Tourist Places in Tamil Nadu (Part - 3)

‘OOTY' is often described as the ‘queen' of hill stations. Situated at 2,240m high, the name Uthagamandalam is derivative from ‘Ottak Kalmandu' means the village of a single stone. Ooty be located among the hills at a place where the Eastern and Western Ghats meet, giving the tourist a glance of both. Ooty was exposed in the early 19^th century by the British, who fleeing the heat of the plains in summer and the fright anopheles mosquito. It soon became the summer capital of the then Madras Presidency, and the hill incline were dotted with English Cottages. Today, this town is full of people from all over India and quite a number of tourists from around the world, who come here to relax in the cool, pleasant climate.

In the year 1812, the first Englishman came here and was tracked by other educationists, missionaries and civil servants. This place also fascinated many of the South Indian Royal and Rich families to build their summer resorts in the form of Mansions. Apart from this, this town recommends the visitor an unending range of walks and heights to conquer, not to mention the scenic beauty to be enjoyed in the most pleasant of climate.

Botanical Garden

The Ooty Botanical Gardens are set on different levels of elevation and contain thousands of varieties of strange, ornamental and other plants for observation and study. Every year, in the second week of May, there is a famous Flower Show and a Dog Show which draws a lot of tourists here. Adjoining to the gardens is the Raj Bhavan, the Ooty abode of the Governor of Tamil Nadu.

Lake

An artificial Lake created here in 1824 provides boating facilities. The Boat House maintained by the TTDC here offers boats, pony rides, and games for children.

Children's Lake Garden

It is located near the Railway Station with its musical lights is a delight for children.

Dotabetta:

The highest peak in the Nilgiris, Dotabetta, 2,623m, offers beautiful vistas of the surrounding hills, plateaus, and plains. The peak can be reached by bus and is 10km from the town. A superb view of Ooty and its surroundings can be had from here and a telescope brings them all within a stone's throw.

Ketty Valley View:

On the road to Coonoor stop to view the villages and fields spread like a relief map in the valley below.

Kalhatty Waterfalls

It is situated 13 km from Ooty a cascade worth to watch.

Deluxe

Savoy Hotel, Sylks Road, Ooty.

Hotel Dasaprakash, Ooty

Southern Star Ooty, 22, Havelock Road, Ooty

Fernhill Palace, Ooty

Standard

Ooty Gate Hotel, Coonoor Road, Ooty.

Hotel Tamil Nadu, Charing Cross, Ooty

Nahar Hotels (Nilgiris), Ooty.

Apart from this there are hundreds of budget hotels available here.

By Road:

Ooty is well connected to other important places in South India by Bus services. One can reach here by convenient bus services from Coimbatore, Chennai, Trichy, Madurai, Salem, Bangaloru, Mysore and many other destinations. There are frequent bus services from the Mettupalayam Railway station which is Just two hours by road to Ooty. Contact TTDC for further information.

By Railway:

The Nilgiri Express connects the railhead at Mettupalam with Chennai daily. There are Rail connections from Bangaloru and Coimbatore. Ooty is connected by a Narrow Gauge railway service form Mettupalayam which serves as the railhead for mainline trains. This Narrow Gauge service allows the visitors a leisurely glimpse of the scenic vally of the mountains as the train slowly winds up to Ooty. For further information contact Southern Railways

By Air:

Nearest Airport is at Coimbatore (100km away) which is suitably connected to other destinations by Indian Airlines. Transfer from Coimbatore airport to Ooty is possible by Taxies, buses, Trains.

This is one of India's finest sanctuaries and is simply reachable from Ooty. Two other sanctuaries, Bandipur in Karnataka and Wynad in Kerala are next to Mudumalai. Nature has been generous in bestowing the sanctuary with thickly wooded hills, plateaus, deep valleys, waterfalls, rivers, streams and wetland. The varied vegetation and topography meet the ecological necessities of several species inhabiting the sanctuary. Driving in the forest departments van or jeep or riding on an elephant are the best way of visiting the sanctuary. This sanctuary is spread out over 320 sq km and is at an altitude of 885meters. Buses plying between Mysore and Ooty stop at three points in the sanctuary.

Mudumalai is the one place where a tourist can view with comparative ease a single herd of more than 100 spotted deer or 70 to 80 gaurs. There are elephants, giant Malabar squirrels, thousands of butterflies, primitive mammals such as the scaly ant-eater, or pangolin, wild dogs etc.

Mudumalai is the one place where a tourist can view with comparative ease a single herd of more than 100 spotted deer or 70 to 80 gaurs. There are elephants, giant Malabar squirrels, thousands of butterflies, primitive mammals such as the scaly ant-eater, or pangolin, wild dogs etc.

The elephant camp at Theppakadu is one of the wonderful sights within the sanctuary. It is declared the more elephants have been born in captivity at this camp than anywhere else in the world. Elephant rides can be enjoyed in the deep forests. These elephants are available here to cart four persons and the hire charges are fixed for a four-hour period. Courageous tourists can take a guide and trek around the sanctuary. Guests can go around the sanctuary in forest department vans which carry eight people or on elephant back-four people.

Accommodation.

TTDC's Youth Hostel - Three dormitories with total of 40 beds. The Forest Dept. has dormitory, of eight beds and charges per head.

Another facility is available at the Youth Hostel at Teppakadu, (Masanagudi) in the shape of dormitories. (Reservation- to be made with the District Forest Officer, Charging Cross, Ooty.)

Situated at 1,858m high, Coonoor is a hill station close to Ooty. It has the advantage of being enjoyable throughout the year, and unlike Ooty it does not get chilly in winters. Coonoor therefore, is a truly round the year hill resort. Home of the United Planters Association of South India (UPASSI), it has a long association.

Sightseeing:

There are several places of interest around Coonoor from where the tourists can get an excellent view of the undulating surroundings. Lamb's Rock, Lady Canning's Seat, and Dolphin's Nose are some of them. Besides, one can enjoy waterfalls like Law's falls, Kattey Falls and the Rallia Dam.

Sim's Park is known for its horticultural species but it is also a very pleasant place to visit. The yearly Fruit and Vegetable Show is held here in the latter half of May. Coonoor offers a number of view points of the spreading plains from places like Lamb's Rock (8km), Dolphin's Nose (12km) and Lady Canning's Seat. Law's falls and St. Catherine's falls are beautiful cascades.

The only Institute in India for making vaccines for Rabies, Pasteur Institute is also situated at Coonoor.

Accommodations:

Taj Garden Retreat, Church Road, Coonoor.

The Monarch Ritz, Ritz Road, Coonoor.

There are many more budget hotels available here.

How to get there:

Nearest Airport is Coimbatore. Mettupalayam is the common mainline railhead for Ooty as well as Coonoor. The Narrow gauge link from Mettupalayam to Ooty passes via Coonoor. Buses coming from Coimbatore pass through Coonoor on their way to Ooty and the visitor can alight en route. There is an alternative route to Coonoor from Mysore. Visitors coming by this route have to change buses at Ooty for Coonoor.

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