. The food in the restaurant is good value for its price and nicely cooked. The owners are helpful and professional, and the common spaces make it a very friendly place to stay.
Three-star property with 70 rooms. Includes a restaurant, room service, in-house laundry, and travel desk, and car parking is available inside the hotel premises.
A colonial villa several kilometers away from the town with breathtaking views of the surrounding hills and warm and friendly service. Rooms have cozy fireplaces. The restaurant alone is worth a visit serving outstanding continental food and also murgh boti masala and mint paranthas. Several short walking trails start nearby. A trip to Ooty is worth it just for a stay at this hotel.
5-star luxury hotel. Most famous hotel, best rooms, part of ITC Hotels India.
Mr. Sadiq Basha runs this lodge in a cute period building of 1912.
Treebo Whispering Meadows, a heritage property off Gymkhana Golf Link Road.
Cottages, Resorts and Tents, attached washrooms, party space, Room services, Food service, car parking, In house laundry and Hot running water. These homestays in Ooty are just 3 to 4 km away from Ooty bus stop and railway station. Starts from 1550 to 6500 per person per night.
Resort from the British colonial period
It is an extension of the Keystone Foundation that has been working in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve over the last 15 years (since 1995) with indigenous communities on eco-development initiatives. and makes available their handicrafts and products like bee honey, bee wax and other hand-crafted artifacts. They also stock excellent gourmet cheeses like Gouda, Colby, Monterey Jack, Cheddar, Haloumi and Herb Cream Cheeses made by Acres Wild Cheesemaking Farmstay in Coonoor. They also have a bee museum that is certainly worth a visit as they show documentaries on wild bees and honey collection.
Ooty is famous for its chocolates, and the best place to have them is at King's Star. They have around 4 outlets in Ooty and are the first chocolate makers in Ooty. (The shops are run by the 3rd generation of the family.
By train
By bus
By car
The Nilgiris are in Tamil Nadu, but near the borders Karnataka and Kerala.
Taxis, tourist cabs, auto rickshaws are available in plenty. There are no standard rates except for tourist cabs. Rickshaws charge a minimum of ₹30. Town buses are available to all important places.
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