Travelogged #18 Ooty — One Of Few Toy-Train Cities In India

One of the much-acclaimed scenic hot-spot in Tamil Nadu to spend your holidays in South India. Situated in the Nilgiri Blue Mountains hills, the hill station is often called the Queen of Hills. The famous toy train takes you through the nearby lush hills. The little hill station also offers a lot of places to visit and adventure activities to its visitors. Out Ooty tour will guide through the best things to do in Ooty.

 

 

Things To Do In Ooty

1. Get Mesmerized At Majestic Dodabetta Peak

Perched at a height of 8,650 feet above mean sea level which is approx. 383 meter higher than Ooty is the Dodabetta peak which has a mesmerizing view. Aside from the Doddabetta Peak being the apex of the Plateau of the Nilgiris, it likewise includes a thick forest region that covers the whole area. The Doddabetta Peak envelops a collection of Sholas [Patches of little wet evergreen subtropical and tropical broadleaf forest] that spreads over the hollow sections of the Doddabetta slopes. Visitors can get a panoramic view of the landscape, beautiful valleys, plains of Coimbatore and the flat highlands of Mysore from the peak.

 

 

2.  Stroll at Botanical Garden

Visiting Botanical Garden is one of the best things to do in Ooty. Be ready to spend about an hour as the walk is pretty mesmerizing. Having the striking view of the Dodabetta Peak as its backdrop, Marquis of Tweedale established this horticulture park in 1897. The Botanical garden of Ooty includes a variety of fern plants, bonsai, medicinal plants and so forth.

 

3. Safari at Bandipur

The Bandipur Tiger Reserve is situated on the Mysore – Ooty roadways. This keeps the recreation center on the course that is secured by various travellers and tourists, consistently. This reserve is one of the best things to see in Ooty and ha as significant numbers of tigers and elephants. Karnataka and Tamil Nadu control this park together. The Tamil Nadu side of the recreation center is called as Mudhumalai hold. Bandipur national park is prescribed for the acknowledgment as a legacy site which is a must visit and every Ooty travels.

 

4. Have Chocolates From The Local Shops

As per the rules of being a good tourist, it is adhered by law that you cannot return from a trip to Ooty before getting a few boxes of their homemade chocolates. The mecca for Ooty’s handmade chocolate is King Star which was built in 1942. The chocolate confectionery has more than forty delicious flavours of chocolate and also provide their customers with free samples. The chocolates are reasonably priced and quite unlike any other, you may have tried. 

 

5. Shop From Upper Bazaar Road

This one is definitely a shopper's paradise as they have everything which is trending this season. It's a long lane with the trendiest of footwear, clothing, and bags which will leave you in doubt as to what seems the best. You'll totally end up shopping for more than you thought of as almost everything will seem to fit in your budget.

 

6. Ride The Nilgiri Mountain Toy Train 

Passing through a lot of tunnels and over hundreds of bridges lies the 46 kilometers long Nilgiri Mountain Toy Train. The ride is very picturesque in nature which covers ravines, rocky terrain, thickly forested hills, and tea plantations. Kids especially love this ride along with the adults too. The best views and scenic places cross during the stretch from Mettupalayam to Coonoor. Every Ooty tour guide is incomplete without the ride of Nilgiri mountain toy train.

 

Places To Visit In Ooty

 

1. Tea Park

When you travel to Ooty make sure to visit their tea park to which is the main source of revenue for this city. The tea park of Ooty serves for the rise of traffic during the tourist as people visit the tea park after having a view from the Doddabetta peak. The management cross views the tea machinery that are used in the procession of the tea. The tea park is a must visit for all the tea lovers.

 

2. Fernhill Palace

Spread more than 50 sections of land; the Fernhill Palace takes after a Swiss Chalet. The artful culmination highlights cut wooden bargeboards and a choice cast iron giving it a trademark appearance. The royal residence is laid in the middle of rich green yards, conventionalized greenery enclosures and thick woods with the staggering views of terraced tea gardens and verdant valleys.  

 

3. St. Stephen’s Church

This is one of the oldest churches of Tamilnadu which was built during the time when the British ruled the country. The St Stephens Church is visited by lots of tourists every year and it is the main tourist attraction in Ooty. Whatever said and done about the British, they beyond any doubt knew how to construct buildings and churches that stand the trial of time and the structures they worked amid their time, still stand tall in the diverse pieces of our country.

 

4. Pykara Waterfall

Pykara waterfalls is about 4 to 5 Kms away from Pykara lake. Even though it is not a very big waterfall, but the way to the waterfall is having great scenic beauty giving an awesome place for clicking amazing pictures. The surroundings of the Pykara are famous for the Toda settlements and these are one of the very few placements where you find the Todas in their natural habitat.

 

5. Dolphin’s Nose

Dolphin’s Nose is a unique rock formation and its peak resembles a dolphin’s nose from where it gets its name. On your way to Dolphin’s Nose, Ooty, Tamilnadu in South India; you would be able to witness beautiful tea gardens and shops with a different type of tea bags, herbal medicines, and so forth. The Dolphin's Nose gives you a 180-degree view of the scenery laid in front of you with the Catherine falls hushing right through the center of the dense forest.

 

Places To Visit Near Ooty

 

1. Coonoor

Picturesque enchantments, splendid buildings, kitty cottages with astonishing views of nature Coonoor has many hidden gems within its lap to offer its visitors. Away from the hustle-bustle of the mad city life, Coonoor is an ultimate retreat and a serene destination to spent some quality time. 

 

2. Yercaud

Situated in the gorgeous Shevaroy Hills in the Eastern Ghats of Tamil Nadu, Yercaud is a great trekking destination to explore. It's a calm and picturesque hill station with an extensive widespread of orange groves, coffee and spice plantations all across the hill town. Not only among the most beautiful places to visit in South India, but Yercaud is also gradually becoming a tourist hotspot.

 

3. Alleppey

Cannot afford to visit Venice? Visit the Venice of the East at Alleppey commonly known as Alappuzha. Notably famous for its remarkable backwater, the city of Alleppey in Kerala is also known for its mesmerizing beaches, lagoons, ancient temples, and Ayurveda wellness centers. Dotting the coastline of the Arabian Sea, Alleppey is the oldest planned backwater town of Kerala. The backwaters coupled with houseboats and the tropical village life makes Alleppey worth a visit.

 

4. Kodaikanal

Kodaikanal is to Bangaloreans what Darjeeling is to Kolkatans or what Nainital is to Delhiites. Waterfalls, valleys, meadows, grasslands, forests, and lakes of the quaint hill station of Tamil Nadu make it one of the best places to visit in South India and a perfect summer holiday destination from the peninsula. From cycle rides to yoga, boat rides to treks Kodaikanal has a lot of adventures activity within its heart to offer to its tourists.

 

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Suggested Reads:

Trekking Calendar For Indian Adventure Junkies: 12 Treks For 12 Months

29 Extravagant Hotels To Stay In 29 States Of India

Hunger To Explore? Pick From These Hidden Marvels: 16 Less-Visited Places In India

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FAQs

Q: Which is the best resort in Ooty?

A: The Accord Highland Hotel is the best resort in Ooty.

 

Q: When would be the best time to visit Ooty?

A:  Even though it is a known fact that you can travel to Ooty all year long but the best time to visit Ooty is between the months of April to June and September to November. 

 

Q: What is the best way to travel from Bangalore to Ooty?

A: The best way to travel from Bangalore to Ooty will be by road. You can either book a private taxi or can just take the local roadway buses running from Bangalore to Ooty.