Often regarded as the “Queen of Hills”, Ooty leads the tourism chart for Tamil Nadu. Located at an elevation of 2240m, this hill station gives its visitors the perfect climate throughout the year. Lush green grass, coupled with beautiful lakes makes the tourists fall in love with this place. Not only this, but Ooty also serves its suitors with beautiful scenic views, amazing wildlife, bird watching and whatnot. For years Ooty has been one of the most loved tourist destinations in India. Be it big joint families or young couples, kids or senior citizens, solo travellers or friend circles, Ooty has something for everyone. To make your visit even more memorable, you can plan your stay in the luxurious resorts in Ooty, which are built on lush green grass giving you a beautiful lakeside view.
Many places in Ooty deserve your attention. Let’s list the best of them:
-
Ooty Lake:
One of the most famous locations, Ooty Lake is a must-visit destination for everyone. The view of this lake is nothing short of sensational. The blue skies, dark green trees, yellowish-brown soil and blue water give your eyes the gift of life. One can go boating in the lake. The presence of a boating house means you get to choose from a variety of boats. Don’t forget to take a walk or cycle your way through the banks of the lake as they are sure to give you the main character vibes of a Bollywood movie. If you would like to buy some souvenirs, look for the shops at the lake selling local goods at decent prices.
-
Botanical gardens:
Built by the government, these parks are a gift to the public of Ooty. They expand over a huge area and are divided into 5 sections. The best season to visit the botanical gardens is the summer when the plants and trees are at their best show. Fossil tree trunk, present at the botanical garden is supposed to be 20 million years old making it one of the most popular tourist attractions. For flora enthusiasts, this place is like heaven on earth. Families can go there and enjoy their time in the peace and serenity of these beautiful parks.
-
Doddabetta Peak:
At 2623 meters, Doddabetta Peak is the highest peak in the Nilgiris mountain range. If you call yourself a trekker, then this must be your destination. A trekker’s delight, this place pleases you with the best views of the nearby places. The telescope house present at the top of the peak allows you to have a good look at the flora and fauna of this beautiful location. To make matters more interesting, Doddabetta Peak is situated at the junction of the Western and Eastern Ghats. This location is not far away and is located around 10 km from the city.
-
Kamraj Sagar Dam:
A tourist destination and also a favourite spot of filmmakers, Kamraj Sagar Dam offers a great scenic view with peace surrounding the area. It is a great place for bird watching. Not many places allow you to view fish in the water but if you are an enthusiast then this place is for you. Just like Doddabetta Peak, this location is also located around 10km from the city.
-
St Stephens Church
St. Stephens Church is one of those places that become the logo of a tourist destination. Whenever Ooty comes up, so does this church. Such is the history and importance of this church that you cannot remove it from your travel list. Built-in 1829, this church is known to have been made of timber taken from Tipu Sultan’s palace. The architecture of this church is worth seeing. The beautiful windows and paintings portraying the last supper and the crucifixion of Jesus is worth laying an eye on. For travel enthusiasts, this place is a must-visit.
-
Pykara Waterfalls
After all the beautiful scenic views, one thing that was missing from the list was a waterfall. Don’t worry, Ooty has everything covered. Around 20km away from the city lies the beautiful Pykara Waterfalls. This is a good picnic spot and people can come here and spend time with the voice of water hitting the rocks healing your ears. If you want to grab some snacks then say no more, there is a restaurant present at the waterfall to provide you with the snack you need.
-
Ooty Toy Train:
Be it Shimla or Ooty, Toy Trains is always fun. Running over a distance of 46 km, this train takes you deep inside the forests and leaves you mesmerized by the beautiful landscapes. You would know just why the Nilgiris are so highly rated. This amazing scenery is something that one is going to remember till their grave. Scenes that one thinks can be shown only in movies, are what this journey presents in front of you. The track goes via Coonoor to Mattupalayam.
-
Toda Huts Ooty:
This place comes on the list for history fans. Toda huts are made with bamboo by the local tribes in Ooty. They are semi-barrel shaped giving them a very unique view. This amazing structure doesn’t have any windows. The people of this tribe are called Toda people and they are a Dravidian ethnic group. This place would give you a proper view of local tribes in Ooty. The tribal museum shows just how the local tribes of Andaman and Nicobar Island manage to survive all this urbanization. This museum also consists of photos of these rare tribes.
In conclusion, there is no chance to summarize the beauty of Ooty in an article. We still haven’t covered places like Dolphin’s Nose, Sim’s Park, Ooty Stone House etc. This place is an absolute wonderland and is sure to give you the experience of a lifetime. If this article convinced you to make a trip to Ooty then forget to plan your stay in the luxurious resorts in Ooty to complete a trip that others call a fantasy. Hoping you have a brilliant journey!
