Ooty - Hill Station With Charm And Beauty

The one place that can stand as a stiff parallel to mesmerizing beauty and aura of the famous hill stations such as Shimla, Manali, and Nainital is undoubtedly the scenic Ooty. Ootacamund (Ooty), also known as Udhagamandalam, is one of the most refreshing and exciting hill-stations to spend some quality time with your near and dear ones. Interestingly, the name ‘othakal –mund’ is the root word for Ootacamund, which means “the house of a single stone.” It is indeed spectacular due to its location and natural edge.

History

Unlike multiple other tourist destinations, the hill station of Ooty does not boast much regarding its immediate historical connections. Although, one can certainly connect it to Tipu Sultan because of the hideout cave, which was primarily constructed to extend the border of the Sultan’s Empire.

Geography

Situated at an altitude of 2286 meters in the Nilgiri District of Tamil Nadu, Ooty encapsulates scenic and aesthetic ambiance very efficiently. It is located in the Western Ghats at a height of 7,500 ft. Virtually, it is enveloped by four majestic hills that are the part of the Nilgiri Ranges, i.e.:

• Club Hill
• Doddabetta
• Snowdon
• Elk Hill

At the point of the meeting of the Western and Eastern Ghats, this ‘Blue Mountain’ rests at its incredible peaks.

Climate

Being one of the rarest places in South India that can boast of uniform and stable weather throughout the year, Ooty welcomes tourists with its awe, irrespective of the season. With a maximum temperature of 25 degrees Celsius in summers and as low as 4 degrees during winters, Ooty is an ideal visitation spot for the people who want cool, rejuvenating, and embalming relaxation in their vacations.

Best Time to Visit

Since the weather is no hurdle, one can visit at any time, any season. However, from November to January, it has moderate, ‘semi-peak’ season, which could be much better because one can comfortably go around exploring it’s natural and cultural aspects since the climate is neither too warm nor too cold. For those who want to internalize the chill of the air, going there in summers could be pretty exciting.

Places to See

This splendid hill station has a precious wealth of nature to demonstrate. Fresh greenery, pure lakes, and architectural dimensions contain jaw-dropping charisma. Of all the fascinating places to go for, the most popular are: 

• Mini Garden and Rose Garden
• Government Museum
• Botanical Garden
• Kalhatty Falls
• Kandal Cross Shrine

The list only multiplies, beautiful and exciting places to visit in Ooty.

Shopping

Ooty can easily top the list of most desirable tourist spots in India because of the economy as well as unique items one can purchase. Since it rests on pristine mountain ranges, the natural items available here are loved across the globe. The ‘must-buy’ things are:

• Teas of various kinds - masala, jasmine and even chocolate
• Organic Cheese and spices like cloves
• Essential Aromatic Oils
• Handmade chocolates
• Handicraft material

Fairs, Festivals, and Events

It is an exhilarating experience when one finds a combined joy of all the Indian festivals in one place, and this ‘one place’ is Ooty. From harmonious Indian festivals such as Diwali and Dusshera to the National festival like Republic Day, Ooty basks in the joy and spirit of each celebration. Besides, the other significant fairs/festivals to participate in are:

• Boat Racing
• Ooty Flower Festival
• Tea and Tourism Festival
• Bokkapuram Mari Amman Annual Festival

What to do?

Though festivities span the entire year, but otherwise too, there are multiple other ways to occupy oneself with when in Ooty:

• Angling
• Rope climbing
• Trekking
• Hang- gliding
• Traveling in toy-trains

For the taste buds: What to eat?

Delicious cuisines and rich-appetizing food items are also the major attractive facets of this little ‘paradise’ of Nilgiris. There are many options available when it comes to food:

• Tibetan food
• Bun cakes
• South Indian delicacies
• Fresh tea in irresistible flavors (it is essentially known for its tea-plantation!)
• Embassy ice-creams

Whether it be street food from some local inn or royal treat at Sullivan Court Hotel, all the dishes and desserts of Ooty are a good value for money.

Night-Life

It’s a city that lives at night too and that too with full-splendor! There are umpteen ways to make the nights memorable at Ooty. Some of these are:

• Ganapathy Theatre
• Virtue Bakery
• Sinclairs Retreat Ooty

After having virtually savored the beauty and the vitality of Ooty, who would not wish to visit it. So, how to reach?
Here are the ways:

By Air: Coimbatore, 105 km from Ooty is the nearest airport.

By Road: A good network of roads and national highways connect Ooty with all the prominent towns and cities. Also, there are multiple bus services, which are a convenient alternative to travel by road to Ooty.

By Rail: It has a vast gauge of the network through railways. Also, enjoyable toy trains connect people from Mettupalayam to Ooty very easily.

Accommodation

Ooty is very economical for people with various financial constraints to well to do folks; Ooty has something or the other to offer:

Some of the hotels are:

• Wild Planet
• Bouganvilla
• Vels Court Residency

With so much to explore and so much to experience amidst the view of expansive nature, Ooty enthralls and captivates all and sundry. It is, without any doubt, a hill station worth exploring and worth filing in the exciting moments of our life.