The name Doddabetta literally means, 'big mountain'. It is the is the highest mountain in the Nilgiri Hills situated at a height of 2,623m and is located around 10km from Ooty. Nestled at the junction of the Eastern and Western Ghats, it is surrounded by dense sholas. Slightly stunted rhododendron trees in the midst of thick coarse grass, flowering sub-elphine shrubs and herbs are common even very near the peak. An observatory run by TTDC is an added attraction here.
Spread over 55 acres, it is probably one of Ooty's most popular spots. The lush lawns, the sprawling trees, the many grassy knolls where you can bask in the sun, the benches where you can read a book - all make this Ooty's main green lung. Laid out in 1847 by the Marquis of Tweedale, the Gardens have many rare species of trees and plants, and are maintained by the state's horticulture department. There are about 650 varieties of plant species here, including a famous fossil reputedly millions of years old. The Gardens are famous for the flower show in May, when the foliage and the blossoms are at their colourful best. To just enjoy a picnic in the verdant stretches is in itself a lovely and peaceful way to spend the day.
Located a little distance from Charing Cross, it has reputedly more than 3,000 varieties of the beautiful flower. It is justly famous in season when all the flowers are dramatically in bloom, and you can see various exotic colours like black and green roses, and rare breeds.
The hub of Ooty tourist life, the Lake offers all the classic holiday dos - boat and canoe rides, horse rides, and plenty of souvenir shops on its periphery. Ooty's lake is about 2.5 km long and was built in 1825 by John Sulivan as a source of water for irrigating the surrounding fields to which Sullivan had introduced not just tea but crops such as barley and fruits and vegetables such as strawberries and radish. Today, with an exploding population, the lake is just a stretch of often polluted water. But it is still the centre of the city's attractions. There are benches and gazebos around its edges where you can rest with a book or an ice cream, there are walking paths for the more energetic, which you share with the horses and ponies. You can also get cycles for hire.
Dull, depressing exteriors and a long dusty room inside make you expect the worst. But you will be pleasantly surprised by the beauty of the display. An entire garden made only of colorful tapestry thread. Every leaf and stem painstakingly handcrafted, it's a delight to recognize well-known flowers and shrubs, as you walk around the little place. It took Anthony Joseph and his team 12 long years to set up this display, and it's a masterpiece of patient craftsmanship.
The house that Sullivan built for himself in 1822, it is known as Kal Bangla in Tamil. It was the first European construction in Ooty, and has survived today as part of the Government Arts College. It is an indelible part of Ooty's history. Try to look at sketches of the original house before you land up, to get a better idea of the perspective.
This beautiful Gothic church is almost 200 years old and one of Ooty's most beautiful buildings. Built at the behest of the then Governor of Madras Stephen Lushington, it was consecrated in 1830. Wander into the cemetery at the back and stumble upon the graves of Sullivan's wife and child. There is a font in the church dedicated to Sullivan. The weathered wood of the church, the cool dark interiors and the peace outside combine to make this a very peaceful experience.
Established by Keystone Foundation, this museum gives you a fascinating insight into the story of honey bees. And the story of tribes such as the Kurumba and Toda who collect honey for a living. There is a Green Shop attached where you can buy various fragrant types of honey like ginger honey and pepper honey plus coffee and spices, all organically produced by indigenous people. Donate to Keystone Foundation for its work with indigenous tribes and culture or volunteer your time.
This could well be the single main reason to make the trip to Ooty. For railway enthusiasts, the unique rack-and-pinion system and the steam engines that run the train is reason enough for many trips. Recently granted World Heritage status, the Nilgiri Mountain Rail came to life in 1899. Going up from 1,069 feet at Mettupalayam to 7,228 feet at Ooty makes this the steepest track in Asia. The toy train covers the distance of about 45 km in roughly 5 hours, making a destination of the journey. Nine tunnels break up the totally picturesque trip, where every bend brings fresh delights to sight. The grassy hills, the ferns and roses, the occasional cottage clinging to the hillside, the tiny stations - you can't miss a thing.
In the hot months of May and June, the Madras Race Club moves to Ooty. You can catch the horses training between 6 and 8 in the mornings - a lovely sight. Racing aficionados can follow their hearts, and combine a holiday with some track excitement. The thrill of a race track on the hills is quite something.
Perched more than 7,000 feet above sea level, the Ootacamund Golf Course is perhaps one of the world's most beautifully located courses. And as much a delight for the non-golfer as it surely is for the avid golfer. Part of the Gymkhana Club, the course is over 100 years old and a challenging one at that.
Given the plethora of tea gardens that surround you on all sides, it is good that finally someone got the initiative to set up a tea museum that documents not just the history of the brew but the whole process of tea cultivation and making, from garden to cup. It is a good and interesting display, and the complimentary cup of tea is welcome. You can buy some excellent varieties of tea as well, making it a well rounded trip.
About 19 km south of Ooty, and at about 1,500 m above sea level, Coonoor makes a good day trip from Ooty. Plenty of places to stay here. It is trekking base camp for treks to Lamb's Rock, Law's Falls, Droog Fort etc. Other draws are the innumerable tea gardens and Sim's Park. Start early if you want to get back to Ooty before nightfall. It's quickest to hop into a bus.
A charming little town east of Ooty and at a slightly lower altitude, it probably looks like what Ooty began life as many decades ago. Literally meaning Street of the Kotas, the families of this tribe have now been relocated to Aggal village nearby. Catherine Falls is just 8 km from here and it makes a fine trek. At Kodanad Viewpoint, you can see some fantastic views from the telescope installed there, including being able to make out distinctly the meeting point of the Eastern and Western Ghats. A nature walk into the lovely Longwood Shola forest is a must. This protected area preserves the original flora of the region. Sullivan's first house at Dimbatti village has been preserved charmingly.
An attractive waterfall about a 10 km drive away, it is a lovely drive and can be combined with a Coonoor trip. With a 250-feet cascade, it is the second highest fall in the Nilgiris. It is named after MD Cockburn's wife, who is considered to have introduced the coffee plant to this area.
About 6 km from upper Coonoor, it is a famous vantage spot that offers a great view of Catherine Falls and a vast stretch of green plains.
Famous public gardens of Coors, established in 1874, and with a wide variety of trees and plants, plus an exclusive rose garden.
About 19 km from Ooty on the River Pykara, is the famous Pykara dam and falls. Pykara Dam is one of the oldest hydroelectricity plants in India. The Falls are about 60 m high. The place has a forest rest house, boat house, restaurant, grassy picnic meadows, Shola forests and Toda settlements.
It derives its name from an avalanche that hit the spot in the 1800s. About 25 km from Ooty, it is a beautiful spot around the two lovely lakes of Avalanche and Emerald, and perfect for picnics, hikes and nature walks in the surrounding pure Shola forests. Shola is original the tropical evergreen forest cover of this region. Forest guest house accommodation available.
About 65 km from Ooty, Mudumalai is typically a holiday destination in itself. Spread across 320 sq km and at a height of 1,000 metres, it has rich flora and fauna and falls between the Bandipur and Annamalai sanctuaries. However, if you are in Ooty for a long break then taking off to Mudumalai for a couple of days makes sense. This wildlife sanctuary is located in the Nilgiri Biosphere and home to a great variety of flora and fauna. Don't miss the Elephant Camp. There are many forest lodges and guest houses here for overnight stays.
Coonoor is a pretty place full of gardens and greenery. It is great for nature lovers and ideal for a day excursion from Ooty. Smaller than Ooty, the winding streets and gardens make for some good walks. Coonoor is also famous for its wide variety of feathered friends. Tea, coffee and spices are the best buys here.
One of the Nilgiri's biggest attractions, the Toy Train, is a World Heritage site. Don't miss the little stations, the heritage Ooty station building and, the spectacular views especially on bends. The track, the train, and the views make interesting frames.
For golf aficionados, Ooty offers a fabulous high-altitude course. The Ooty golf course follows the soft contours of downland, with its tonsured effect of tree-bare heights, ringed with gorse and thickly wooded copses of eucalyptus, oak, rhododendron and fir in the hollows. The course is surrounded by the thickly wooded Avalanch Range.
Its location at a few degrees above the equator and at an altitude of 7,600ft, provides a combination of light and thin air which is a near intoxicant, and the ball travels much further than it would in the plains because of the rarefied atmosphere.
Take a ride into the forest, either by van or on elephant back. Tigers, panthers, leopards, hyena, sloth bear, Indian elephant, gaur, deer, red giant flying squirrel, langurs and crocodiles - you an catch a glimpse of any, or most of these animals. The threatened Black-and-orange Flycatcher plus the Malabar grey hornbill and rare birds of prey like the Rufous bellied hawk eagle can also be seen. Plus various hawk-eagles, hornbills, golden orioles, and the paradise flycatcher may be spotted. There is also an elephant feeding camp, where you can play with the pachyderms.
Pykara boasts of well protected fenced Sholas, Toda settlements, undistributed grassy meadows and also a good wildlife habitat. A boat ride in the placid waters of the lake is the best way to enjoy its breathtaking beauty.
A shutterbug's delight, the view from Doddabetta offers amazing photography options. Make sure, you carry your wide angle lens to capture the panoramic scenery. On a clear day, which unfortunately is not very often the case, one can see an uninterrupted view of the plains of Coimbatore and the flat highlands of Mysore.
Capture panoramic views of the valley and the different hues of green cover. A good time to visit Doddabetta peak would be early morning for a view of the sunrise and also in the evening for spectacular sunsets.
Visit the Honey and Bee Museum, a Keystone Foundation project and unique for its depiction of bee-making and the tribal way of life. You can buy some lovely flavored honey - coffee, pepper, cardamom and ginger honey. Other things that one can buy here are coffee, candy, tribal artifacts etc.
The boat rides at the lake is a major attraction. The serene waters of the lake provide a sense of solitude, There are different areas marked for motor boat and for pedal and row boat. Lakeside is also a good place for horse rides, picnics, toy train and photography.
Make a day trip from Ooty and enjoy a quiet picnic lunch in serene surroundings and join village walks organised by the Nilgiris Documenation Centre located here. This place is ideal for nature walks too. Don't forget to visit Sullivan's Bungalow, a major attraction here.
This is believed to be the first church in Ooty. Built in 1829 in the Gothic style, this is also the oldest church in the Nilgiris. The huge wooden beams here were hauled by elephants from Tipu's Sultan's palace in Srirangapatnam. Wander into the cemetery at the back and stumble upon the graves of Sullivan's wife and child. There is also a font in the church dedicated to Sullivan.
The dense shola forests filled with fern, lichen, deciduous trees and several streams make for some beautiful walks. But don't go unaccompanied. The shy Nilgiri black langurs are easy to spot and stay far away from humans. Catch a glimpse of the Toda buffalos, Nilgiri tahr,elephants and much more.
