Ooty, the queen of hill stations in India.
Udhagamandalam, this Queen of hill stations, otherwise known as Ooty, is in the Nilgiri mountain ranges of Tamil Nadu which is the southern most part of India. The best thing about Ooty is that it combines the peace and tranquility of a hill station with the comforts of urban life. Ooty’s colonial legacy extends to very nook & corner, and nowhere is it more apparent than in the Ooty club that is beyond compare.
Ooty is known for its salubrious climate and scenic beauty. The weather is quite pleasant at a mean of 15 to 20 °C (59 to 68 °F) year round, dropping to lows of 0 °C (32 °F) during winter. The landscape is quite unlike the rest of India, marked by rolling hills and plateaus covered with dense vegetation, tea gardens, and eucalyptus trees. Many portions of the hills are preserved as natural reserve forests, and special permits are needed to camp outside of campgrounds. Ooty is more of a focal point of attraction for tourists.
» Botanical Garden - Botanical gardens are a major tourist attraction for those who visit Ooty, one of the most popular hill stations of India. They sprawl over 50-acres and lie on the lower slopes of Dodabetta peak, which is the highest point in Ooty.
» Kandal Cross Shrine - Kandal cross, a Roman Catholic Shrine considered, as the Jerusalem of the East is located in Udhagamandalam in Tamil Nadu. The Nilgiri Catholics consider it as the "Calvary of Tamil Nadu".» Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary - 67 Km from Ooty enroute to Mysore, this Sanctuary lies at an elevation of 1140 mts. Extending over an area of about 320 sq.km it is located at the trijunction of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. A variety of habitats ranging from tropical ever green forest, moist teak forest, secondary grass lands and swamps are found. Mudumalai has one of the largest populations of elephants in India.
» Mini Garden and Rose Garden - The Rose Garden is situated about 3 to 4-km away from Charring Cross. Mini garden is also situated on the way to the boathouse where the children amusement park is housed.
» Ooty Lake - The beautiful Ooty Lake is a favorite haunt of tourists. It was constructed in the year 1825, through the initiatives of Mr. John Sullivan, the then Collector of Coimbatore. This lake was built in order to provide an irrigation tank to the people.
Getting There : By Air - The nearest airport is at Coimbatore (100 km away) which is well connected by air from Bangalore, Chennai and Mumbai. The other gateway for Ooty, is Bangalore, 280 kms away.By Rail - Ooty is connected by a narrow gauge railway service from Mettupalayam which serves as the railhead for mainline trains. From Mettupalayam, the Hill Train takes you upto Ooty, affording the traveller superb views. The Nilgiri Express connects the railhead with Chennai daily.
By Road - Ooty can be reached conveniently via Bangalore (280 kms), Coimbatore (100 kms) and Mysore (170 kms).
Shopping Go for some antique Toda jewellery sold in the main bazaar and also at the Savoy Hotel. Ooty also has lovely embroidered Toda shawls, a variety of teas (eucalyptus, geranium, lemon grass, camphor) and Nilgiri honey. Maps and guidebooks can be purchased at the Higginbothams bookshop. Also try out the cheddar, Wenleydale cheese and Planter's Special cigars made of Indian tobacco, at Spencer's Store.
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Labels: Hill Station, Southern India
posted by Rishil Babu @ 11:48 PM,
