Ooty

Nilgiri Mountain Railway

Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR) is a treasured element and fabled charm of Nilgiris since 1899. This Nilgiri rail system is unique as it is the steepest one in Asia. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO during 2005. Another interesting thing associated with the Nilgiri Railway is that the youngest X class loco is over 50 years old and the oldest is 80 years old.
A century after it first attracted travelers, the Nilgiri Mountain Toy train continues to inspire weaving through forests, moving through time, along the valleys and into the little dark winding tunnels, round the bends, up the gradients, through the glens, trees and birds.
A whiff of mist, a myna’s trill, sunlight dances on yonder hill, whistling, chugging, fire, steam-clacking, moving into a dream Gorge, gorgeous, misty, foggy shrouded peaks, drizzles clothe the slopes.

Ooty Lake

Ooty Lake is an artificially constructed lake with picturesque natural surroundings. Originally constructed for the purpose of fishing, the lake has become all but an important tourist landmark in Ooty. An evening cycling around the lake (cycles are available for rent), or a quiet morning with your beloved by your side and the lake in front is enough to bring calm to yourself. Originally extending a much larger area, Ooty Lake has shrunk in size over the years giving way to other structures like the race course.

Government Botanical Gardens

The garden is sprawled across 22 hectares and lies in the lower Doddabetta peak. The garden is separated into sections and is under maintenance of Tamil Nadu Horticulture department. The initial plan of the garden was prepared by the Marquis of Tweedale and to provide vegetables to European residents at lower rates. A charge of Rs. 3 per month was taken as the maintenance fee from the residents and such residents could get vegetables free of cost. Like the rest of India, Ooty was also under British reign then and the garden was managed by Captain Molyneux of European regiment. However, the leeway couldn’t work for long time and in 1847, donations were raised to convert the space into a full-fledged horticultural society and public garden. It was one of very first society of its kind and there were very few people around taking interest in seeds and saplings. The seeds and plants could only be sourced from nearby jungles and hence, after selecting the property between Lushington Hall and General Swell’s, it was established as a public garden. Lushington School and General Swell’s property is now Hebron School and Raj Bhavan respectively.

Doddabetta Peak

Pykara Falls and Pykara Lake

Pykara is the name of a village and river located 19 km from Ooty in the Indian State of Tamil Nadu. A boat house on the Pykara reservoir is an added attraction for tourists. Pykara boats of well protected fenced shoals. There is a restaurant and motor boats(20 minutes ride) and speed boats(10 minutes ride) are available. Pykara waterfalls flows through Murkurti, Pykara and Glen Morgan dams. There is a forest rest house in Pykara and also the scenic beauty of this place is extraordinary

Mudumalai National Park & Wildlife Sanctuary

The Mudumalai National Park or Wildlife Sanctuary resides on the northwestern side of the Nilgiri Hills (Blue Mountains), in Nilgiri District, about 150 km north-west of Coimbatore city in Kongu Nadu region of Tamil Nadu. By sharing its boundaries with the states of Karnataka and Kerala, the sanctuary is divided into 5 ranges – Masinagudi, Thepakadu, Mudumalai, Kargudi and Nellakota.
The Mudumalai Sanctuary is an important wildlife habitat due to its strategic position as a Wildlife corridor between several other protected areas making an essential part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Its north is being crusted with Bandipur National Park and Nagarhole National Park and at its west is the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary along the south corner is flourished with Mukurthi National Park and Silent Valley National Park. These parks, sanctuaries and the adjoining Reserve forests cover over 3,300 sq kms of forest supporting a population of 1800–2300 elephants.

Tea Factory and The Tea Museum

Spread over an area of nearly1 acre of land, the Ooty Tea Factory is situated amid the blue hills of Nilgiris, perched at an altitude of approximately 1839metre. Located at a distance of around 4 km from the city-centre, it is a must visit place for all tea lovers. It houses the Tea Museum as well where visitors can learn about the origin of different kinds of tea leaves that are used across the globe along with the history of tea in India and its evolution in the Nilgiris. While inside the factory, one can learn and appreciate the method of tea processing by CTC (Cut, Twist and Curl) machines. Sip a hot cup of tea as you admire the beautiful surroundings of the place.
Visitors can see the entire processing method right from the freshly plucked green leaves to its packaging.
One can buy specially crafted tea souvenirs like tea cups engraved with the Tea Museum logo and tea plates as well.
The factory is popular for its homemade chocolates too like rum and raisin, fruit and nut, fig and honey, roasted almonds, coffee chocolate, milk chocolate, sugar free varieties among others.

St. Stephen’s Church

Perched above Ooty’s centre, immaculate pale-yellow St Stephen’s, built in 1829, is the Nilgiris’ oldest church. It has lovely stained glass, huge wooden beams hauled by elephant from the palace of Tipu Sultan 120km away, and slabs and plaques donated by colonial-era churchgoers. In the overgrown cemetery you’ll find headstones commemorating many an Ooty Brit, including Ooty founder John Sullivan’s wife and daughter.

Melody World Wax Museum

The Wax World Museum in Ooty is a great alternative to sightseeing mountains and natural valleys of Ooty. Situated just 2 kilometers from the main town of Ooty, this is a place that you would want to visit during your vacation in Ooty. It makes for thoroughly enjoyable and informative experience especially for kids who get a visual treat of wax statues. The Wax World Museum is situated within a 130-year old Colonial Mansion in Ooty close to the Ooty Lake and the Ooty Town Centre. Wax museum that houses life-size look-a like wax statues of personalities of Indian history, culture and heritage house.

Rose Garden

Government Rose Garden is the largest rose garden in India. It is situated on the slopes of the Elk Hill in Vijayanagaram of Ootytown in Tamil Nadu, India at an altitude of 2200 meters. Today this garden has more than 20,000 varieties of roses of 2,800 cultivars. It is one of the largest collection of roses in India.
Timing : Mon-Fri: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, Sat-Sun: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm

Entrance Fees : Rs 30 per Person (Adults), Rs 15 (Children from 5-10 yrs)

Camera Fees : Still camera Rs 50/- , Video Rs 100
Things to do : Flowers, walk

Parking Fees : Parking Fees- Bus:Rs 100/-, Maxi Cab: Rs 75/-, Car/Jeep: Rs 40/-, Auto: Rs 10/-, Two-Wheeler: Rs 15/-

Bandipur National Park

Bandipur National Park is regarded as one of the most beautiful and the better-managed national parks of India. Located amidst the picturesque surroundings of the towering Western Ghat Mountains on the Mysore-Ooty highway in Karnataka, Bandipur National Park covers an area of about 874.2 sq km. Together with Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala and Nagarhole National Park in the North, it creates the India’s biggest biosphere reserve popularly known as the ‘Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve’. The Bandipur National Park occupies a special place in India’s efforts towards Eco-conservation.Bandipur also has a sizable number of Tigers. Other natural inhabitants of this lovely forest are gaur (a type of bull), sambhar, chital, mouse deer, four-horned antelope, wild dogs, wild boar, jackal, sloth bear, panther, malabar squirrel and porcupines

Childrens Garden Park

The Government Museum is located on the Mysore road city. It was founded in the year 1989. It is mainly established to accomplish the desire to serve the education profits to the visiting and regional people of Tamil Nadu state’s and also with a view to provide education benefits to the residing and visiting population of the Nilgiris district. The Museum has various artifacts of tribal people,Tamil Nadu state’s sculptural crafts and arts, ecological details of district etc.

Kalhatti Water Falls

Kalhatti Falls is also known as Kalahasti Falls. It is located at Kallattipura in Chikmagalur district of Karnataka. From Kemmangundi hill station, the waterfall is at a distance of 10 kilometers. It offers you a wonderful view of the water from the Chandra Drona Hill which is at the elevation of 122 meters. Moreover, the Veerabhadreshwara Temple is also situated in front which is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Pine Forest

The Pine Forest spans between the locales of Ooty and Thalakunda adding a scenic canvas to the valleys and the vast landscapes of the Nilgiris. A weekend excursion from Ooty to Thalakunda is one of the leisure activities to indulge in as the en route experience is sure to leave you spell bounded with jaw dropping sights.
The Pine Forest features an evergreen and resinous collection of trees that grows between 3 to 80 meters tall while a majority of them tower between 15 and 45 meters tall. Of the many species of Pine Trees, the smallest ones are the Siberian Dwarf Pine and Potosi Pinyon whereas the tallest one is an 81.79-meter towering Pine trees species named Ponderosa Pine mostly found around the Rogue River in Southern Oregon amidst the Siskiyou National Forest.

Needle Rock View Point

Needle Rock View Point It is a tourist spot in Gudalur, Tamil Nadu. Where the Gudalur is located 51 km on the west of Ooty and the Needle Rock viewpoint is about 8 km from Gudalur on the way of Gudalur-Ooty National Highway-67. The view point gives you a 360 degree view. The view point is also known as Soochimalai and gets its name from its conical shape.

One of the most amazing places to get a 360 degree view of the Nilgiris, Needle Rock is much more than just a viewpoint. Leagues apart from a usual sunrise and sunset point, it’s a gorgeous place, with the drive from Ooty being a major draw to come all the way up till here.
This marvelous tourist attraction derives its name from a cone-shaped rock which is one of the main features of this area. It is a good place to visit in Ooty for tourists, offering them breathtaking views of grasslands and valley of the Nilgiris. The beautiful landscapes that tourists travelling to Ooty view from this spot make them forget all the worries of a hectic life. Another memorable view that visitors can truly enjoy is the sunset which is clearly visible from this spot.

6th Mile Shooting Spot Ooty

The name itself suggests that 6th mile is located 6 miles away from ooty city. It is one of the best scenic view in Ooty. Pykara is near to the 6th mile. This is also one of the most attractive tourist spot. It is fully sorrounded by green, extensive and dense forest . It is also known as “Shooting spot”. Most of the Indian movies are shooted here due to its natural beauty and scenic view. Its a good place for photographers. It is one of the best picnic spot. Here the cloud touches your feet and you can enjoy the cool temperature. So by inflicting this place you can have a leisure trip.

Sims Park Coonoor

A wonderful treasure trove of some of the most exquisite plant species in the world, the Sim’s Park is an important sightseeing destination, if in Coonoor.

The botanical garden houses more than 1000 species of different plants and trees which are scattered all over the sprawling park providing a very unique and beautiful view. The park is situated on the northern side of the Coonoor Railway Station and is divided into eight sections with the one with Sholas and widening footpaths being the most fascinating one.

Dolphin Nose

Dolphin’s Nose Viewpoint is a tourist spot in Coonoor, The Nilgiris District, Tamil Nadu. Dolphin’s Nose is well over 1,000 feet above sea level, 10 km from Coonoor and is a spectacular spot to visit.The tip of the peak resembles a dolphin’s nose, hence the name Dolphin’s Nose. It is an enormous rock formation that is entirely unique. There are gigantic ravines found both to the left and right of Dolphin’s Nose and there is a view of inspiring Catherine Falls with its continuing stream several thousand metres below which is located a relatively short distance away opposite of the Dolphin’s Nose. Best part of spot are the hairpin turns and tea plantations.

Coonoor Sucide View Point ( Lambs Rock )

Coonoor is a municipality in Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiri district and has wide fame for its Nilgiri tea. It is the second largest hill station in the Nilgiris, next to Ooty. Coonoor is nature at its best, with fabulous waterfalls, lush forests and panoramic view points. Lamb’s rock is situated about seven kilometers away from the main city of Coonoor. The mountainous region engulfing Lamb’s Rock is myriad meters above sea level. One can reach the top of Lamb’s rock after a thrilling trek, and can view a vast expanse of the outstanding landscape. Lamb’s Rock is the perfect place to enjoy the beauty of nature and is filled with tranquil.

Famous For: Tourism, Photography, Adventure, Landscape, Panorama and Trekking.
Entrance Fee: No entrance fee
Visiting Time: Sunrise to 6:00 p.m.
Visit Duration: Two to four hours.