Perched at an elevation of 7,349 ft above sea
level, Ooty or Udhagamandalam is one of the most pristine hill stations in the
state of Tamil Nadu. The cool retreat actually claims a position where the states
of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka meet. Like most of the other hill stations,
Ooty too was established and developed by the Britishers as a summer refuge
for the Government of Madras. And today it has gone to earn the appellation
of the 'Queen of Southern Hill Stations'. Initially, the region was inhabited
by the Todas. However, these tribes can still be found there but in a diminished
number. Shopping in Ooty is one of the finest options to spend time at leisure.
The hill station is popular for its exclusive Nilgiri products. So, before you
leave the city, don't forget to take along the tea and eucalyptus oil. You can
also head to the Co-operative Super Market and the Municipal Market to buy fruits
and general groceries. Toda embroideries, Kerala handicrafts and Tamil Nadu
handicrafts also fascinate tourists a lot.
Climate
Ooty experiences a salubrious climate so anytime is a good time to pay a
visit to this place. March, April and May are summer months. Temperatures
range from 25 degrees in summer to 5 degrees Centigrade in winter. Not much
rainfall is experienced here. Light woollens in summer and heavy woollens in
winter are advisable.
Cuisine
Ooty also offers a great deal in terms of toothsome cuisines. The South
Indian cuisine here is a craze among tourists. The cuisine offers a huge
variety of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. Idli, dosa, uppuma and
sambhar are some local favourites for tourists. Pulao, biriyani are famous
non-vegetarian dishes. And if you wish to gorge on the Continental,
Mediterranean and Chinese cuisines, the hotels and restaurants offer that
too as well.
Sightseeing
There is a plentiful supply of tourist attractions that surely prove to be a
treat for your eyes. Claiming an area of over 5 acres, the
Botanical
Gardens is the cynosure of all eyes here. The sprawling garden lies on the
lower slopes of the Dodabetta Peak, the highest in southern India. And today
with around thousand species of plants and thirty species of eucalyptus, the
garden ropes in a great number of onlookers from across the globe. A fossilized
tree trunk, that's believed to be 20 million years old, is a must see thing
here. The
St Stephens Church stands on the Club Road and is
said to be the most ancient in the Nilgiri District. Moving away 10 km from
Ooty, you will find yourself at the
Doddabetta Peak that scales
a height of 2,623 m and has the distinction of being the highest peak in southern
India. The peak lies at a point where the Eastern and Western Ghats meet. Stunning
views of the Nilgiri hill ranges are heart stirring too. The
Government
Museum is yet another site that lures the tourists. The museum came into
being in the year 1989 to acquaint the locals and the tourists of the history
and culture of the Nilgiri District. Other worth visiting sites include the
Ooty Lake, Rose Garden, Deer Park, Mini Garden and
Hindustan
Photo Films among others.
Getting There
Ooty being a chief tourist destination, offers plenty of transportation
options. Coimbatore, 105 km from here, is the closest airport connecting to
all the major destinations of the country. Ooty lies on the narrow gauge
rail track and remains linked with Mettupalayam that is 47 km away.
Mettupalayam is further connected to Coimbatore and Chennai. The toy train
fo Ooty links it with Mettupalayam and Coonoor. National Highways that pass
through Ooty connect the hill station to all the important towns and cities
of southern India including Coimbatore, Trichy, Bangalore, Madurai,
Kanyakumari, Mysore, Palghat, Calicut, Tirupati etc.
