Ooty
Nestled in Nilgiris

One of the foremost popular hill stations in India, with all-year-round pleasant weather, Coonoor is found approximately 21 km faraway from Ooty. a huge sort of wildflowers and birds are often found here. the most attraction is that the tea estates which will be found in abundance. Capitol Hill station presents the right opportunity for adventure activities also , there are many hiking and trekking trails also as camping sites. Coonoor is situated at an elevation of about 200 ft and other nearby places of interest include Lambs Rock, Lady Cannings Seat, Dolphins Nose, St. Catherine Falls, Sim’s Park. A toy train connects Coonoor to other nearby stations and makes for a pleasant ride. Annually, within the month of May, the town plays host to a Fruit and Vegetable Show and a Tea and Tourism Festival, sometime between November and December; these festivals attract visitors from everywhere the country.

Gudalur’s name was derived from the words: koodal (meeting) + ooru (town). It lies at such an intersection that it acts as a tri-point getaway to the three states of Tamil Nadu , Kerala and Karnataka. One can find several tea estates here, and therefore the region is essentially hooked in to the industry for its economy. Gudalur is enriched with a huge sort of flora and fauna; there are hill crops on the upper altitude and coconut and rice plantations on the lower valley. Tourists also can visit Needle Rock Viewpoint, Frog Hill, Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Devala Landscape, Cherambady Mines, Nellakotta Fort, Hanging Bridges, Genepool Garden then much more! The Genepool Garden has over 47,000 plants and a museum of butterflies, and is that the runner-up of its kind within the world. The town of Devala in Gudalur is additionally referred to as Cherrapunjee of the South, because of the quantity of rainfall it receives annually.

Travel 28 km from Ootacamund, past the Emerald Lake and its thick forests, and reach this extremely pretty sight to spend a soothing day. Avalanche Lake lies on the way from Upper-Bhavani to Ootacamund. The journey itself is crammed with gorgeous sights and is well worth the travel. Avalanche Lake is surrounded by a rolling landscape covered with blooming flowers. From the highest of the mountain, one can get an eagle’s eye view of the whole area. because of the thick foliages, sunlight may be a little difficult to return by and therefore the forest area is usually covered in shadows, inhabited by vast numbers of avifauna. Adventurers can engage in many activities here like trekking, fishing, camping, etc. A trout hatchery has been found out near the lake where one can rent fishing equipment. One also can go rafting across the lake.     

Doddabetta, literally translating to big mountain, is that the highest peak within the Nilgiris, standing at a height of two ,637 m. About 10 km faraway from Ootacamund bus terminus, it lies at the junction of the Eastern and Western Ghats. On clear days, Doddabetta Peak provides panoramic views of lush landscape. Doddabetta mountain is spotted with dense sholas, ferns and eucalyptus plants. Hordes of tourists make a beeline for the Telescope House found out by the Tourism Department at the height that provides a germander speedwell view of the whole district. The Dodabetta Peak has been well-kept by the authorities and offers an excellent view particularly of the Hecuba, Kattadadu and Kulkudi summits. do not forget to tote your camera as you’re likely to seek out good photography opportunities.

Sprawling along the slopes of the Doddabetta mountain, the vast stretch of state arboretum is perched at a height of 2,500 m. This serene garden is split into six different sections: Lower Garden, Italian Garden, New Garden, Conservatory, Fountain Terrace and Nurseries. Housed here are lush, manicured lawns, exotic and rare species of flora and a huge sort of flowering bushes and plants in myriad hues. The garden may be a living gallery of the Nilgiris’ natural flora and is a perfect place to spend the day. Keep an eye fixed out for the garden’s special features just like the Cork Tree (one-of-its-kind in India), a chile pine Tree, a 20 million year old fossilised tree and far more! The Italian Garden borders a pool of clear water and therefore the Fern House hosts a huge sort of orchids and ferns. per annum , the Tamil Nadu Horticulture Department hosts a Flower Show here within the month of May, showcasing the rare plant species and therefore the abundance of flora present within the garden. Government arboretum was established in 1848 by renowned architect William Graham McIvor. it had been found out with the aim of supplying vegetables at an inexpensive cost to British residents. The garden is currently maintained by the Tamil Nadu Horticulture Department.

About 13 km faraway from Ootacamund lies the Kalahatti Village. After a two-mile trek from here, one can reach the magnificent Kalahatti Falls. The trek through the dense foliage is an adventure in itself. Before reaching the waterfall, one will need to cross a stone path and a bridge built during the colonial era. it’s fabled that the waterfall site was once home to saint Agastya. The 100-ft-high waterfall houses a huge sort of flora on its land, making it a sight to behold. One also can encounter herds of untamed buffaloes, bisons, spotted deer, wild dogs, the extremely rare Black Panther and therefore the sambar deer. The nearby Bandipur Forest is crammed with cardamom trees that send their scent wafting through. The picturesque landscape is spotted with greenery and also makes for an excellent birdwatching spot. Located near the Ooty-Mysore road that’s famous for its 36 hairpin bends, the world is home to plantations of spices like cinnamon, clove, pepper, nutmeg, rosemary, sandalwood, amongst others.

One of the primary sanctuaries to be found out in South India, Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary may be a a part of the Nehru Park within the region. cover a neighborhood of 321 sq km, Mudumalai lies at the junction of Tamil Nadu , Karnataka and Kerala. At a height of 1,140 m, the wildlife sanctuary features a sort of habitats starting from tropical evergreen forest to moist teak forest, a dry teak forest to a swamp and more. The park is that the perfect place to identify a spread of animal species and is superb for birdwatching for its population of hornbills, minivets, fairy blue birds and jungle fowls. Here, one can spot panthers, elephants, gaur, chevrotain , sloth bears, sambar, spotted deer, muntjac , blackbucks, Malabar giant squirrels, four-horned antelopes (chowsingha), small Indian civet, porcupines and far more. If you’re lucky, you’ll also spot a tiger by the various waterholes here! The park also houses a population of reptiles like snakes, monitor lizards and flying lizards. One can explore the park through elephant rides for a more thrilling experience. The Theppakadu Elephant Camp, established in 1972, may be a major attraction here.

The pride of Ootacamund, the synthetic Ooty Lake is that the centre of attraction during this a part of the Nilgiris. a well-liked tourist recreational spot, this L-shaped lake provides boating facilities. you’ll sail a ship within the dazzling blue waters yourself or hire a boatman to row you thru . The lake is surrounded by lush greenery and eucalyptus trees that increase the serenity of the spot. With an exotic backdrop of the Nilgiris, the lake makes for a gorgeous photography point. The lake also holds some appeal for birdwatchers because it shelters a spread of birds.
The lake is that the venue for several boat races that happen throughout they year. In close vicinity, lie a mini-garden and an funfair . The 65-acre lake was formed in 1824 under the supervision of John Sullivan, the then Collector of Coimbatore.

The hill station of Ooty has been home to vast tea estates since the colonial era and may be a hub of the tea-growing industry. aside from gorgeous views and pleasant weather, another attraction is that the Tea and Tourism Festival, which was launched in 1994 to market tourism within the hill station. The grand celebration attracts tourists from everywhere the country. Giving recognition to Ootacamund’s tea industry and its vast varieties, the festival sees tea gardens decorated beautifully, several cultural programmes like ethnic music and dance performances conducted by the locals, and sorts of tea available for tasting and buying. Promoted and organised by the Tamil Nadu Tourism Department and Ministry of Tourism, the festival is typically held in January. One also can participate in guided tours of the tea estates.

Running along the western coast of India, from Tapti river within the north to the southern tip of India, the Western Ghats may be a veritable treasure of biodiversity. it’s the eighth biodiversity hotspot within the world, extending into the states of Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. The Western Ghats comprises several hill ranges like Cardamom Hills, Nilgiris, Anaimalai Hills and Sahyadris.
The Western Ghats shelters over 139 sorts of mammals, 508 species of birds, 5,000 sorts of flowering plants and 179 sorts of amphibians that are unique to the region. a number of the species , like Malabar large-spotted civet, Asian elephants, Black Panther , lion-tailed macaque, tiger, wild boar, Melursus ursinus , leopard, sambar and therefore the great Indian hornbill, are often spotted here. The forests of the Western Ghats include 39 reserves and 13 national parks.