Udhagamandalam (Ooty), the capital of Nilgiri district, is popularly known as the "Queen of hill stations' among the tourist circuits. It is situated at a distance of 105 km away from Coimbatore. The height of the hills in the Nilgiri range varies between 2280 and 2290 metres, the highest peak being Doddabetta at a height of 2623 metres.

History Of This Beautiful Hill Resort

It is believed that the name Nila, has been in use for over 800 years since, the King of the Hoysalas Vishnu Vardhana, who ruled from 1104 to 1141 AD seized the Nilgiris Plateau. His general Ponisia recorded this fact in 1117 AD with mention of Todas. The name Nilgiri was due to the blue haze, which envelops the range with most distant hills of considerable size.

This Nilgiri territory came into possession of the East India Company as part of the ceded lands, held by Tipu Sultan, by the treaty of Srirangapatnam in 1799. Rev. Jacome Forico, a priest was the first European who visited Nilgiris in 1603 and released his notes about the place and people of Nilgiris. In 1812 surveyor William Keys and Macmohan visited the top of the plateau.

In 1818, Wishand Kindersley, Assistant and Second Assistant to Collector of Coimbatore visited this spot and submitted their experience report to the Collector of Coimbatore Mr. John Sullivan. Settlement in Udhagamandalam began in 1822 with the construction of the Stone House by John Sullivan, the then Collector of Coimbatore. The bungalow, which is locally called "Kal Bangla", is one of the landmarks of Udhagamandalam and is now the Chamber of the Principal of the Government Arts College.

City Info

Altitude: N/A
Area: N/A
Climate: Temperature (deg C): Summer : 25°c to 10°c Winter : 21°c and 0°c.
Rainfall:N/A
Clothing: Summer- Light Wollen and Tropica. Winter- Heavy Wollen
Best Season: April to June and September to November.
Languages Spoken: Tamil, English.
Population: N/A

Places of Interest

Botanical Gardens: The Government Botanical Gardens, laid out in 1847, is the most beautiful jewel on the crown of the "Queen of Hill Stations". Well over 650 species of plants are in the garden and the fossil of a tree trunk believed to be 20 million years old is preserved here. The garden spread over 22 hectares has lush green lawns, six sections comprising varieties of tree species, variety of ferns, fashioned beds, an Italian formal garden, flowering plants, house ferns, orchids and nurseries.

Lake View: The lake is another attraction and boating is very popular. The artificial lake, shimmering under the gentle sun is a popular spot for the tourist. Pony rides are available along the road skirting of the lake.

Mini Garden: Tourists can visit this mini garden which is on the way to Boathouse. There is also a Children's amusement park. A snack bar is also available. Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation Limited maintains it.

Art Gallery: It is situated about 2km from Udhagamandalam on the Mysore road. The Art Gallery has various collections of contemporary paintings, items of tribal objects, district's ecological details and representative sculptural arts and crafts of Tamilnadu.

Rose Garden: Located less than a km from Charring Cross, the rose garden is laid on 10 acres of land. The garden has a collection of more than 1000 varieties of roses.

Doddabetta: It is a much-frequented peak located 10km from Ooty.This highest peak in Nilgiri Range at an altitude of 2619m gives a grand view of Ooty, Gundalpet, Coonoor, Wellington and Mysore on clear days. There is a telescope that gives a closer view of them all.

Deer Park: At a distance of 1-km from the Lake there is a Deer Park, which is worth visiting.

Government Museum: The government museum, Mysore Road, Ooty has items of tribal objects, district's ecological details and representative sculptural arts and crafts of Tamil Nadu. It was set up in 1989, with a view to provide education benefits to the residing and visiting population of Nilgiris district.

Excursion

The Mukkurthi Peak And National Park : About 40-km from Ooty, is a beautiful peak called "Mukkurthi". The Mukkurthi National Park is located on the Southern corner of the Nilgiri Plateau. The Kollaribetta and Nilgiris Peak are other major peaks around. A number of little perennial streams flow between these peaks, which fall into Bhavani Puzha. Silent Vally is located on the Western side in the Western Ghat, which is a feast to the visitor's eye.

Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary: This sanctuary is located where the Nilgiri Hills, the offshoot of the Western Ghats meet the Eastern Ghats. The Mudumalai Wildlife sanctuary has varied mixture of flat land, open grassland, swamp, valley and nullas.

Pykara: Pykara is situated about 21-km from Ooty. Some of the tourist attractions of this place are well-protected fenced sholas, Toda settlements, undisturbed grassy meadows and also a good wildlife habitat. The Pykara Dam, Pykara falls and the reservoir attracts many tourists. A boathouse with restaurant and a rest house are available at Pykara.

How to get there

By Air

The nearest airport is at Coimbatore, 100km from Ooty. Coimbatore is connected to Bangalore, Chennai and Mumbai.

By Rail

Nearest broad gauge railway head is Mettupalayam (46 kms). Major broad gauge railway junction is Coimbatore. It is connected with all major cities. A Mountain Railway that takes 4 hours for journey connects Mettupalayam to Ooty.

By Road

Ooty is connected to other parts of the country with good roads. Regular bus services from and to Ooty are operated by public and private transport organisations.

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