Ooty Attractions - Tourist Places To Visit In Ooty

After the construction of Ooty Lake, John Sullivan had realized that if there is a boat house in the Ooty Lake, it would attract many people to enjoy the scenic beauty of the lake and hence he constructed a beautiful boathouse in Ooty Lake in 1826. Before the construction of boathouse, the lake was used only for fishing. Boating in the Ooty Lake is real fun due to the availability of all types of boats like paddle boats, shikaras, rowing boats, canoes etc. which help the sightseers to enjoy the boating service.

The boat races during the summer are great crowd pullers so that the Ooty Lake is a very favorite site of the campers and picnickers. The lake garden, a mini train ride and amusement rides are seen along the sides. A deer park has come up on the fringes of the lake. The boat house is the one of the main centers of entertainment in Ooty. Just beside the boathouse, the children's park is present with the toy- train, which is equally a favorite for the kids and the adults. One can also indulge in horse riding on the banks of the lake.

The government museum in Ooty is located on the Mysore road and is a faultless place to learn a little more about the ancient traditions of people, their culture and faith in God. With the intension of promoting tourism in Ooty, the TTDC had established this museum at 7500 ft elevation in the year 1989.26 This museum holds a huge collection of tribal objects and artifacts that reveals the ancient life style of natives to people all over the World. Various arts, crafts, sculptures, weapons, clothing and others used by ancient Todas have been preserved in this museum and details of various items regarding how the Todas lived and led their life are made available to viewers. In the present situation, the Todas, who are actually a native tribe of Ooty region, are fewer in number and a maximum of only a few thousands of them is seen in this region. Therefore, the government museum that holds the remnants of ancient people revealing their life and culture of tribes is a foremost point of attraction for tourists coming from different parts of India and abroad. 

The famous Hindustan Photo Film Company is located at a distance of 5km from the Ooty Railway Station. This industry spreads over an area of about 300 acres in the beautiful Ooty hill station, which is the most striking feature of this hill town and definitely a major booty tourist attraction is its scenic beauty. For those who heard about the Hindustan Photo Films, it is a worthy place for sightseeing during their visit to Ooty. Students are coming for their industrial visit to this industry. 

The Kamaraj Sagar Dam, also known as the Sandynallah Reservoir, is located near Kandal at a distance of 10 km from Ooty bus stand and is a much loved picnic spot for the travelers and the neighbourhood people. This dam is not only a picnic place but also has emerged as the preferred location for the environmentalists, for which students and nature study groups often visit the destination.

Bird observers also visit the area more recurrently to survey various species of birds that come down to build their nests in and around the reservoir. Further, this dam is considered as an angler's paradise because it is the home to different kinds of fishes, especially the trout fish and others. 

The Roman Catholic Church, which is the pride of Ooty, is the Kandal Cross that is located on the west at 3 km away from the Ooty Railway Station. The Catholics of the Nilgiris region call it as the Cavalry of Tamil Nadu or the Jerusalem of the East. Christians have influenced the culture of Ooty as the town was initially established by Britishers. Christians have influenced the culture of Ooty as the town was initially established by Britishers. The Kandal Cross occupies a place of eminence among the pilgrims and devotees and hence they flock the region on every Fridays to attend the special Novena Prayers and Holy Masses organized at Kandal Cross.

St. Stephen‟s Church that displays the early colonial architectural structures was built in the place that was once occupied by an ancient Toda temple in 1830. This small church is of course the witness for the influences of British people and Christianity in Ooty during the Colonial and post-colonial eras. 

Ooty Lake is perhaps the most popular destination among the tourists who visit Ooty. The Lake is an artificial one that was built by John Sullivan in 1824 and covers an area of 65 acres. It was constructed after collecting the water that would flow down from the mountains during the monsoons. However, it had to be emptied out thrice after it went above its mark.

The idea was to prepare the lake for fishing by local fishermen. The lake is no longer its original size and has shrunk because of various geographical factors and because of the construction of a bus stand, a race course and a lake park in the vicinity.

A short-term dam trapped the streams coming down from the hills and the lake was formed with the accumulated water. Today the lake is popular among the tourists because of the boating opportunity that it offers. The clear Ooty Lake is the venue of various leisure activities like angling and boating. In fact, during the month of May a boating race is organized by the state government and the event lasts for two days. One can enjoy the scenic beauty of the lake by leisurely boating in its calm waters. Watching the "sun go down‟ from the banks of the lake is an evergreen experience. 

The Botanical Garden or the Government Botanical Garden are located in Ooty and are spread over an area of 22 hectares. The Gardens, which are built on the slopes of Doddabetta Peak, have a terraced look of lush green carpets. The Tamil Nadu Horticulture Department is responsible for the maintenance of the Gardens.

The Gardens were laid out in the year 1847 and were designed by the English architect William Graham McIvor. During the pre-Independence era, one required membership of the Gardens, which was open to only Europeans and they were charged a fee of Rs. 3 per month.

The Gardens are visited by lakhs of tourists each year because of the innumerable plants of different species that are found here. These plants are both exotic as well as indigenous. There are herbs, shrubs, trees, bonsai plants and ferns. Within the premises of the Gardens is a fossilized tree trunk as well, that is believed to be at least 20 million years old!

Flower Show in Ooty is organized during the month of May, primarily because the hill station is very touristy during this month. Different varieties of flowers are exhibited in the Botanical Gardens and thousands of tourists visit the show each day.

The Flower Show in the Nilgiris is very popular as there are some 150 varieties of flowers that are put on display at the show. These flowers are indigenous as well as imported. There are some variations of flowers that are exotic as well as rare. To keep the spirit of the Flower Show alive, organizers conduct competitions as well.

Many people from all over the country participate in this competition and display the flowers that they have so lovingly planted and watched them bloom. Some 250 people participate in the flower show each year under different categories. The show lasts for two days and at the end of the second day the winners are announced.

Wenlock Downs is a very famous picnic spot near the town of Ooty and the place is mainly popular for shooting films because of its beautiful location. The gently rolling hills, the green stretch of land, the wide open spaces and the endlessly sprawling greens are enough to fill your heart with joy.

Wenlock Downs covers an enthralling area of about 20,000 acres. The entire place is lined with majestically standing eucalyptus trees. During the pre-independence era, the place was very popular among the Europeans who would regularly visit the grounds for the purpose of hunting. This was where the popular Udhagamandalam Hunt would take place.

Once hunting was banned in independent India, the place became a famous picnic spot among the local population. In today’s times, no tourist coming to this side of the country can leave without visiting the place. In fact, the place now harbours the Gymkhana Club including the club’s golf course as well as the Government Sheep Farm.

Dodabetta is the highest mountain peak of the Nilgiri Hills and stands for 'Big Mountain' in Kannada language. The mountain stands tall at a height of 8650 ft and is about 9 km from the city of Ooty and is accessible via the Ooty-Kotagiri Road.

One can get a clear view of the Chamundi Hills from the Dodabetta. The other peaks visible from atop the Dodabetta are Kulkudi, Kattadadu and Hecuba. All these three peaks lie close to Udagamandalam. The uniqueness of Dodabetta lies in its summit that is actually a flattened curve. The peak is another popular tourist attraction in Ooty.

Around 3500 tourists visit the peak per day during the tourist season of April and May. To make the visit to the peak more interesting forest officials have added an observatory on top of the mountain. There are two telescopes that the tourists can use to get a view of the scenic valley.

This is a reservoir in the middle of the fertile green valley and uphill and is located just 19 km away from Ooty. Pykara River that is considered to be the sacred river of Todas arises from Mukurthi Peak and passes through a hilly tract, generally keeping to the north and turns to the west after reaching the plateau's edge so as to form a reservoir which is most often called Pykara lake.28 While flowing through a series of cascades, it forms two falls which are 55 m and 61 m in height respectively just 6 km from the bridge on the main road. The Pykara falls and the dam equipped with boat house give additional beauty to this tourist destination. 

Pykara Lake is a sterling example of nature’s exquisiteness and lies around 30 km from the Mudumalai National Park. The lake has a wonderful panoramic view and pristine green water. The largest lake in the Nilgiris district, it is considered very sacred by the Todas.

Wenlock Downs, a vast, undisturbed lush meadow is a favourite picnic spot of dwellers and tourists, and this is located very close to the Pykara Lake.

The Tamil Nadu Tourism and Development Corporation maintains a boathouse on the lake. Fitted with a restaurant, the boathouse offers visitors a chance to take a trip along the beautiful water body. A bridge on the main road presents the ideal vantage point for one to take photos, and the view from here is exhilarating. The Pykara river has a dam and power plant as well.

Avalanche Lake is located in the Nilgiri Hills and is at a distance of about 22 km from the city of Ooty. The lake has been so named because of the avalanche that was experienced in the area during the 19th century. The lake is a popular tourist destination among the tourists and the locals alike. The area surrounding the lake has a magical charm about it.

The rolling hills surrounding the lake remain covered with magnolias, rhododendrons and orchids for the most part of the year giving the area an ethereal look. Many tourists can be seen taking a leisurely stroll on the winding path that surrounds the lake.

Some people also prefer fishing in the lake that is full of trout. In fact, a trout hatchery has been opened in the vicinity that provides tourists with fishing rods, baits and other accessories. Adventurous tourists also set up camps next to the lake and spend most of their days lazying around the lake. Some indulge in adventurous activities like trekking while others prefer the daring sport like rafting.

Makar Pongal is a festival that is celebrated in the entire state of Tamil Nadu with great pomp and show. The festival is celebrated in mid-January and falls between the 12th and 15th day of the month. It is actually the Harvest Festival of the state and everybody, especially the farmers take great joy in making a huge celebration on the day of Makar Pongal.

The festival is believed to bring prosperity and wealth into the lives of those who celebrate it. In Ooty, it is celebrated by thanking the Sun God and the Rain God for helping the crops grow. The cattle are also thanked for their help provided in this endeavour.

All Hindus decorate their houses with flowers and make ‘rangolis’ or designs on the floors of their homes. These designs are prepared using petals of flowers and coloured rice powder. A special sweet using milk, rice and jaggery is prepared on this day. This is known as rice pudding and is considered a must eat on the day of Makar Pongal.

Glenmorgan is located about 35 km from the town of Ooty and this scenic village is very popular among the tourists. The specialty of the village lies in the tea estates that sprawl the hills near the village.

A popular attraction of the Glenmorgan Village is a ropeway that goes from the power house (located in Singara) up to the village. The ropeway is about 3 km long and is built at a height of 980 ft. It is at an incline of 41 degrees close to the area called the German Point.

The ascent and descent via the ropeway becomes difficult near the German Point because of the incline. It is regularly used by those working in the power house. The village is very popular among the locals as well as the tourists for being a picnic spot. It is for the wonderful view that it offers of the tea estates.