If there's any place in India where peace seemed to have made its home, it has to be "Queen of Hills stations," Ootacamund (Udakamandalam) or Ooty. Located 300 kilometres off Bangalore, Ooty lies in the midst of Nilgiri Mountains (meaning blue mountains). The most popular destination Ooty attracts people across the globe round the year. Be it honeymoon, an adverture trip, a casual tour or an exploration of beauty, Ooty is the best destination for all kinds of travelers.
In case you would like to drive to Ooty, take Bangalore to Ooty road. After you cross Mysore, the 140 kilometre way would make you feel like you are on cloud nine. Also you would get a chance to cross the famous Bandipur Wildlife Sanctuary (a safari park). After crossing Bandipur, you would enter Madumalai, which exists at the feet of Nilgiris.
Madumalai is at an elevation of 1000 metres. This is the place where western ghasts would meet eastern ghats. Two eyes would not be sufficient to watch the beauty of Madumalai. But it's just the beginning. The ghat roads from Ooty start from Madumalai. After driving on Ghat roads for about an hour, you would finally enter Ootacamund. Thick pine trees would welcome you with cool breeze and you would see tea plantations and natural landscapes everywhere.
If you want to watch the beauties of Nilgiris while relaxing, then Mettupalayam to Ooty is the best option. At Mettupalayam, you are required to board a toy train to Ooty. Ooty is around 46 kilometres from Mettupalayam. Although the distance is 46 kilometres (which would usually take about an hour-and-half by road), since it's a toy train, it would take around four hours and fifty minutes to reach Ooty. That means, more than four hours of feast to your eyes. You would be traveling in the midst of those mountains (Nilgiris), which are synonimously used for beauty.
What to see in Ooty:
Like what we said earlier, Ooty has so much to offer to all types of travellers. Here we present you some of the popular sight seeings in and around Ooty.
Sim's park:
This park came into existence in 1874. This initially served as a resort to many English East India Company officials and eventually turned into a tourist spot and a garden. It is at this place, annual vegetable and fruit show will be held. This park is sprawled across 12 hectares. Many film shootings take place at Sim's park regularly. You never know you might get a chance to have a glimpse of favourite actor or actress at this place.
Lamb's Rock:
This place is about right kilometres from Coonoor. This place was so named because an East India Company official named Captain Lamb then made efforts to lay down a route to this place. The view of Ooty forest from this peak is something beyond explanation. You can even give a Titanic pose with your love at the corner of this rock.
Lady Canning's Seat:
The wife of the then Viceroy of Ooty fell in love with this place and therefore this place was dedicated to her. And therefore it got the name as Lady Cannning's seat. Here you will get a panoromic view of Ooty tea estates that would be lovely to watch. One can easily spend here hours together catching the beauty of the nature in all possible angles. And for photographers, needless to mention how best this place is.
The other famous spots in Ooty include Ooty lake (a natural lake where boating is allowed), Dobbabetta (highest peak in Ooty), Kotagiri, Kalhatty Ghats, Gudalur and Madumalai wild life sanctuary.
One will experience biting cold here. And therefore, you are required to wear a monkey cap to keep your ears warm. There would be no fans at the lodges and people here usually prefer drinking hot water. Dining at Ooty will pamper your tastebuds. So, Ooty is one place wherein mornings you will get the chance to eat the beauty with eyes and late evenings an opportunity to pamper the tastebuds and get cozy with the love of your life. Never miss this place if you haven't been there. And once you visit, you will keep visiting. After all, Ooty simply makes you fall in love with nature!
(AW Phani)
