An
Overview :
Ootacamund, popularly known as Ooty is one of the beautiful hill stations
of southern India. Located at an altitude of 7,349 feet, the hill resort is
in the Nilgiri district of Tamil Nadu. Under British rule, it was the summer
headquarter of the Madras Presidency. Its mesmerizing blue mountains, tea
gardens with some amazing tourist destinations, the resort attracts
thousands of tourists from all over India. A pleasant climate further added
to the beauty of the hill stations.
Climate of Ooty :
The hill resort experiences pleasant weather throughout the year. Its
summer are generally cool with a temperature variance 25 and 10 degrees C.
During winters the average temperature varies between 21 and 5 degrees C.
The hill town receives an average annual rainfall of 121 cms. The most ideal
time to visit is between February to May and September to November.
Tourist Attractions in Ooty :
» Botanical Gardens - Sprawling over an area of 50
acres in Dodabetta peak, the botanical gardens are the major source of
tourist attractions. The garden has thousand varieties of plant species
including around 30 species of eucalyptus. There is also a 20 million years
old fossil tree trunk.
»
Ooty Lake - This beautiful lake was constructed in the year 1825 by the
then collector of Coimbatore to provide better irrigation facilities to the
people. This charming lake offers boating and fishing activities for its
visitors.
» St. Stephens Church - Built during 1830, it is
probably the oldest in the Nilgiri region. The cemetery close to the church
houses the grave of founder of Ooty, John Sullivan and is important for
historic point of view.
» Government Museum - Established in the year 1989,
the Government Museum of Ooty, houses a good collection of tribal objects,
local handicraft items, ecological details of the district, sculptural art
and crafts of Tamil Nadu. The museum is open daily from 10 am to 1 pm and 2
pm to 5 pm except Fridays, Second Saturdays and all National Holidays.
» Dodabetta Peak - Standing at an altitude of 2,623
meters, it is the highest point in the district. This offers some amazing
views of the picturesque valleys and Nilgiri hill ranges.
» Summer Festival - The Summer Festival is held
every year during the month of May in the beautiful Botanical Garden.
Various cultural events and flowers shows are the prime features of this
festival.
Accommodation in Ooty :
Being a popular hill station Ooty has many hotels and lodges that offer
comfortable accommodation and facilities. There is a dearth of five star
luxury hotels and good budget hotels in Ooty. Advance booking is essential,
especially during the summer months. Following are some of the hotels that
offer best facilities with a reasonable price:
» Savoy Hotel
» Fortune Resort Sullivan Court
» The Holiday Inn Resort
» Hotel Sinclairs
Getting to Ooty :
» By Air - Coimbatore Airport is the nearest one at
a distance of 105 km from Ooty.
» By Rail - Ooty Railway Station is on the narrow
gauze railway line and is at a distance of 2km from the city centre. The
other major railhead is at Mettupalayam(46km). The famous Toy Train also
connects Ooty with Mettupalayam and Coonoor.
» Br Road - A network of roads and national
highways connects the hill resort with all major destinations of Tamil Nadu
and neighboring states. City buses, taxis and auto rickshaws are available
for travelling within the city.
