OOTY

Ooty is popularly known as the queen of hill stations. It is officially known as Udhagamandalam and is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Tamilnadu. With its scenic beauty and brilliant climate, Ooty forms a perfect summer getaway. Nestled in the lap of the Nilgiris, the hill resort presents excellent views of the mountain ranges. The Nilgiri range is a beautiful mountain range that is a part of the western ghat. It is older than the Himalayas.

Ooty tourism forms a major part of tourism of the Nilgiri region. Ooty is famous for its tea. Lofty mountains, dense forest, expansive grasslands and miles of tea estates greet tourists almost everywhere in Ooty. The tea and tourism festival is one of the major tourist attractions in Ooty.

Ooty has its origin dating back to 1817 during the British rule. The region is full of sky scrapping mountains and as you climb higher you actually travel through clouds lingering on the edge of the mountains. Traveling through the hair-pin bend roads is another experience altogether. Lakes, mountains, palaces, hills, water falls, gardens, you name it and you have it here. The place is an ideal tourist spot where you can loose yourself to fishing, loitering, sightseeing, playing golf and tennis.

Some of the major tourist sites in Ooty are the Cairn hills, the Dodda Betta peak, the Tiger hills, the Arronmore Palace, the Awnandale palace, the botanical garden, the thread garden, the boat house lake, the Ketti Valley view, the rose garden, the Kandal cross shrine, the Kalhatty water falls, the Ooty museum and the Mudumalai wild life sanctuary.

Ooty is easily accessible by railways. Trains connect Coimbatore with almost all the major cities in India. From Coimbatore you get Nilgiri mountain trains popularly known as toy trains, till Ooty. The hill resort is around 535 kilometers away from Chennai. Ooty has good road systems that connect it to the rest of the country. There are regular bus services from Bangalore, Tirupati, Mysore, Coimbatore and many other nearby places. The nearest airport is in Coimbatore. 

Being a major tourist spot, Ooty provides world class accommodation facilities. Hotels in the hill resort can be categorized into luxury hotels, budget hotels, resorts, lodges and inns. All major tour packages of Ooty include accommodation facilities

Tourist Attraction in OOTY

	Ooty Lake  From just behind the central Bus Stand (also near the Railway station) the famous Ooty Lake stretches, in an irregular 'L' shape, for about 2.75 kms in length and varying distances in width(100m – 140m). For the curious, this lake was artificially formed by John Sullivan, the founder of Ooty, in 1823-25 by damming the mountain streams flowing down Ooty valley. Read More...
	Rose Garden  Rose Park is situated in the heart of Ooty town and it is located less than a km from Charring Cross at Vijayanagaram, the rose garden is laid on 10 acres of land. This garden has been beautifully laid out in terraces with rose tunnels, pergolas and bowers with rose creepers. Read More...
	Doddabetta Peak  The Doddabetta Peak stands at an altitude of 2,623 meters. It is the highest point in the district, making it possibly the best vantage point around Ooty. It is merely 10kms from Ooty so you can simply grab your camera and head straight to the peak, and click amazing pictures of the valley below. On a clear day, which is honestly not that often, one can see far off areas, even the plains of Coimbatore and the flat highlands of Mysore. Read More...
	Pykara lake/ Pykara Boat House  The placid lake of Pykara, amid the lush green valleys is a lovely getaway from Ooty. Here, a calm lake is surrounded by forests. There is a forest rest House at Pykara. A boat house by the Pykara falls and Dam is added attractions to the tourists. The major attraction of this place is the boathouse, with restaurant and a rest house to provide you with ultimate comfort. It is a clean and scenic lake in between the hills. It is an isolated lake free from pollution and maddening crowed . Boating is conducted here. You will get a wonderful experiences over here. Please Don't fail to visit here.
	Avalanche Located at a distance of 25 km from ooty. A place that should not be missed. An exotic experience of mountain trekking could be realized in this place.
	Emerald Lake  Located at a distance of 25 km from ooty. A place that should not be missed. Emerald lake is a wonderful lake in the upper plateau region of the Nilgiri hills. It is a part of the silent valley and is beside the Red hill nature resort which is a best picnic place of the region. The site of the lake is wonderful and one would definitely love being at that place. The chirping birds and ducks and other swimming creatures add beauty to the place and the sun set and sun rise is also spectacular here.
	6th Mile (Shooting Spot) Just 6miles from the Ooty city you can reach this spot. Its green & lengthy shooting spot which is surrounded by forest. You can see this spot in most of Indian movies
	9th Mile (Shooting Spot) It takes 9miles from the Ooty city you can reach this spot. Its green & very lengthy shooting spot which is surrounded by forest & mountains. This place is called as "Shooting Medu". Very calm place and very good for picnics. Dont miss to take your family to Shooting medu.
	Glenmorgan The beautiful countryside with tea and eucalyptus plantations. undisturbed sholas and fine views is ideal for drives and picnics. The beautiful countryside with tea and eucalyptus plantations. undisturbed sholas and fine views is ideal for drives and picnics.
	HPF (Hindustan Photo Film)  The HPF, one of the major industrial units ot the district, is a public sector enterprise. This unit is located (about 5 Km away from Ooty railway station) over a sprawling area of over 300 acres, near the Ooty golf-links on the Ooty- Mysore road. The HPF was inaugurated by Mrs. Indra Gandhi, Prime Minister, in January, 1967. This industrial unit is currently producing Indu roll films which are used for taking photographs; Indu X-ray films, the quality of which is acknowledged to be among the best in the world; Indu bromide paper on which photographs are printed; and Induaerographic for geological and defence mapping, industrial X - ray film, laser recording film, CAT film, special film for space photography, oscilloscope direct print paper, photo typesetting paper and range of chemicals for the film processing.
	Kalhatty water falls  The picturesque waterfalls come down a 36 m drop. A popular spot for picnics and treks. his water falls could be seen in ooty mysore route at a distance of 13 km from ooty. The road runs via the Kalhatty Ghats. It is situated 2,000m above main sea level and with many water falls and rivulets.  Situated on the slopes of Kalhatty, the magnanimous Kalhatty Waterfall stands pretty amidst picturesque landscapes. But falls could be seen in a particular season from September to November. The height of this falls is 40m.
	Ketti Valley view Situated on the coonoor Road This valley is the second largest valley in the world. This region is a seen with larger constellations of villages, that forms the parts of coimbatore and mysore. Home to the Badagas and tribes such as the Todas, Ketti represents a way of life that revolves around caring for livestock and cultivation of vegetables and potatoes.
	The Mukkurthi Peak And National Park  Mukkurthi is a beautiful peak while programming your Excursions in Ooty, which is located at a distance of 40-km from Ooty. Ideally located on the Southern corner of the Nilgiri Plateau, this peal attracts tourists from distinct corners.  The Kollaribetta and Nilgiris Peak are the other major peaks, close to this peak which are for the famous tourist attractions in Ooty. A large number of perennial streams flowing between these peaks, make a complete picturesque reality. Furthermore, Bhavani Puzha. Silent Valley, along the Western Ghats, is a feast to the visitor's eye.
	Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary  An ideal adventurous place, located in Nilgiri Hills, where the offshoot of the Western Ghats meet the Eastern Ghats. Area :32,155 hectares. Along side the adventures of the sanctuary, you will also find a varied mixture of flat land, open grassland, swamp, valley and nullas at this place.  The Famous Mudumalai wild life Sanctuary is situated at an elevation of 1000 metres and extending over an area of 321 sq.mts lies this sanctuary between Kerala and Karnataka states. Langur, bonnet macaque, tiger, leopard, wild dog, hyena, jackal, sloth bear, elephants, gaur, sambar, spotted deer, Indian muntjac, mouse deer, wild boar, rodent and flying squirrel are part of the wildlife in Mudumalai. This is one of India's best sanctuaries.  Mudumalai wildlife reserve was the first sanctuary in south India. Within the sanctuary is an elephant camp called "Theppakkadu", where there is a rest house. Accommodation is also available at TTDC's Youth Hostel and rest houses in Masinagudi, Abhayaranayam and Kargudi and the Bamboo Banks Farm that is 18-km away.
	Sims park - Coonoor  Sim’s Park is a 12-hectare park in Coonoor, which exhibits over 1000 species of plants. The park is situated in a deep ravine on the Northern side of Coonoor Railway Station at an elevation of 1768 to 1798 mts.
	Kodanad View Point - Kotagiri  It is about 16 kms. from Kotagiri on the eastern edges of the Nilgiris. On either side of the road one can see the panoramic view of the tea estates and the river Moyar is breath taking. A watch tower is there to view the panoramic view of Rangasamy peak and pillar. From Kotagiri bus services are available.
	Dolphin Nose  Dolphin’s Nose around 10 km. away from Coonoor is an excellent viewpoint. It encompasses the Catherine Falls. Lambs nose is another point on the way to Dolphins Nose
	St. Catherine Water Falls  From Dolphin's Nose of Coonoor one can have a magnificent view of St. Catherine Water falls which is about 250 feet height. But it can be reached from Kotagiri at a distance of 8 kms. To reach the top of the hills tourist should take a diversion at Aravenu on Kotagiri - Mettupalayam road.