Ooty – Tamil Nadu

posted by kunal

Sep 9, 2017 1536 0 0

Udhagamandalam or Ootacamund is a beautiful hill station located in the Nilgiri Hills in the state of Tamil Nadu and is popularly known as “Ooty”. It is elevated at an altitude of about 2,240 meters above sea level. This hill station is popular for its picturesque landscapes and lots of greenery that includes vegetation such as pine trees, eucalyptus trees, lush green tea plantations etc. Ooty was also used as a summer capital of the Madras Presidency during the British Raj. Such is the beauty of this hill station that during the British Raj a few British officials have even compared Ooty to Switzerland. A unique feature of Ooty is the so-called “Ooty train”. So if you are a true nature lover then “Ooty” is definitely a place you must visit.

How to reach Ooty?

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Ooty Map

By train:

This hill station has its own railway station called “Ooty Railway Station”. This railway station is connected to all major cities in Tamil Nadu. There are train services that operate every day from Mettupalayam railway station to Ooty.

By road:

Several taxi and bus services to Ooty are available in the state of Tamil Nadu. Chennai and Puducherry are starting points that are in close proximity to Ooty.

a. How to reach Ooty from Chennai : The shortest route to reach Ooty from Chennai is via NH79 as depicted in the map above. Alternatively, click on the Google Maps link here to view on Google Maps.

b. How to reach Ooty from Puducherry : The fastest route from Puducherry to Ooty via NH544 and NH79 and the route map is depicted above. Alternatively, click on the Google Maps link here to view on Google Maps.

By flight:

The closest airport to Ooty is in Coimbatore. The Coimbatore Airport is located at a distance of about 105 km away from Ooty.

Climate and the best time to visit Ooty

The climate in Ooty throughout the year remains pleasant with, the temperature during summer months of March to May ranging from 12 degrees to 30 degrees. The monsoon season from June to September is heavy and this the ideal season for “romance”. The winter season in Ooty begins in November and ends in January with the temperature ranging from 5 degrees to 23 degrees. Although the ideal time to visit Ooty is during summer i.e. March to May it is very crowded and to avoid large crowds the best time would be from August to October.

Places To Visit Around Ooty

Botanical Garden:

For many people, Ooty literally means the botanical garden. The splendour of the wonderful garden with more than 650 types of plants and trees laid out since the mid of 1840s is a truly wonderful sight. This garden is now managed and maintained by the Horticulture department. Natural and garden lovers find this place amazing as the botanical garden houses ancient trees aged more than 20 million years! Walking along across the garden and visiting the variety of plants and trees, is a truly pleasurable activity.

Rose Gardens:

Next to botanical garden, the prominent attraction of Ooty is Rose Gardens. A variety of roses in unexpected colours are grown here. You can find roses in lavender, dark blue, green and even in black. The captivating beauty of the flowers on show is a visual treat and is not to be missed.

Doddabetta Peak:

Doddabetta peak is the highest point in Ooty. Located at a distance of 10 kms from Ooty, Doddabetta offers the stunning views of the valley, forests, tea gardens and plains. This peak is truly a photographer’s delight.

Pykara Lake:

Boating is a popular activity in Ooty and a boat ride in the Pykara Lake is not to be missed.

Horseriding:

One of the most preferred activities in Ooty is horse riding. You can explore the nearby countryside via horse riding.