If you’ve lived in South India, it is unlikely that you haven’t been to Ooty. Ooty or Ootucamund, also called the “Queen of hill stations” is a place where people throng to beat the heat of the South Indian plains. It is the capital of the Nilgiris district and used to be popular summer and weekend getaway for the British during the colonial days. Situated at an altitude of 2,240 meters above sea level, an added attraction in Ooty is the mountain train journey on a ratchet and pinion track which commences from Kallar, near Mettupalayam, making its way through tunnels and ravines full of foliage, gurgling streams and tea gardens.
Amongst the places to visit is the Botanical Garden sprawling over an area of 50-acre. It was established by Marquis of Tweeddale in the year 1848 and lies on the lower slopes of the Doddabetta peak, the highest point in Ooty. Another exotic garden maintained by the Horticulture Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu is the Rose Gardens, situated about 3 to 4-km away from Charring Cross which is spread over an area of 10 acres of land with 2000 variety of roses.

It is breathtakingly beautiful with well maintained lawns, rare tree species, a 20 million year old fossilized tree, a vast variety of flowering bushes and plants in myriad hues and a fern house with a vast range of ferns and orchids. A flower show along with an exhibition of rare plant species is held every year in the month of May at this garden.

The Ooty lake built in 1825 and is about 2.5 km long. Boating and fishing can be done on the lake, the latter requiring permission. The Dodabetta Peak stands at an altitude of 2,623 meters and is merely 10kms from Ooty from where on a clear day one can see far off areas, even the plains of Coimbatore and the flat highlands of Mysore. It offers an amazing view of the surroundings.

If you want to venture and explore places around Ooty then one option is to visit the Madumalai Wildlife Sanctuary located at a distance of 67kms from Ooty. The Wildlife Sanctuary boasts of very rich flora and fauna, and is home to many endangered species including giant squirrels, sambhar, chital, barking deer and flying squirrels. If you are simply fond of the majestic elephants then, you might like to visit the elephant camp within the sanctuary, Theppakkadu.

The beautiful Kolhatty waterfalls, around 13 km from Ooty, are about 100 feet in height and are located on the Kalhatty slopes. Apart from visiting the waterfalls, you can explore the Kalhatty-Masinagudi slopes that are home to many wild species including panthers, sambhar, bison and wild buffaloes.
About 36 km from Ooty is Mukurthi where you can take a look at the imposing Mukurthi peak. According to the Todas, the indigenous people of Ooty, the souls of the dead move on to the next world from this sacred place. Those who don’t believe in life after death too can enjoy the flora and fauna of the place which bears a striking resemblance to that found in Himalayan region. You can also visit the Mukurthi lake which is close to the peak and is worth a closer look.

Best time to Visit: Throughout the year
How to reach:
By Air: The nearest airport is Coimbatore (88 km from Ooty). One can take Indian Airline flights to Coimbatore, Bangalore, Cochin and Chennai.
By Rail
The Ooty railway station is merely 2kms from the City Center and the other railway station is 46km away at Mettupalayam.
There is also a toy train that connects Ooty with Mettupalayam and Coonoor, another famous hill station.
By Road
Traveling by road is a not a bad idea either, since Tamil Nadu has a very good road network.