Ooty or Udhagamandalam is a well known hill station situated at a height of 7,350 ft above sea level in the Nilgiri hills of Tamil Nadu state, India. The summer season from March to May is the peak tourist rush period but the best time to visit Ooty is from December to February. The place is connected by rail, road and the nearest airport at Coimbatore is about 80 kilometers from Ooty. The most important experience in the place is the uniform pleasant weather in the day time and a little cold atmosphere in the night. Since many of the sightseeing attractions are located at different places, it is better to visit Ooty with own or hired vehicles.

Ooty In and Around:

There is a narrow mountain railway line connecting Udhagamandalam (Ooty) and Mettupalayam, a small town about 15 kilometers from Coimbatore. It is a small train or a Toy Train with an average speed of 15 km per hour and the travel is a fun ride since majority of the passengers would be tourists from India and abroad. The mountain journey passes through different terrains comprising tea plantations, tunnels, bridges and forests. Advance booking can be done through Indian Railways IRCTC website, www.irctc.co.in and generally two months advance booking is needed during peak seasons. Limited number of regular tickets are offered at the originating stations on the date of journey on a first come first served basis. At present four trains run between Mettuplayam and Udhagamandalam, of which, two trains only run between Udhagamandalam and Coonoor, which is a middle station between the two stations. Depending on the rush, Railways may run additional trains during peak seasons but it cannot be guaranteed.

Ooty Toy Train

            Boating at Ooty Lake is an excitement and fun for both children and adults. The lake is situated about 3 kilometers from bus stand and railway station which can be accessed by autorickshaws, cars or buses. The boat house run by Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation provides boating facilities for the tourists. Besides regular charges per usage, a security deposit is also needed to purchase tickets at the counter. The types of boats include pedal boats, row boats and mechanized boats but no self rowing is allowed in the lake. Within the vicinity of the lake there is a children's park with a mini train, deer park, mini garden and facilities for horseback riding. In the month of May boat racing is organized for two days.

Ooty Lake

            About 2 kilometers from the bus stand and railway station, there is the Botanical Garden, Ooty.The garden spreads around 22 hector in area with many lush green plants, rare and very old trees, ferns and orchids. It is divided into several sections and maintained by Tamil Nadu Horticulture department. To enjoy full and watch different areas of the garden, minimum half day is required. In the center of the garden, there is a fossilized tree which is supposed to be 20 million years old. Flower show is arranged in the month of May every year attracting thousands of tourists.

            Situated in a place called Vijayanagaram near the Ooty town is the Rose Garden having more than 3,500 varieties of roses forming the largest rose garden in India. The 10 acre garden is decorated with rose tunnels, pergolas and rose creepers.

            For those who are unable to watch the world famous Hollywood Madame Tussads,(Wax figures for famous people) there is a small Wax Museum in Ooty which houses wax statues of well known peoples like Mahatma Gandhi,Subhash Chadrabose,Mother Teresa and others located in the Ooty-Coonoor road.

            There is a Golf Course in Ooty town maintained by the Gymkhana Club which extends over 193 acres in area.Accomodation is available in the Golf course which also has a swimming pool, restaurant and bar.

Other Important Locations around Ooty:

The highest peak,Doddabetta or better known as suicide point is about 10 kilometers from Ooty town. It offers a panoramic view of the surroundings which can be seen naked or through TTDC telescope.

Pykara Falls

About 19 kilometers from Ooty, a beautiful waterfall called the Pykara Falls attracts a large number of visitors. There is a dam and power plant here offering stunning views of the river and falls. A boat hose and restaurant is also available here.

The famous Mudumalai National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary is located about 34 kilometers from Ooty. The place is a habitat for several species of animals and plants and it is also a Reserved Tiger forest. Day trips are available from Ooty to Mudumalai sanctuary.

            A fascinating place for the nature lovers is the Avalanche which is about 26 kilometers from Ooty. The visitors can take part in trekking and fishing in this place. The Avalanche Lake is seen between the dense forests where Trout fishing is possible.

            Coonoor which is the second famous hill station situated on the way to Ooty is also a place to visit while in Ooty. There are buses to Coonoor and the two Toy Trains service daily between Udhagamandalam and Coonoor.The Sims Park here is a clean garden with different plants and flowers. The small lake in the lower side of the park offers pedal boating suitable for children and small families. Several tea gardens are seen in Coonoor where visitors can watch tea manufacturing in one of the tea factories.    

  

            Ooty is a fascinating place for those who come there well prepared. Travelling from one place to another requires prior knowledge and idea about the place or else it will be more expensive to the visitor. Various tour operators provide vehicle services which are affordable but their exact timings and routes should be gathered from reliable sources before proceeding. People coming with own vehicles should be careful since the roads are not quite good in many places.

                   

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