Ooty - Queen of hill stations

Ooty also known as Udhagamandalam is the "Queen of hill stations" and the capital of Nilgiris district. It is one of the most popular tourist resorts in India. Nilgiris means "Blue Mountains". It is a land of picturesque picnic spots. Used to be popular summer and weekend getaway for the Britishers during the colonial days. It is situated at an altitude of 2,240 meters above sea level. An added attraction for the tourists to Udagamandalam is the mountain train journey on a ratchet and pinion track which commences from Kallar, near Mettupalayam and wends its way through many hair-raising curves and fearful tunnels and chugs along beside deep ravines full of verdant vegetation, gurgling streams and tea gardens.

Altitude :  2286 m above sea level
Annual Rainfall : 991 mm Max
Climate : Temperature 24.3°C MiniTemperature 4.8°C
Languages : Tamil, English
STD Code :  0423 

 

History Of Ooty

The earliest that is known of the history of Ooty, is that it was ruled by Vishnu Vardhana, the Hoysala King, from 1104 to 1141 AD. Later, after many years, it came under the rule of the British East India Company, after the company signed a treaty with the brave Tipu Sultan in 1799. This is when John Sullivan started the development of the hill station and promoted it as an ideal summer retreat. Lots of cottages, clubs and other buildings were built to house and provide recreational facilities to the British officials. Soon enough, the hill station was growing tea for its inhabitants, who considered high tea to be an integral part of their day. Now, these tea estates not only produce the favorite drink of millions of Indians but also add to the charm and the beauty of the hill resort of Ooty India.

 

At the height of 2,600m stands Udhagamandalam (Ooty) The Queen of Hill Stations. The ‘Nilgiris toy train’ connect Ooty to mettupalayam, at the foot of the Nilgiris.

The construction of this line was a big challenge as the terrain is rather tricky. It was in 1854 that the first plans were drawn to build a mountain railway from mettupalayam to the Nilgiri Hills. But it was a good 45 years later in 1899 that the first train chugged up this track. This railway is widely regarded as a marvel of engineering. The train itself is a charming blue and cream with wooden coaches and large windows. It is hauled up hills by stream engines, designed and built by the Swiss Locomotive Works. Twelve of such locomotive engines survive even today.

The train covers the 46 km to Udhagamandalam in four and a half hours. There are five stations between Mettupalayam and Coonoor - Kallar, Adderley, Hill Grove, Runnymede and Kateri – and, at one time, there were five between Coonoor and Ooty too. Through Wellington, Aruvankadul, Ketti, and Lovedale are still functional, Fren Hill, the last one, was closed down a few years ago.

Good to Know

• The train, for obvious safety reasons, averages 10.4 km per hour and is perhaps the slowest in India.
• Built in the late 19th century, the track rises at a gradient of 1 in 12 and has 208 curves and 13 tunnels.
• It leaves Mettupalayam at 7.45 am and reaches Ooty at noon.

Extensive rice fields surround the 7 km stretch between Mettupalayam and Kallar. Soon after is an impressive 21km section through truly rocky terrain. The track passes over 26 viaducts, and twist and blends through 13 tunnels. After a steep climb, the train enters Coonoor, the little hill station known for its tea plantations. From here, the track is uphill till you reach Fern Hill at a height of 2,218m, the highest point on the railroad. Shortly before Ooty, the line dips downhill. If you enjoy taking pictures, keep your camera ready for a few shotsof the viaduct between Kallar and Adderley. This ride is sure to turn the most hardened rail critic into an avid fan. You’ii delight in hthe edge-of-the seat twists and turns as the train runs across tall girder bridges, and over green hills before gently meandering through rolling tea estates. The exhaust beat of the loco never falters, maintaining a deafening staccato which can be heard for miles around. Truly a journey to remember. 

nilgiris[Heritage site]

youtube video by NODDINGCAT

Ooty Places To Visit:

Gardens to visit in Ooty Hill Station

Botanical Gardens:

Botanical gardens are a major tourist attraction for those who visit Ooty, one of the most popular hill stations of India. They sprawl over 50-acre and lie on the lower slopes of Doddabetta peak, which is the highest point in Ooty hill station. Marquis of Tweeddale established these gardens in the year 1848.

The gardens are formally laid out with lily ponds, and there are clipped bushes in the form of elephants, with raised trunks. One can find a thousand different species of plants including some thirty types of eucalyptus in these gardens.

There is also a fossilised tree trunk, which is said to be 20 million years old. Towards the eastern part of the garden there is a wooden house made of logs known as "Toda Mund", which provides an excellent view.
The garden is divided into six different sections:
1. Lower Garden
2. New Garden
3. Italian Garden
4. Conservatory
5. Fountain Terrace 6. Nurseries 

Mini Garden:

Mini garden is also situated on the way to the boathouse where the children amusement park is housed. A snack bar is also available. Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation Limited maintains these gardens.

Rose Garden:

Rose Garden is situated about 3 to 4-km away from Charring Cross. They are spread over an area of 10 acres of land with 2000 variety of roses. Rose Gardens lie on the way to the boathouse.2KMs from the main crossing of the Ooty, the Charring Cross, is this 10acres of land on the hill slop that has been converted into Rose garden. It has more than 1000 varieties of roses ranging from Yellow to Pink to Red. Locals say that they have seen black rose also but I could not find one. May be because I went there during the off-season ( December).

Children’s park:

At the eastern end of the lake we find a children’s park. Already the climate and natural green carpet, adding pride to ooty, this children’s park is also an important place. The Green atmosphere, the St.Thomas church view and the moving railway from the mountain would definitely attract any child and will make them enjoy so much. There are really Good entertainment inside this park. Rowing, Boating and Horse riding are they. A park filled with fun, really.

The Thread Garden:

This place is an amazing collection of flowers. But, differently these are not Natural flowers but completely made out of Threads. Because of this reason the name has been given as the thread Garden. The power of man kind could be seen when we visit this place. Without machines a hundred percent handcraft beauties are created. people say it took twelve years to create this fantasy. The difference between Natural and woven thread flowers could not be found easily. To that extent the perfection is seen.

Attractions in Ooty Hill Station:

St Stephens Church:

Situated in the hilly area on Club Road, St Stephens Church is said to be the oldest in the Nilgiris. The church was built in 1829 and consecrated in 1830. The beam of the church was taken from the palace of Tipu Sultan at Srirangapatnam. The cemetery close by houses the grave of John Sullivan, the founder of Ooty.


Government Museum:

The government museum, Mysore Road, Ooty has items of tribal objects, district's ecological details and representative sculptural arts and crafts of Tamil Nadu. It was set up in 1989, with a view to provide education benefits to the residing and visiting population of Nilgiris district.


Deer Park:

At a distance of 1-km from the Lake there is a Deer Park, which is worth visiting.


Hindustan Photo Films:

The Hindustan Photo Films, one of the major industrial units of the district, is located about 5-km away from Ooty railway station over a sprawling area of over 300 acres, near the Ooty golf-links on the Ooty- Mysore road.

Ooty Places To Visit - Falls & Lakes In Ooty Hill Station

Avalanche:

Located at a distance of 25 km from Ooty town past the Emerald Lake surrounded by undisturbed forest and you have reached Avalanche. A place that should not be missed. A dam called Canada dam is seen here. An exotic experience of mountain trekking could be realized in this place. Green valleys around Avalanche and a top view or Hawk’s view, By which the Beauty of a large area of udagamnadalam could be seen are important ones. A nice hunt for photographic Beauties. A Williamwordsworth sleeping in every one’s inner mind would definitely waked up in view of this place. It is on the way to Upper-Bhavani from Ooty via Emerald Camp. The gorgeous scenery at every turn is an experience of wonder and delight. The views from the top of the hill at Avalanche give a magnificent sight of the Avalanche Valley and reservoir In many places here, the shoals are so thick that even sunlight cannot penetrate. Avalanche is home to a wide variety of birds in great abundance. Spotting and identifying them can be a very rewarding experience for bird lovers. It is also popular with angling enthusiasts for trouts. The shoals here are a heaven for rare temperate Orchids.


Kalhatty water falls:

This water falls could be seen in ooty mysore route at a distance of 13 km from ooty. The road runs via the Kalhatty Ghats. As the waterfalls come from a steeper mountain, this place is best for mountain trekking. But falls could be seen in a particular season from September to November. The height of this falls is 40 m .A very nice place to enjoy.


Ketti Valley view:

Situated on the coonoor Road This valley is the second largest valley in the world. This region is a seen with larger constellations of villages, that forms the parts of coimbatore and mysore. An exclusive spot in ooty.


Boat House Lake:

Even though the name of this lake is boat House Lake, people use to call this lake as ooty lake. The British ruler called john Sullivan has constructed this beautiful lake in the years 1823-1825. He was the first collector of udagmandalm. To enjoy the riding in this lake there are various types of aquatic vehicles including pedal Boats, Row boats and aqua bikes. Not only the watersports but, things like Dancing cars and Mini Trains are the perks given to the Tourists. Tamilnadu Tourism Development Corporation takes charge for maintaining this Boat house lake. A place called Lake Park jolly world is also located in this Boat house lake. A Pleasant and pleasing feeling could be realized by visiting this place.


Pykara:

This is the name of a river in this district. It is believed to be the largest in the place. The old Tribals called Todas Believed this River as a Holy one and they were worshipping this river in days of yore. It arises at the peak called mukurthi. The entire passage of this river is through the hills a large. Taking a North Direction this river turns west atlast when it reaches the edge of this plateau. When Pykara River runs down the plateau two Beautiful falls ranging from 55 m to 60 m are seen. These Two falls are called pykara falls. Like, the Boat houses in Ooty Lake a Boat house is also present here maintained by the Tamilnadu Tourism development corporation.

  

How to reach

By Air:
Coimbatore 105 km from Ooty, is the nearest airport.

By Rail:
Ooty is on the narrow gauge railway, connected to Mettupalayam 47 km, which is directly connected to and Chennai. The famous toy train connects Ooty with Mettupalayam and Coonoor.


By Road:
A good network of roads and national highways connect Ooty with all major towns and cities. There are regular bus services to and from Coimbatore, Trichy, Bangalore, Madurai,Kanyakumari,Mysore, Palghat,Calicut, Tirupati and other important destinations in South India. Ooty is also well connected with major cities of Kerala and Karnataka.