Ooty

Places of Interest

Government Botanical Garden, Ooty

William Graham McIvor was the architect of this large garden. This garden on the lower slopes Doddabetta was laid out in 1848, in an area spreading to 22 hectares ascending the slopes on the hill at an elevation of 2400 – 2500 meter above sea level. The gardens were established by European residents for the purpose of supplying vegetables at a reasonable cost too.

Rose Garden

This garden was established to commemorate the Centenary Flower Festival in 1995, at Vijayanagaram in Udhagamandalam in an area of 4 hectares, in five terrace set up. The Rose Garden is situated on the lower slopes of the Elk Hill on the North-Western side, facing the Udhagamandalam Town. It is about 1 Km from the Udhagamandalam Railway Junction and Bus Terminus, accessible with roads from both sides of the garden.

Lake Park

Lake Park :Is located on the banks of Ooty lake, Opposite to the Railway station and very near to the Bus terminus. Funded by the Tourism Department, under the Hill Area Development Programme, reclaimed area of the lake was used to form an exotic garden in the year 1977. The park is illuminated during the dark hours, which adds more colour to it. A fibre glass dome was constructed in the year 1978.

Ooty Lake

The lake is the pride of the Blue Hills and centre of attraction. This artificial lake was formed by Mr.John Sullivan, the then Collector of Coimbatore in the year 1824. This is located in an area of 65 acres. Fishing was the major activity in this lake. In the year 1973, Tourism Development Corporation, Government of Tamilnadu , on behalf of the Tourism Department took possession of the lake for Boating Activity , which provides another thrilling entertainment for the tourists.

Deer Park

Located on the fringes of the Ooty Lake, in an area of 22 acres landscape, was inaugurated in the year 1986 and is being maintained by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department. It is one of the high altitude Animal Park in India. This offers a unique opportunity to observe and study the wild life in their natural habitat. 6 acres of the lake area has been used to develop a park and it is open to Public.

Government Museum

The Government Museum set up in 1989, is situated on the Ooty - Mysore Road. The exhibits of Tribal Reminiscence, District Ecological details and sculptural arts and crafts displays of Tamil Nadu are special attraction in this museum. The admission to this museum is free. The timings are between 10.00 am and 1.00 pm & between 2.00 pm and 5.00 pm. It is closed on Fridays, Second Saturdays and National Holidays.

Art Gallery : Lalith kala Academy

It is situated about 2 Kms from Udhagamandalam on the Mysore main road.

Doddabetta

This means a Big Mountain, is the highest peak located at 2634 meters in the Nilgiris. It is 10 Kms drive from Udhagamandalam Bus Terminus. It is at the meeting point of Western and Eastern Ghats and offer beautiful Vistas of the Nilgiri Hill ranges. It is surrounded by dense Sholas. The Telescope house set up by the Tourism Department helps the visitors to view the entire district from this point.

Pykara Lake And Water Falls

It is 21kms from udhagamandalam on Mysore Road Fenced Sholas, Toda settlement, undisturbed grassy meadows, good Wildlife habitat, The Pykara Dam, Waterfalls and Boat House are the big attraction to the visitors.

Kalhatty falls

It is 100 ft high water falls, located on Kalhatty Slopes and 13 Kms drive on the Udhagamandalam - Mysore Kalhatty Ghat Road. Panthers, Bisons, Wild Dogs, Spotted Deers, Sambar Deers and different varieties of Birds are found on the Kalhatty – Masinagudi slopes.

Wenlock Downs

Vast landscape of this area has the Gymkhana Club, the Government Sheep Farm and the Hindustan Photo Films Company and provides great pleasure for a long walk on quiet roads.

Western Catchment

It is 20 Kms from Parsons Valley. The rolling hills interspersed with temperate shoals together with the lush green carpet of vegetation, gushing streams and beautiful lake-like reservoirs surrounded by hills makes this place a paradise on the earth.

Glenmorgan

It is located at a distance of 17 Kms from Udhagamandalam, is ecologically dense forest zone. Power House Singara operated by the State Electricity Board is located nearby. The winch that transports the power house staff passes through the Sholas and wildlife habitats. Permission to enter this view point should be obtained from the Electricity Board.

Upper Bhavani

10 Kms from Korokundah and 20 Kms from Avalanche. Rich and undisturbed Wild Life habitat and the Setting of this area is amazingly tranquil and a quiet family getaway. Trekking is possible from Bangithapal via Sispara to the Silent Valley and permission to enter this zone, from the Forest Department is mandatory.

Avalanche

It is 28 Kms from Udhagamandalam. The thick foliate prevents the sunlight to penetrate which proves this as a highly dense forests area, abundant with a wide varieties of avifauna. This can certainly be called as the nature’s paradise.

Elk Hill

It is at 500 feet from the town area and less than an hour’s walk from the Charing Cross. In the earlier days there were large number of Sambars. The earliest arrival of inhabitants reported to have called these animals as ‘Elks’. Hence this hill is called as ELK Hill.

The Mukurthi Peak & Mukurthi National Park

The Mukurthi Peak & Mukurthi National Park is 40 Kms ride from Udhagamandalam. The silent valley is located on the western side of this range of mountain. Nilgiri Tahr [earlier called as ibex or Nilgiri ibex] is found in reasonably large numbers here. This peak is compared to the peaks of Himalayan ranges in terms of the presence of Flora and Fauna unique to a geographical location

Kamaraj Sagar (Sandynullah Reservoir)

This reservoir can be reached via Kandal along the scenic ghat road through Hindustan Photo films on the Gudalur road. Apart from rich and natural landscape, Favourite pass time is Fishing in Kamaraj Sagar Dam, Upper Bhavani and Avalanche, where the waters are very rich with trout.

Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary

It is located at an elevation of 1140 mtrs at the border of tri point junction of the States of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. First of its kind to be set up in India and forms a part of Jawaharlal Nehru National Park. It’s area is around 321 Sq.Kms. Tropical Evergreen Forest, moist Deciduous Forest, moist Teak Forest, dry Teak Forest and secondary Grassland Swamps are found here.

Coonoor

Situated at an altitude of 200 ft above the seal level and 17 Km froms Udhagamandalam, is the first of the popular Hill Stations. Coonoor is a small town with an equitable climate that has made it popular as a hill resort in its own right. The main attraction is the Sim’s Park, a small well-maintained Botanical Garden that houses several varieties of plants found missing in the other Hill Stations. View points and picnic spots around Coonoor include Lambs Rock, Lady Canning’s Seat, Dolphins Nose, St.Catherine Falls, Law’s Falls, Ralliah Dam and Droog.

Sims Park

This garden was laid out in 1874 by Mr.J.D.Sim, the then Secretary to Government and Major Murray, acting Superintendent of the Nilgiris forests. Hence the park was name after J.D.Sim. Initially it was aimed as a pleasure resort for the residents and visitors. Later, the park has been transformed into an exotic Garden Park . The Park is spread over 12 hectares of undulated land and possesses a number of natural advantages at an elevation of around 1798 meters .

Dolphins Nose

Ideally visited in the morning, this view point is just about 12 Kms from Coonoor near Tiger Hill. This is located amidst dense Sholas, criss-crossed by winding road. You can get a beautiful view of the Catherene Falls from here.

Lady Canning's Seat

Lady Canning's Seat is 9 Km drive from Coonoor. This place is named after Countess Charlotte Canning, wife of Viceroy Count Charles Canning. That is because, she was very fond of this area with numerous Tea Estates. It is perhaps the loveliest point in the heart of the woods. Lamb’s rock, the Droog, the Lampton’s Peak and even Mettupalayam is visible from here on clear sky days of the year.

Law's Falls

It is situated on the Coonoor River, on the 7th Km from Coonoor, cascading down from a height of nearly 200 feet. This is a beautiful watercourse and a popular tourist location. It is named after a British, Col. Law, who traced the water path and constructed the Coonoor Ghat Road. The landscape here is extremely rocky and wild. This is set inside the Coonoor forest range with vast stretches of undisturbed Sholas and a paradise for naturalists.

Katery Falls

This is located at the 10th Km on Coonoor –Mettupalyam road and 1 Km from Kendala Village. This is one of the highest falls of the Nilgiri and the third largest waterfalls in Nilgiris. Two reservoirs built one on top of another is located here and is also the site of the India’s First, Katery Hydro Electric Plant.

Droog

15 Kms from Coonoor. The Peak stands at an elevation of 1918 meters and directly overlooks the plains. . The Droog is approachable only by a 3-km trek path covered with tea plantations. Locals call it as Pakasuran Malai, linking it to the mythical demon Bakasura. In Kannada language it is known as the ‘Hulika Durg’ named after the neighbouring village Hulikal or Tiger stone where a Badaga killed a man-eater. The Diaplated Droog Fort [just a wall remains there at present] was once a Military out-post of Tippu Sultan. One has to go up to Nonsuch Estate and then trek down 3Kms to reach the destination.

Kotagiri

It is 30 Kms east of Udhagamandalam and 19 Km Northeast of Coonoor, at 5885 feet above sea level with a healthy climate. It is the oldest and smallest of the three Nilgiri Hill Stations. Kotagiri is shielded by the Doddabeta ranges which receives much of its rain from the north west monsoon. Kotagiri Is one of the three popular hill stations in the Nilgiris and primarily a plantation county. The name Kotagiri means “Mountain of Kotas”. Trekking and visiting the plantations/factories can be the only activity for the tourists in this region.