Ooty - Queen of Hill Stations

Introduction:
Ooty is one of the most popular hill of south. Ooty  Situated at an altitude of 2,268 m in the Nilgiri mountain ranges of Tamilnadu. The  grate southern dynasties and it took the British to discover it in the early 1800s. It is a land of picturesque picnic spots.  Ooty is the headquarters of the Nilgiri district. Nature has been generous with this region, which is by far the most beautiful in the state. Apart from coffee and tea plantations, trees like conifers, eucalyptus, pine and wattle dot the hillside in Ooty and its environs. Summer temperature is rarely higher than 25°c with a minimum of 10°c and winter is are distinctly cooler with a high of 21°c and a low 5°c. They were, however, not the first inhabitants of this land as a tribe called Todas had been living there long before the British came. An added attraction for the tourists to Ooty is the mountain train journey on a ratchet and pinion track which commences from Kallar. Its way through many fearful tunnels, hair-raising curves  and chugs along beside deep ravines full of verdant vegetation, gurgling streams and tea gardens.

Places To Visit

Government Botanical Garden:  The botanical garden is a must visit place if you are at Ooty. This garden was laid out earlier by Marquis of Tweedale, the then governor of Madras in 1847.  The average rain fall here is 140 cm. Maximum temperature goes upto 28 degree centigrade. Minimum temperature falls upto 0 degree centigrade in winter.  The flora of the garden consist of six section comprising varieties of tree, grass carpet, multi coloured flowering plants, house ferns and orchids and nurseries. This garden will create tourist's mind a memorable one.

Lake: one of the most popular picnic spot an important tourist attraction in Ooty. A picturesque garden surrounds the lake. The lake offers boating in different kinds of boat. There is a children park with a toy train. Mini Garden and Deer Park are some other features at this site.

 Doddabetta:   It is the highest peak in the Nilgiris. Its just 10 Kms away from Ooty.  It is surrounded by dense sholas. One can have a panoramic view of the landscape. It lies at the junction of the Western & Eastern Ghats and offer beautiful vistas of the Nilgiri Hill ranges.
The Mukkurthi Peak & National Park:    The Mukkurthi National Park is located on the Southern corner of the Nilgiris Plateau. This Peak is just 40 Kms. away form Ooty. . The Kollaribetta and Nilgiris Peak are other major peaks around. The area contains a viable population of Nilgiri Thar (Hamitragus hilocrius). A fascinating feature of the Mukkurthi Sanctuary is its endemism and relationship with Himalayan Flora and fauna.

How to Reach Ooty:

By Air: The nearest airport is Coimbatore to reach Ooty.

By Rail: Ooty has a railway station of its own which is connected by meter gauge tracks to Mettupalayam, which is turn connected to Coimbatore and Chennai.