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OOTY
Nestled in the sparkling and right green hills of the Nilgiris, Ooty or Udhagamandalam is one of the favorite summer getaways of people in South India. Orchards of peaches and plums, terraced tea plantations, eucalyptus and pine line the countryside… a typical hill station in many ways, situated at a distance of 105 km away from Coimbatore.
History
Udhagamandalam, the "Queen of hill station" is the capital of the Nilgiri district. The earliest that is known of Ooty, is that it was ruled by Vishnu Vardhana, the Hoysala King, from 1104 to 1141 AD. Later, after numerous years, it came under the rule of the British East India Company, after the company signed a treaty with Tipu Sultan in 1799. During this time, John Sullivan started the development of the hill station and promoted it as an ideal summer retreat. Plenty of cottages, clubs and other buildings were built to house and provide recreational facilities to the British officials. Almost immediately, the hill station was growing tea for its inhabitants, who considered high tea to be an integral part of their day. Currently, these tea estates not only produce the favorite “chai” of millions of Indians but also add to the magic and the beauty of Ooty.
Places of interest
Government Botanical Garden (2 Km)
This garden was laid out earlier by Marquis of Tweedale, the then governor of Madras in 1847. It covers an area of 22 acres. A fossil tree trunk of 20 million years is still preserved here. The vegetation of the garden consist of six sections including a varieties of species of trees, grass carpet, variety of ferns, fashioned beds laid out in an Italian style, multi colored flowering plants, house ferns, orchids and nurseries. The garden makes a memorable visit to the tourists.
Lake View
About 1 Km. distance, an artificial lake can be seen, which was formed in 1824 by Mr. John Sullivan, the then Collector of Coimbatore.
Mini Garden
Tourists can take a break at the mini garden which is on the way to the Boat House. The children amusement park is housed here. It is maintained by T.T.D.C.
Doddabetta
It is the highest peak (2623 meters) in the Nilgiris and is about 10 Kms from Ooty. It lies at the intersection of the Western & Eastern Ghats and offers stunning vistas of the Nilgiri Hill ranges. It is surrounded by dense sholas.
The Mukkurthi Peak & National Park
Mukkurthi Peak is about 40 Kms. form Ooty. The Mukkurthi National Park is located on the Southern area of the Nilgiris Plateau. The area contains a workable population of Nilgiri Thar (Hamitragus hilocrius). The Kollaribetta and Nilgiris Peak are the other major peaks around. The area is chained by countless beautiful and perennial little streams, which fall into Bhavani Puzha. The Silent Valley in the Western Ghat is positioned on the Western side of these ranges. A fascinating feature of the Mukkurthi Sanctuary is its association with Himalayan Flora and fauna.
General Information
Altitude: 2,268 m above sea level.
Climate: Max of 25°C in summers to 5°C in the winters
Best Time to Visit: 'February to May' or 'September to November'
Travel Information:
Air: Coimbatore is the nearest airport. Indian Airlines has flight to Coimbatore from Bangalore, Cochin and Madras.
Train: The Blue Mountain Express to Ooty is from Mettupalayam (47 km). Mettupalayam can be reached from Coimbatore by the Tea Garden Express.
Road: All important towns of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka are well connected to Ooty.