Top 13 Enthralling Places to Visit in Ooty

April 16, 2018

About Ooty

Ooty is a major tourist destination in South India. This quaint hill station is characterised by the Nilgiris which are also referred to as the “Blue mountains”. The place is replete with vast expanse of tea gardens which are almost synonymous with Ooty. The beautiful winding roads, the green hillocks along with a mini toy train make for a very picturesque view.

Trivia: Ooty is also referred to as the “Queen of the Nilgiris”
Why Go There: Scenic Beauty
Ideal for: Honeymooners | Nature Walks | Relaxation

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Places to Visit in Ooty

12. Nilgiri Mountain Railway

The Nilgiri Mountain Railway also known as the toy train, is the most popular attraction in Ooty. The train service started in 1899 and covers a distance of 46 km in 5 hours. The toy train had been named by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2005. The toy train locomotive is the steepest in Asia. One can experience nature in its most divine form by availing this train journey.

Distance from the city: 1 km
Time required: 5-6 hours
Ideal for: Kids | Nature lovers
Best time to visit: All year round

11. Ooty Lake

The Ooty lake is in close proximity from the Ooty city and encompasses an area of 65 acres. John Sullivan laid down the foundation of the lake in 1824. The lake is encircled by Eucalyptus trees and is a perfect destination for photography and bird watching.

Open Time: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Distance from the city: 9 km
Time required: 1-2 hours
Ideal for: Experiencing Scenic Beauty | Photography| Bird watching
Best time to visit: All year round

10. Ooty Botanican Garden

Located in Udhagamandalam close to Coimbatore, the Ooty Botanical Garden lies at the foothills of the Doddabetta peak. The garden is spread over an area of 22 hectares and is organised in different sections. The Toda hill is a major attraction of the garden which gives the tourists a peep into the lifestyle of the Todas of Nilgiris. Laid down in 1848, the garden has many rare species of trees such as the cork tree, the monkey puzzle tree and an ancient fossilized tree

Open Time: 7:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Distance from the city: 2 km
Time required: 1-2 hours
Ideal for: Experiencing Natural Beauty | Botany students
Best time to visit: All year round

9. Ooty Rose Gardens

Located in the heart of the city, these splendid gardens have mini tunnels made for planting roses. The garden hosts a magnificent flower show and produces the highest number of roses in India. A wide variety of roses are cultivated including the hybrid varieties.

Open Time: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Distance from the city: 2 km
Time required: 1 hour
Ideal for: Experiencing Natural Beauty | Rose lovers
Best time to visit: All year round

8. Thread Garden

The garden showcases a magnificent collection of artificial flowers and plants. Anthony Joseph and his team of 50 skilful workers have been working relentlessly for many years to come up with the displays we see today.

The thread craft is such that not a single stich made by any needle or machinery has been employed. Materials like cardboards, copper wires and steel have been put to use to make more than 150 varieties of artificial flowers. These hand-crafted flowers can also be bought.

Open Time: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Distance from the city: 2 km
Time required: 1 hour
Ideal for: Art & Craft Lovers
Best time to visit: All year round

7. Simi’s Park

Mr. J.D. Sims and Major Murray built this magnificent botanical garden in 1874. The garden hosts a fruit and vegetable show every year.

Distance from the city: 13 km
Time required: 2-3 hours
Ideal for: Nature lovers| Botany students
Best time to visit: All year round

6. Tiger Hill

This marvellous spot lies at the lower portion of the Doddabetta peak. The hill top has a water reservoir. A cave in the vicinity is believed is be related to several religious folklores.

Distance from the city: 4 km
Time required: 2-3 hours
Ideal for: Trekkers | Picnics
Best time to visit: All year round

5. St Stephen’s Church

This magnificent structure was built by the British in the 19^th century. The Church located on the Mysore highway in Ooty houses the famous ‘Last Supper’ painting. Stephen Rumbold Lushington, Governor of Madras laid the foundation stone of the building in 1829. The timber used in building the structure was bought from Tipu Sultan’s place after the Sultan’s dynasty was conquered by the British.

Distance from the city: 1 km
Time required: 1-2 hours
Ideal for: History & Heritage lovers
Best time to visit: All year round

4. Kamraj Sagar Lake

The place is a dam and makes for an awesome picnic spot. The varied flora in the form of herbs and shrubs add to the beauty of the place. The lake is known for fishing and has a flourishing fishing business.

Distance from the city: 6 km
Time required: 2-3 hours
Ideal for: fishing | Picnics
Best time to visit: All year round

3. Dolphin’s Nose

As per its name, Dolphin’s Nose is a natural place where a protruding rock resembles a dolphin’s nose. One can view the mesmerising Catherine Falls and the Coonoor stream meeting the Kotagiri waters.

Distance from the city: 15 km
Time required: 2-3 hours
Ideal for: Natural beauty | Trekking
Best time to visit: All year round

2. Kalhatti Falls, Bellikkal

This place is located to the south of the plateau region of Sigur in Tamil Nadu. The water of the falls cascades from a height of 400 feet and is a sight to behold. There is also a fresh water lake at the site which is frequented by elephants.

Distance from the city: 8 km
Time required: 1-2 hours
Ideal for: Natural beauty
Best time to visit: Oct-May

1. Doddabetta Peak

It is the highest peak (8650 feet) in the Nilgiris. This peak is located between the Western and Eastern Ghats therein offering a great view of the Nilgiris. Most of the nearby areas are covered with dense forests. Also, though the peak is at a very high altitude, it can be ascended by foot as well as by vehicle. ‘Telescope House’ is a major attraction of the peak and it houses two telescopes which give a beautiful view of the Nilgiri countryside.

Open Time: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Distance from the city: 2 km
Time required: 1 day
Ideal for: Trekking | Photography | Sightseeing
Best time to visit: All year round

Lakes & Waterfalls:

There are many lakes and waterfalls in and around Ooty which you can visit to admire nature’s elegance. Lakes such as the ‘Pylara Lake’, ‘Avalanche Lake’, ‘Upper Bhavani Lake’ and ‘The Emerald Lake’ offer a mesmerising and a breath-taking experience. Besides, waterfalls such as ‘Catherine Falls’ are a treat to the eyes.

How to Reach Ooty

Nearest Airport:
Coimbatore Airport (57 km away)

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Nearest Railway Station:
Coimbatore and Tiruppur are the railway stations closest to Ooty. These stations are connected to Mettupalayam from where you can board the toy train to reach Ooty.

Nearest Bus Stop:
Bus services are available from Coimbatore and Tiruppur.
Travelling by private company buses and taxis is another option which you can avail.

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Where to Stay

Nearby Places to Visit

Kotagiri, Coonoor (31 km)
Annamalai Temple (20 km)
Droog Fort, Coonoor (16 km)
Lamb’s Rock, Coonoor (12 km)

Hidden Gems:

Bison Valley, Bellikkal is a home to varied wildlife mammals. Indian bisons move about freely in the place and hence the name Bison valley. Mountain biking, trekking and bird watching are some of the activities which can be undertaken in the valley.

Needle Rock View Point is located about 40 km from Ooty and offer panoramic views of the adjoining places which surround the valley.

CashKaro Recommendation

Ooty is an ideal place to undertake forests walks and trekking activities. You can explore the wilderness as well as enjoy a panoramic view of the Nigiris by scaling the many mountain peaks which are present in the area.

The Most Fun Way to Travel

You can embark on a journey by car from Coimbatore or Tiruppur to reach Ooty. Travelling by car entails flexibility especially when travelling with family and kids. If you do not wish to take your car, you can rent one from: Uber Coupons | Zoomcar Coupons