Popularly known as the ‘queen of hill stations’ and located, at a distance of 86 kms from Coimbatore, Ooty is a refreshing hamlet, for people, wanting to get away, from the hustle and bustle of the busy city life. Offering lush green glimpses of the surrounding beauty and replete with unparalleled raw natural beauty Ooty has always been a center for tourist activities. The plunging green valleys, clean environment and the unpolluted air are what makes Ooty one of the most lovable destinations for all sorts of travellers.
Experience the Beauty of Mother Nature – Visit Ooty
Ooty the “Queen of hill stations” is also known as Udhagamandalam or Udhagai. During the Colonial time it was the favorite place for the British to spend their summer and weekend holidays. The supercilious mountains, impenetrable forest, extensive grasslands and miles and miles of tea gardens welcome the tourists. The main attraction of Ooty is its annual Tea and Tourism Festival. Located in the Nilgiri Ranges, Ooty is the perfect location for honeymoon or family vacations. So for your Honeymoon opt for Ooty honeymoon package or for your family vacation opt for Ooty packages.
Get lost in the beautiful valley of Ooty
In your Ooty tourism packages you must have to include Government Rose Garden, Ooty Lake, Ooty Botanical Gardens, Toda huts, Stone House, Ooty Mountain Railway, St. Stephen’s Church, Ooty Golf Course, Wax World, and Tribal Museum. There are innumerable tourist spots around Ooty which you must add in your Ooty tour like Doddabetta Peak, Pykara, Wenlock Downs, Pine forest, Mudumalai National Park, Upper Bhavani, Emerald and Avalanche Lake and many more. In Ooty you must go for bird watching, boating in Ooty Lake and Pykara Lake, experiencing sunset in Doddabetta peak, trekking, and hiking in Nilgiri Mountain range.
Places to See in Ooty
Doddabetta Peak
The highest peak in the Hills of the Nilgiris (2,623 metres), this place falls right at the crossroads of the Eastern and the Western Ghats. This place should definitely be included on your visit to Ooty since this will be a refreshing experience. Situated at a mere distance of almost 10 kms from the main town of Ooty, this place offers breathtaking views of the panoramic surrounding. There is also a Telescope House which is maintained by the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation and also enables the tourists to get a better view.
Government Botanical Gardens
Ooty botanical garden attracts tourists from all over the world. Flourishing, green, well-maintained lawns, rare species of trees, a 20 million-year-old fossil tree, an Italian – style garden bordering, a variety of flowers, a range of ferns and orchids along with the presence of a crystal clear pool are some of the attraction points for this garden. The “Summer Festival” held each year at the Botanical Garden during the month of May is again popular. The pride of the festival still remains a colorful and vibrant slower show.
Pykara Waterfalls
The Pykara River is famed for being the largest river in the Nilgiris District. It gushes down majestically in a series of cascades and the last two gushes down the remaining 55 meters and 61 meters forming the Pykara falls. The boating here is a lot of fun, so do try it if you are in Ooty. Wenlock Downs is a vast expanse of grassy meadows on way to Pykara, is very popular with the movie makers in the country.
Rose Park
Rose Park is situated in the heart of Ooty less than a km from Charring Cross at Vizianagaram. The garden has the largest collections of roses in the country (around 3000 varieties) which includes Hybrid Tea Roses, miniature rose, Floribunda, Ramblers, etc. It has also received the certificate of being a “Garden of Excellence” by the World Federation of Rose Societies (WFRS) in 2006.
St. Stephen’s Church
The immaculate St Stephen’s Church, was constructed in 1829, and is the oldest church in the Nilgiris, with lovely stained glass.
Kalhatty Waterfalls
Located on the slopes of Kalhatty, these cascading falls are about 100 feet high and located at a distance of about 13kms from Ooty. There are several wild species like panthers, Sambhar, bison and wild buffaloes endemic to this region.
Avalanche Lake
Avalanche Dam and Lake is located at a distance of 25 km from Ooty. Trekking is quite popular here. The nearby trout farm is the only place in India where trout fish grow. The lake is ideal for fishing and bird watching.
Tourist Places near Ooty
Mudumalai National Park
Located at a distance of about 67kms from the wonderful hilly hamlet of Ooty, this Wildlife sanctuary is rich and filled with a varied collection of flora and fauna. It is also home to innumerable rare species of birds and animals. You can also easily get a glimpse of animals like elephants, giant squirrels, Sambhar, chital, barking deer and flying squirrels and birds including colorful parakeets, black woodpecker, Malabar trogon and crested hawk eagle.
Coonoor
Located at a comfortable distance of 17 kms from Ooty, the famous hill station of Coonoor stands at an elevation of 1839 meters above sea level. In upper Coonoor lies Sim’s Park, which houses more than 1000 plant species, including many flowering plants, pines, ferns and shrubs.
How to Reach Ooty
Air: The Coimbatore airport is the closest to Ooty. From Coimbatore, it takes 3.1/2 hours by road to reach Ooty. There are flights into Coimbatore from Singapore, Sharjah, Colombo and most parts of India including Mumbai (Kingfisher, Indian Airlines, Jet and Go Air), Chennai (Kingfisher, Indian Airlines and Jet Airways) and Bangalore.
Road: Ooty is well connected with a network of top-notch roads to almost all the south Indian cities. Regular bus services are available which runs from Mysore, Bangalore, Madurai, and Kanyakumari and also from many cities in Kerala. Private and state-owned vehicles run regularly on this route. The Coimbatore-Ooty road is the most well maintained and frequently used road.
Rail: Mettupalayam, is located at a distance of 47 km from Ooty, is the nearest major railway station. There are regular train services available from Coimbatore and Chennai to Mettupalayam. Mettupalayam and Coonoor are connected to Ooty with toy trains and the route is very picturesque. Regular Taxi services are available from Mettupalayam to Ooty.
Eating Out in Ooty
When in Ooty, you must try the city’s famous buns, Varkis, cakes, and other baked items, as well as fruit and nut chocolates available in most stores.
King’s Cliff Restaurant
An atmospheric restaurant with quality multicuisine food.
Kabob Corner
The grilled and spiced chunks of lamb and chicken are delicious here, and we recommend it highly!
Sidewalk Cafe
A fusion of an American and Italian fast food, it is one of the most popular cafes in Ooty.
Chandan Restaurant
Chandan Restaurant at Hotel Nahar, Chandan serves delicious vegetarian dishes in elegant surroundings. You can even choose from a range of biryanis and Chinese dishes.
When to Visit Ooty
The weather of Ooty is generally pleasant all year round and it can be visited any time of the year. The most suitable period to visit the hill station are the months of February, March, October and November. While summers are charming and colorful, the winters in Ooty are relatively colder compared to other parts of South India. During the summers the temperature ranges from 10 to 25 degrees, while during the winters it ranges between 5 and 21 degrees centigrade.
Ooty Hotels
Kluney Manor 3.0 Star | Regular Hotel
Hotel Kluney Manor is a heritage property which provides wonderful accommodation at an affordable rate. The hotel is 165-year-old property which beautifully combines old-world charm with modern facilities to make the stay of its guests comfortable and memorable. Sprawling across 2 acres, it was renovated a few years back. All the guestrooms are elegantly done up offering plenty of comforts. The on-site restaurant serves delicious food in the soothing ambiance. From Indian to Chinese and Continental, all kinds of dishes are served. For the convenience of the guests railway and airport transfer is also provided. There is also a coffee shop where you can spend some quality time with your friends or family.
Inn Gem Park 4.0 Star | Premium Hotel
Inn Gem Park is a modern hotel with a traditional touch. It is set in the heart of the city, overlooking the arresting valley and close to the tourist attractions and major shopping areas. Offering best of facilities and services, the hotel is ideal for both holiday makers as well as business travelers. The fabulous lobby features arresting Indian art and the entire hotel has an ambiance that spells grandeur and majesty. It features 95 rooms and suites which are beautifully decorated and loaded with modern amenities. The two on-site restaurants serve mouth-watering culinary delights and the bar offers a variety of drinks.
Discover the Best Budget Hotels in Ooty
Ooty is one of the most breathtaking towns situated in the mighty Nilgiri Hills in the state of Tamil Nadu. The original name of this well-known hill station was Udhagamandalam, meaning Â? Houses in mountains Â? Tourists are drawn to the majestic hills and the rolling plateaus in the region which remain covered by lush green forests, tea plantations, pleasant monsoons and comfortable temperatures. Many budget hotels in Ooty have been established in order to cater to the sightseeing and accommodation needs of the visitors. The best time to visit the region is from the month of October to June since it provides you with the best sightseeing options as well as a suitable climate. The best hotels in Ooty arrange sightseeing tours for visitors which include popular attractions like Pykara Village, Doddabetta Park, Annamalai Temple, Ooty Rose Garden, Sims Park, Wax World Wax Museum and the Tea factory.
Top Hotels in Ooty at Attractive Prices
Several hotels in the town offer amazing tour packages along with attractive discounts for tourists so that you are able to experience the joys of sightseeing without any hassles. The hotels in Ooty cater to your requirements and provide you with excellent amenities. At WeAreHolidays, you will be presented with various options for luxury, moderate and cheap hotels in Ooty and you can choose the best package as per your convenience. WeAreHolidays specializes in customized tours and this is the best choice for bigger groups and families. The cost of the tour packages offered by the company is both competitive and reasonable. You just need to log on to the site to gain your offer on Ooty packages.