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India » Ooty
 City Guide
 
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Nestled in the brilliant green hills of the Nilgiris, Ooty or Udhagamandalam, is one of the favourite summer retreats of people in South India. Slim and tall trees that have inspired many Bollywood directors, orchards of peaches and plums, terraced tea plantations, and eucalyptus, pine and wattle lining the landscape? a typical hill station in many ways.
Founded by the British in the early part of the 19th century, Ooty is home to many Britishers who have fallen in love with this hill station where they discovered a little bit of England. "?such beautiful English rain, such delicious English mud" is how Lord Lytton-Viceroy of India from 1876-1880 described Ooty to his wife! The British influence is visible in the handrolled cigars, chocolate and cheese one enjoys here. You also have the popular derby, and hunt held annually.
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Air
Nearest Airport is Coimbatore (100 kms).Coimbatoreis connected to Bombay, Bangalore and Chennai.
Rail
Mettupalayam serves as a lowland railhead for Ooty, while Coimbatore is the major rail junction. The Swiss Vintage Hill train runs from Mettupalayam via Coonoor to Ooty, providing a rare opportunity to travel by narrow gauge. This 4 hour journey through the luxuriant vegetation of the Nilgiris is a pleasant experience and is a must if you want to enjoy a stunning view of the region.
Road
Ooty is connected by all weather roads.
To Chennai (Madras) 535 Kms. (Via Salem)
To Coimbatore 89 Kms
To Coonoor 18 Kms. (Via Gudalur)
Local Transport
City Bus, Taxi and Auto available
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CLIMATE
Temperatures range from 25°C in summers to 5°C in the winters.
STD CODE
0423
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Ootacamund Club
The Ootacamund Club still has the old colonial ambience. It is the best preserved of all the former British clubs in India. Enjoy a relaxing game of golf at the Wenlock Downs, or try out the Ooty Hunt offered by the Club in its list of activities.
Raj Bhavan
Built in 1877 by the Duke of Buckingham and the Governor of Madras, the architecture bears a striking resemblance to the Duke s family home in Stowe.
St Stephen s Church
The small gothic-style St Stephen s Church, built in 1829 and situated northwest of Charing Cross, is one of the oldest churches in the Nilgiri mountains. Its huge wooden beam came from the palace of Tipu Sultan in Srirangapatnam, carried all the 120 km by a team of elephants. The attached cemetery contains the grave of John Sullivan, the founder of Ooty.
Kandal Cross
This is a Roman Catholic Church located 3 km away from the railway station.
Botanical Garden
The Botanical Garden was laid in 1847 by gardeners from London s Kew Gardens (Marquis of Tweeddale), in 20-hectares of land. This garden has immaculate lawns, lovely ponds with lilies and more than a thousand varieties of shrubs, flowers and trees including some 30 varieties of eucalyptus. The gardens lie on the lower slopes of Dodabetta Peak, the highest point in Ooty. It is open daily from 8 am to 6.30 pm.
Ooty Lake
This lake was constructed between 1823 and 1825 by the collector, John Sullivan and is about 2.5 km long and between 100 and 140 m wide. The graveyard of St Thomas s Church, built in 1870, overlooks the lake and has a huge pillar surmounted by a cross over the grave of William Patrick Adam, the Governor of Madras Presidency. This pillar is the tallest memorial in Ooty. Paddle boats and rowing boats are available for boating enthusiasts at the lake.
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Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary
Renamed as Jayalalitha Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park, the famous Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary is just 67 km from Ooty at an altitude of 1,140 m up in the Nilgiri Hills. It covers 322 sq km of deciduous forest. Mudumalai has one of the largest populations of elephants in India. Along with wild dogs, gaur (Indian bison), Nilgiri langur, bonnet macaque, jackal, hyena, and sloth bear, it even has a few tigers and panthers. The best time to visit it is between February and June.
Mukurti Peak
At an altitude of 8,031 ft, the peaks are 36 km from Ooty. The name is derived from muku (nose) and ardha (half) suggesting a severed nose for the strange shape of the peak. Boating and fishing are permitted here. This peak is also a part of the Nilgiri Tahr
Sanctuary. Avalanche
Named after an avalanche in the area in 1823, it is situated at a distance of 24 km from Ooty. This is one of the best spots for trout fishing. Dodabetta Meaning Big Mountain , it is the highest peak in Tamil Nadu. A motorable road takes you to the top from where you can see as far as Coonoor and Wellington.
Kalhatti Falls
About 12 km from Ooty, these falls drop some 131 feet down and offers a breathtaking sight.
Other areas of attraction around Ooty include the Mukerti Lake, Tiger Hill, Marlimun Lake and MacIvor s Bund.
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Go for some antique Toda jewellery sold in the main bazaar and also at the Savoy Hotel. Ooty also has lovely embroidered Toda shawls, a variety of teas (eucalyptus, geranium, lemon grass, camphor) and Nilgiri honey. Maps and guidebooks can be purchased at the Higginbothams bookshop. Also try out the cheddar, Wenleydale cheese and Planter s Special cigars made of Indian tobacco, at Spencer s Store.
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