From nature walks in gardens that makes one wonder whether Paradise, as depicted in scriptures of various cultures, have actually been derived from such sensory experiences to relaxing over a cup of tea from the tea plantations dotting the hillside, only to realize most humbly of nature’s gifts as a bountiful provider, the tourist places in Ooty can be expected to resuscitate the soul, depleted of its spiritual reserves through the trials of everyday existence.
Ooty, once the summer capital of Madras Presidency under the British, can be safely regarded as “India’s Switzerland”. John Sullivan, the then collector of Coimbatore had noted the same in his elaborate report on the region, way back in the 19th century. After independence, Ooty was developed into a major tourist destination and understandably so, given its qualification for the same, owing to nature’s abundant blessings in terms of climate, scenic splendour, local sights and sounds, its wealth of birds and beasts and of course its homegrown beverages of tea and coffee.
The majestic “Queen of the Hills” forms part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, reputed for its fragile and exquisite ecosystem. In the ecological parlance, it is best known as a “hotspot”, the label justifying the designation of the section of the Western Ghats as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Ooty has been developed to offer a rare glimpse to tourists of the essence of the rest of the reserve, much of which are out of bounds as part of conservation efforts.
The wooded hills of the Western Ghats with its canopy of unkempt, untouched shola vegetation interspersed with maintained and cultivated tea gardens offer a rare view of the symbiotic existence of man and nature where one can see and learn what sustainable use of natural resources should ideally look like. The botanical garden and rose garden curate much of the bounty of nature at Ooty to mesmerizing effect. One has to see the tourist places in Ooty it to believe in the gifts of life, otherwise often conveniently overlooked.
Ooty can be visited throughout the year. It is one place where seasons do not come in the way of tourists but offer something seasonally special to the tourists at the time of visit in terms of various experiences and places to visit in Ooty.
Summers in Ooty are pleasant while winters are cool. It is recommended though to visit Ooty sometime between October and June. It is that time of the year when the monsoons recede and winter comes with spring at its heels. To be more specific, winter and spring are the most appealing times to be touring Ooty.
Do Checkout: Best Ooty Tour Packages for Family
Ooty can be reached by air, bus and train.
1. By Air: The nearest airport is the Coimbatore airport at a distance of 88 kilometres from the hill town. It is well connected to all major airports in India.
2. By Train: The nearest railway station is Mettupalayam, located around 40 kms from Ooty. There are trains from Coimbatore, Chennai, Mysore to Mettupalayam. One can also avail of the Nilgiri heritage train which makes the journey much more exciting besides other trains like Udagamandalam Passenger Train and Mangalore Mail.
3. By Bus: There are many overnight buses that run from Chennai, Bangalore and Mysore. They make for a comfortable journey to Ooty.
Cascading from a height of 400 feet, the Kolakombai Falls is the highest waterfall in Ooty. Witness the breathtaking sight of the loads of water cataract down the Kolakombai Hills. Ideal for trekking, biking and hiking, the trail to the top of this waterfall is one of the most popular things to do among the adventure seekers.
Ooty is renowned for its bakery products and special homegrown beverages. It is wise to try out the fudges, chocolates and other bakery delicacies alongside the tea from the region.
Some of the famous local food joints are:
1. Earl’s Secret
2. Place to Bee
3. Nahar’s Sidewalk Cafe
4. Quality Restaurant
5. Cliff Top International Cuisine
6. King’s Cliff
Catherine Falls is located at Kotagiri which is around 36 Km away from Ooty. The place is well-connected to the roadways via the Kotagiri-Mettupalayam Road, therefore it is absolutely convenient to reach by a personal vehicle, cab or bus.
In Ooty when it comes to public transport, there are a wide range of options. One can avail of rented private cabs or go for tour buses and local buses. There are also three wheeler scooter rickshaws available for shorter distances.
You can head to Charing Cross, Tibetan Road, Ooty Lake, Main Bazaar, or Commercial Street, to satiate your shopping cravings. From winter clothing to locally produced tea, fruit cheese, essential oils, chocolates, and handicrafts, the markets in Ooty brim with goods that would certainly lure the interest of a shopaholic.
Mudumalai National Park is at a distance of 41.2 km from ooty. It takes around 1 hour 30 minutes approximately to reach the park while travelling via Mysore. The national park lies on the north western part of the Nilgiri Hills, on the margins of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. It is famous for elephants, Gaur, Chital, tigers and Leopards. The entire expanse of the national park encompasses 5 ranges, namely, Masinagudi, Theppakadu, Mudumalai, Kargudi and Nellakota.
The cost of the safari in a van is around 50 rupees while the safari on the back of an elephant will cost you around 100 rupees. You can also customize your safari experience as you wish and charges will also be designed accordingly. Private vehicles are not allowed inside the sanctuary.