Ooty is a beautiful hill station located in the hills of Tamil Nadu on the Coromandel Peninsular. It is one of the most popular hill stations in India, with its mild temperature, cool climate and breathtaking views from atop Ooty’s three hills. It is also home to mainly Christians. The best time to visit Ooty will be November-April and there are so many gorgeous places to visit in Ooty.
If you are planning on visiting Ooty, here are some useful tips for you!
Tourism
Ooty is well-known as a hill station where one can enjoy the cool weather and scenic view of the hills. It is also one of the most popular hill stations in Tamil Nadu. Almost all the tourists who travel to Ooty want to climb one of Ooty’s three hills.
Ooty has many attractions that are worth exploring and can be visited over a weekend. Sightseeing in the town itself can be done in a day, though those who have more time to spare are encouraged to travel around the surrounding areas as well. The Botanical Gardens and the Ooty Lake are great places to start, as they have some of the most beautiful views of Ooty.
There are several tourist sites in Ooty to visit such as The Botanical Gardens, Strawberry Fields, Lake Ooty, Nilgiri Mountain Railway, Doddabetta Peak, Fern Hill and Blossom Park to name a few. One can also opt for trekking near the town and can enjoy strolling along the lakes. To visit some of these places in Ooty, one can hire a private taxi or opt for the local bus service. Day trips from Ooty to Coonoor and Wellington Falls are also famous among tourists.
Weather
The weather of Ooty is refreshingly cool and also very humid in winter and summer. However, from November – to April there is a difference in the temperature and climate. In winter, it has cold weather with temperatures ranging from 0°C to 27°C whereas in the summer it has very low humidity with temperatures ranging from 22°C to 32°C. The maximum temperature exceeds 36°C during summers.
Ooty has a tropical climate throughout the year with pleasant weather conditions. Hence, it is not advisable to visit during winters and summers as they have extreme heat and rainfall respectively. In summers, one can expect temperatures between 25°C-32°C and during winter between 16°C-19°C.
Best time to visit Ooty
The best time to visit Ooty will be November-April when it has cold weather and few people visit during these months. Avoid visiting in summer as it will be very hot. Roads are closed during monsoon from June to September.
The tourist season in Ooty is spread over the summer months, from October to February. This is when most of the tea plantations are in full bloom. However, there are attractions all year round. Travellers can visit the town throughout the year, as it is not a very popular holiday destination, so tourists can easily find accommodation at hotels and resorts.
Transportation to Ooty from Chennai: There are two options for reaching Ooty from Chennai. The first method is to catch the train, which is most likely to be very crowded. On the other hand, you can opt for a private taxi or a travel agent that will arrange a taxi for you.
Events
If you wish to take part in some exciting events during your stay in Ooty you can attend the Flower Show, which is conducted at the Al cock’s Park by the Ooty Tourism Board and many other flower shows organized by local florists. You can also participate in boat races at Lake Victoria from June-July. In addition, during December-January, there is a Christmas Celebration with concerts being organized by various organizations.
Places To Visit In Ooty
The Botanical Garden
There are around 50 types of roses in the botanical garden which are taken care of by experts from Kerala. There is also a medicinal plant garden among other things to see here.
This is located on top of one of the hills at an altitude of 4190 feet above sea level. The Fernhill Botanical Gardens are home to over 1000 varieties of plant life from all over the world. A great way to spend a day is by taking a stroll through these gardens and enjoying nature at its finest!
Ooty Lake
The lake was developed by the British in 1847 and has a circumference of 1.65 km and is a manmade lake. The British developed this lake as a water source for their tea plantations. Today, it serves as a source of drinking water for the tea gardens around Ooty.
The Ooty Lake also attracts tourists with boating facilities available on the larger side known as the boating club, boats are available to rent here. The Lake also has a variety of birds like kingfishers, woodpeckers, herons etc., if you are watching birds this is the best place for you. The serene nature combined with beautiful landscapes makes this place memorable and fascinating at the same time.
St Stephen’s Church
The church was built in 1852. It is one of the oldest churches in Ooty and is a national heritage site. The church has been declared a protected monument by the Tamil Nadu Government. The interior of the church is very attractive and has some paintings inside it.
Tea Museum
The tea museum was inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu K. Karunanidhi. It is said that the first tea plant in India was found at Ooty, and it was cultivated here in 1842. The exhibits also include a collection of tea tools, types of seeds, cuttings etc.
The Government Museum: This museum is located at Mettupalayam and has around 17000 archaeological artefacts on display. The Popular Rock Edict of King Ashoka from Kandahar ( Afghanistan) has been exhibited here.
Avalanche Lake
Ooty is well known for its Avalanche lake, an attraction of Ooty. The lake is located in the mountain range of Nilgiri Hills and is a great source of fun for all. With a maximum depth of 11 metres and an average depth of 6 metres, this lake is one of the deepest in India.
The Avalanche Lake has many activities including boating, rowing boats, swimming & fishing. In fact, it gives a panoramic view of Ooty from any place on the top and also looks like a dreamland to the tourists visiting here.
Emerald Lake
The Emerald Lake is located in the Mudumalai National Park in Ooty. It is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Ooty. It covers an area of 40 acres and has a footbridge around it. The lake offers facilities such as boating, rowing boats, swimming and fishing to tourists visiting here.
Mudumalai National Park: The park is at the foothills of the Nilgiri Mountain Range and has a wide range of flora and fauna. You can also go on a trekking with some of the places to visit at this national park.
Deer Park
The deer park in Ooty is located at 3990 feet above sea level near Fern Hill. It is open from 10 am to 5 pm from Monday to Saturday. It has a wide range of fauna including deer and birds but no other animal has been reported here as of yet.
Needle View Hillpoint
This point is located at an altitude of 2300 meters above sea level and is the highest point in Ooty. You can see the view from here from a long distance, almost 50 kilometres from here. It is one of the Best Places To Visit In Ooty.
Catherine Falls
The water flowing here is pure and has no trace of chemicals, so sometimes the water becomes a bit milky white. It is one of the major attractions in Ooty and the waterfall, which was create by the meeting of the rivers that has a height of about 100 feet.
Blue Mountains
The Blue Mountains are one of the most famous tourist places to visit at any given time in Ooty. They are located far from Ooty towards Bangalore. They are covered with tropical evergreen forests which are beautiful to see. The Blue Mountain viewpoint is at an altitude of about 2000 meters above sea level.
Conclusion
Ooty is a small town located in the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu. The city has a lot of attractions and places to visit here, and the best part is that you can explore all these places in a single day.
The best time to visit Ooty is during March-April because then the weather starts becoming very pleasant and there are also other events happening here at that time. Other than these months, the most popular times to visit Ooty are December-January when people organize events like Christmas Celebration and Boat Races.
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