Ootacamund, Ooty in Tamil Nadu, is a charming hill town set against Doddabetta (2,637 m), the tallest peak in the Nilgiris. It is flanked with traditional and colonial-style houses, creating the ideal marriage of the modern and the old. One of the most alluring tourist locations in South India is this gem of the Nilgiris (Blue Mountains), which is made up of clear blue skies, lush green hills, deep verdant valleys, and pleasant weather. Ootacamund is the ideal destination for those who love the outdoors. It is dotted with coffee and tea plantations, eucalyptus, fir, and pine forests, as well as a dense canopy of shola trees. Because of its famed beauty, it is also known as the “Switzerland of India” and the “Queen of Hill Stations.”
In the Tamil Nadu state of southern India, a resort town called Ooty (short for Udhagamandalam) is located in the Western Ghats mountains. It was built as a British Raj summer resort and still has a functional steam railway line. St. Stephen’s Church, built around 1829, and Stone House, a 19th-century house, are two other examples of the area’s colonial past. The Government Botanical Garden, which spans 55 acres, is situated beneath Doddabetta Peak.
Top Attractions in Ooty
1.Government Rose Garden
The Rose Garden, which is the pride of Ooty, is one of 35 exclusive rose gardens in the world that has won the World Federation of Rose Societies’ Garden of Excellence Award for South Asia. The Rose Garden, which has more than 20,000 different species of roses, is one of the most exquisite and meticulously kept gardens in the nation, if not the entire globe. Ooty’s environment is perfect for allowing plants to have a lengthy blooming season.
2. Ooty Lake
Ooty Lake is an artificial lake with beautiful natural surroundings, surrounded by eucalyptus trees and greenery along the shores. It is among the most stunning locations in Ooty.
The lake at Ooty, which was initially built for fishing, is now primarily a popular tourist destination. It only takes a quiet morning with your sweetheart by your side and the lake in front of you, or an evening spent cycling around the lake (bikes are available for hire).
3.Ketti Valley
The Ketti Valley, commonly referred to as the Switzerland of South India, is a well-kept secret tucked away on the Ooty-Coonoor highway. This well-known destination, the second-largest inhabited valley in all of India, offers breathtaking views of the blue Himalayan slopes and the area around it.
The Ketti Valley, has a fantastic setting with a fantastic perspective where you can re-discover the inner serenity in yourself. The valley has become a well-known viewing area for everyone who wants to take in nature at its finest because of its thriving fauna, cascading waterfalls, and lush foliage. It is the perfect location for a family picnic and a photographer’s heaven.
4.Dodabetta Peak
The iconic town of Ooty, which is tucked away in the Blue Mountains, draws lots of tourists who come to admire its picture-perfect beauty. Given that the rare Kurinji blue flowers only bloom once every 12 years, the Nilgiris are more commonly known as the Blue Mountains.
Magnificent Places Near Ooty
How To Get There
By Air
Coimbatore International Airport, which is about a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Ooty, is the closest international airport. A variety of cities, including Delhi, Kozhikode, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, and Hyderabad are well connected to Coimbatore Airport.
By Rail
Mettupalyam, located 40 kilometres from Ooty, is the closest railhead. Trains run between Chennai, Coimbatore, Mysore, and Bangalore and Mettupalyam.
By Bus
This lovely city is connected to the rest of the nation by rickety buses. You can therefore employ these buses’ services to effortlessly get to your desired locations. Make sure to check the popular boarding and dropping off points when making an online bus reservation.