Settlement in Udhagamandalam began in 1822 with the construction of
the Stone House by John Sullivan, the then Collector of Coimbatore.
Locally known as Kal Bangla, it is one of the landmarks of
Udhagamandalam and is now the Chamber of the Principal of the
Government Arts College. Not many years after the construction of
the Stone House, several other English cottages with pretty gardens,
large bungalows of top officials in the Government were built.
Even today the atmosphere of the Raj lingers in places like the Club
where snooker was invented by a subaltern named Neville Chamberlain.
The Nilgiri Library with its rare and valuable collection of books
on Udhagamandalam and St. Stephen's Church which was
Udhagamandalam's first church are reminiscent of the Raj. The
cemetery near the church has the oldest British tombstones and
includes graves of John Sullivan's wife and daughter, among other
prominent personalities.
Among the viewpoints around Udhagamandalam are Elk Hill, Green
Valley View and Snowden Peak. The most prominent viewpoint is the Dodabetta
Peak, the highest point in the district, from where on a clear day, one can see as far as the plains of Coimbatore and the Mysore plateau.
|
| | |
|
Charing Cross is a road junction with markets surrounding it. A
short walk from here is the Spencers departmental store, which still
sells its own Planter's Special cigars, made of Indian tobacco.
Ootacmund Club is the most exclusive, and best preserved of all the
former British clubs. The Ooty hunt, which still rides to hounds, in
pursuit of jackals, is one of the main offerings of the club. A good
game of golf can be had, at the Wenlock Downs, of the Ooty Gymkhana
Golf Club. Ooty races are the other major attraction. The Ootacmund
Derby is the climax of the season and attracts top Indian jockeys.
|
The Botanical Garden maintained by the Horticulture Department of
the Government of Tamil Nadu has a very wide variety of plants that
include different types of roses, imported shrubs, rare flowering
plants, eucalyptus trees, several old trees and even a fossilised
tree trunk 20 million years old. The Summer Festival is held
annually during the month of May in the Botanical Garden and is an
added attraction for tourists. There is also a beautiful Italian
floral garden and for those who simply want to relax, there's always
the green carpet of the well-maintained lawns. The artificial Lake,
yet another of Sullivan's contributions, has facilities for boating
and permission to fish can be obtained from the office of the
Assistant Director of Fisheries.
Among the viewpoints around Udhagamandalam are Elk Hill, Green
Valley View and Snowden Peak but the most prominent is the Dodabetta
Peak, which is the highest point in the district at a height of
2623m. Provided the day is clear, one can see as far as the plains
of Coimbatore and the Mysore plateau. Also for the nature lover are
the sprawling 20,000 acres of Wenlock Downs, which was once the
scene of the famous Udhagamandalam Hunt. The Gymkhana Club, the
factory of the Hindustan Photo Films Company, the Government Sheep
Farm and the Golf Course are all in Wenlock Downs.
|
Among the viewpoints around Udhagamandalam are Elk Hill, Green
Valley View and Snowden Peak. The most prominent viewpoint is the Dodabetta
Peak, the highest point in the district, from where on a clear day, one can see as far as the plains of Coimbatore and the Mysore plateau.
|
| | |
|
Landmarks
Mini Garden
At about one kilometre distance from the bus stand is the mini
garden (Children's Lake Garden), which is on the way to Boat House.
A children's amusement park is housed here. A snack bar is also
available. It is maintained by Tamil Nadu Tourism Development
Corporation Limited.
Lalith kala Academy
It is situated about 2 km., from Udhagamandalam on the main Mysore
road. It has various collections of contemporary paintings and
sculptures all over from India.
Rose Garden
It is located just 3/4 km away from Charring Cross. It lies with 10
acres of land with 1919 variety of roses.
Botanical Garden
Established in 1848, by the Marquis of Tweeddale, the gardens lie on
the lower slopes of Dodabetta peak, the highest point in Ooty. The
gardens are formally laid out with lily ponds, and there are clipped
bushes in the form of elephants, with raised trunks. Here, a
thousand different species of plants including some thirty types of
eucalyptus are to be found. There is a fossil three trunk 20 million
years old in the midst of the garden. The Roman Catholic Cathedral,
recently enlarged, can be seen on the road from Charing Cross to the
Botanical Gardens. The botanical gardens are the venue of an annual
Flower Show every May.
Lake
This artificial lake was constructed in 1824 by Mr. John Sullivan,
the then Collector of Coimbatore. The lake covers an area of one and
a half square miles, with a railway running along one bank. The
large graveyard of St. Thomas's church, built in 1870, overlooks the
lake. It has the tallest memorial of Ooty, a huge pillar surmounted
by a cross, over the grave of William Patrick Adam, the Governor of
Madras Presidency, who died in Ooty in 1881. Paddleboats or rowing
boats are available for boating enthusiasts. The lake garden and toy
train are other attractions.
Government Museum
The Government Museum, Mysore Road, Udhagamandalam has tribal
objects, the district's ecological details and representative
sculptural arts and crafts of Tamil Nadu.
The Mukurthi Peak & Mukurthi National Park
Mukurthi Peak is about 40 km from Ooty. The Mukurthi National park
is located on the South Eastern corner of the Nilgiris plateau. The
area contains a viable population of Nilfiti Thar (Hamitragus
hilocrius). The Silent Valley is located on the Western side of
these ranges. Fascinating feature of the Mukurthi Sanctuary is its
endemism and relationship with Himalayan flora and fauna.
Ketty Valley View
Located en route to Coonoor, this idyllic spot is a cluster of tiny
villages that extend to the plains of Coimbatore and Mysore plateau.
Pykara (21 km)
Situated on the Ooty Mysore Road it boasts of fenced Shola and Toda
settlements, undisturbed grassy meadows and also a good wildlife
habitat. The Pyakara Dam and the reservoir attract many tourists.
Glenmorgan (17 km)
An Electricity Board van carries staff from Glenmorgan viewpoint to
the power house at Singara. All the four km of the winch track pass
through undisturbed Sholas and wildlife habitat. Prior permission of
E. B. authorities should be obtained to enter the viewpoint zone.
Upper Bhavani
10 km from Korakundah and about 20 km from Avalanche. From
Bangithappal via Sispara one can trek to the Silent Valley.
Avalanche (26km)
About 26 km from Ooty is Avalanche, known after an avalanche in the
area in 1823. This is one of the best spots for trout fishing, and
rods can be hired here from the trout hatchery. A 7 km walk from
Avalanche is the MacIvor's Bund. Ahead of this is Mukerti Peak, at
an altitude of 8031 feet, which is also a part of Nilgiri Tahr
Sanctuary, created in the most remote part of the mountains. An
abundance of a wide variety of avifauna makes it a Nature Lover's
Paradise.
Western Catchment
It is about 20 km from Parason Valley. It consists of rolling grassy
downs interspersed with temperate Sholas occupying depressions and
valleys.
Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctury (67 km)
Lying in the Nilgiri District abutting Kerala & Karnataka State,
this is situated at an elevation of 1000 metres and extends over an
area of 321 sq. km. The sanctuary has a variety of fauna, which
includes elephant, gayr, tiger, panther, sambar, spotted deer,
barking deer, mouse, wild boar and porcupine. The avifauna is varied
with minivets, hornbills, fairy blue birds, jungle fowls etc. The
reptilians are represented by python, monitor lizard and flying
lizard etc. Flora includes tropical evergreen forest, moist
deciduous forest, moist teak forest dry teak forest, secondary
grasslands and swamps.
Other picturesque scenic spots in the sanctuary include the Moyar
Waterfalls, the Chief Minister's watchtower. Ombetta Swamp,
Theppakad elephant camp etc. Elephant and vehicle rides in the
sanctuary along visitor routes can be made on payment.
Doddabetta (10 km)
The highest peak (2623 metres) in the Nilgiris, it lies at the
junction of Western & Eastern Ghats and offers beautiful vistas of
the Nilgiri Hills ranges. There is a telescope house run by TTDC.
Kalhatty Falls
It is located on the Kalhatty slopes and about 13 km from Ooty
Wenlock Downs
A vast expanse of undulating landscape offers the pleasure of long
stroll on quiet roads. Gymkhana Club, the government Sheep Farm and
Hindustan Photo Films Company are important landmarks here.
Elka Hills
A wide and uninterrupted view of Udhagamandalam and the Lovedale
Valley can be had from here.
Snowden Peak
Situated on the Kothagiri Road, it offers a picturesque view of
Mysore.
Coonoor (17 km)
Coonoor a small town that stands on a lower ridge of the plateau at
an altitude of 1858 m has an equable climate that has made it
popular as a hill resort in its own right. The main attraction is
the Sim's Park, a small well-maintained botanical garden that has
several varieties of plants not to be found in other hill stations.
Viewpoints and picnic spots around Coonoor include Lamb's Rock, Lady
Canning's Seat, Dolphin's Nose, St Catherine Falls, Law's Falls,
Ralliah Dam and Droog.
Dolphin's Nose
12km from Coonoor, a glimpse of the Catherine Falls can be had from
here.
Lamb's Rock (8km)
A sheer precipice of several hundred metres it commands a good view
of the Coimbatore plains.
Law's falls (7 km)
It is situated in the Ghat RF of Coonoor forest range and the drop
of 180 feet is a sight to see.
St. Catherine Falls (8 km)
The environ of the falls has a beautiful scenery.
Sim's Park
This park - cum - botanical garden contains many rare species of
trees. The Annual Fruit and Vegetable show is held here in May.
Kotagiri (31 km)
It is 1983 m (6503ft) above the sea level and has a climate
advantage over Ooty as Kotagiri is shielded by the Doddabetta
ranges, which receives much of its rain from northwest monsoon. One
can enjoy a pleasure ride on road flanked by green tea beds on
either side.
Kodanad View Point
20 km from Kothagiri on the eastern edges of Nilgiris. On either
side of the road one can experience the sight of the endless view of
the distant plains, tea estates, the River Moyar, dams and the green
pastures of the paddy field, a place not to be missed.
Other areas of attraction around Ooty are Mukerti Lake, Pykara Lake,
Tiger Hill and Marlimun Lake.
Fairs & Festivals
1. Tea & Tourism Festival Ooty (January)
2. Thaipoosam in Elk Hill Murugan Temple (February)
3. Bokkapuram Mari Amman Annual Festival (February)
4. Ooty Mariamman Temple Festival (April)
5. Coonoor Mariamman Temple Car Festival (April-May)
6. Boat Races and Boat Pageantry in Ooty (May)
7. Summer Festival in Ooty (May)
8. Flower Show in Ooty (May)
9. Fruit show in Coonoor (May)
The Summer Festival is held each year during the month of May in the
Botanical Garden and is an added attraction for tourists. Salubrious
climate, lingering taste of tea and fruits tempt you to come here
year after year. The Flower Show is the pride of the festival.
Cultural programmes are organised for those interested in
traditional classical arts. Adventure spots like trekking also form
part of the festival.
An annual Seasonal festival is held here with a display of the
various varieties of flowers and vegetables. Various cultural
programmes are held during the summer season, attracting viewers
from around the world.
The boathouse at the Ooty Lake provides boating and also offers an
annual water sports competition, which attracts a huge number of
participants.
Various festivals related to Tea and Tourism are hosted here. A
fruit show is hosted at the Sim's Park annually during the summer.
The united planters association (U.P.A.S.I.) has its head quarters
here. The Pasteru Institute one of its kind of located here, which
is renowned for their vaccines.
All these are jointly organised by the Department of Tourism,
Government of Tamil Nadu & Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.
General Information
Accommodation
Savoy Hotel and the Fernhill Palace owned by the Maharaja of Mysore
and managed by the Taj Group are some luxury options. Hotel Tamil
Nadu, Hotel Dasaprakash, Nilgiris Woodland Hotel, Regency Villa and
Hotel Nahar are some mid-range hotels in Ooty. The TTDC Youth
Hostel, YWCA and Reflections Guest House offer budget
accommodations.
Places to Eat
Savoy Hotel, Hotel Dasaprakash and Tandoori Mahal offer good meals.
The Shinkow's Chinese Restaurant has some delicious Chinese cuisine.
How to get There
Air: The nearest airport is at Coimbatore (105 km), which has daily
flights to and from Madras, Bangalore, Cochin and Trivandrum.
Rail:
For a magnificent view of the hillside covered with forests, a train
journey is recommended. The Nilgiri Express leaves Madras at night,
reaching Coimbatore in the morning, and continues to the small town
of Mettupalyam, at the foot of the mountains. From Mettupalyam, it
connects to the Nilgiri Passenger, which takes you to Ooty.
Road:
There is a regular bus service from Bangalore (300 km), Mysore (170
km), Coimbatore (105 km), Calicut (187 km) and Cochin (281 km).
Getting Around
Ooty has taxis, three wheeler scooter rickshaws, local buses, and
during the season, guided tours to take you around the city. Fixed
prices for standard tourist sights are listed at Charing Cross taxi
stand. Temperature (Averages)
Summer: 10°c to 25°c
Winter: 5°c to 21°c
Best Season
April to September.
Tourist Information
Tourist Office, Govt of Tamil Nadu, Supermarket Complex, Charing
Cross, Udhagamandalam - 1, Phone: 0423/43977