Ooty or Ootacamund is a very popular, much-visited hill station in the Nilgiri hills in Tamil Nadu. Ooty is a very picturesque hill station that was also very popular with British Colonialists, and they have left a legacy of European style cottages, villas, churches and parks. The best time to visit Ooty is from April to June during the summer months. The question of how to reach Ooty is best answered by the presence of Coimbatore, which has an international airport and a railway station on the mainline connecting Kerala with Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Actually, Ooty has its own railway station, but it is a toy train station connected uptoMettupalayam.
The promise of exciting things to do
Travelling to Ooty by toy train is one of the most exciting adventures and one of the best things to do in Ooty. Built more than a century ago, this heritage 46 km train ride is a wonderful experience. Built on one of the steepest tracks in the world, the mesmerizing train ride passes through valleys, hills and 16 tunnels and meanders 206 curves to get to the top. The view is mesmerizing, and there are great places such as Lovedale and Coonoor that the train passes through before chugging into Ooty station. Maintaining the old world charm of this train route is one of the priorities of Ooty tourism.
A jungle safari in a hill station is a surprise combination and a day’s outing to the Madumalai national park and the Bandipur national park, which borders this park. This jungle safari is exciting as there is a lot of wildlife to look out for, and the wildlife includes surprises such as tigers, leopards, elephants and some rare species of birds. This national park is an hour’s drive from Ooty, and tourists can also take time to visit restaurants on the way to enjoy Ooty food.
A hill station always promises the lure of trekking routes for the adventured minded, and Ooty does not disappoint trekking enthusiasts. A best thing to do in Ooty is to take the unforgettable trek route to the Dodabetta peak. The Dodabetta Peak is the highest peak in the Nilgiri hills, at an elevation of 8652 feet. This is a mildly easy trek, and’;/; the view from the peak is unforgettable. The peak is not very far away from the Ooty city centre. There is a telescope house at the top for sheer viewing pleasure. The small plateau at the top is a good resting place after a long climb. Another great trek route but off the beaten track is the one to Needle view hill point, which is a great trek route but secluded, and Ooty tourism advises trekkers to go during the day as there is a risk of encountering wild animals.
Ooty is famous for boating, and Ootylake is an unforgettable place for boating. There are rowboats, motorboats and paddleboats available, and they can be hired for very nominal rates. There are many eateries along the lake, and tourists can enjoy Ooty food. There are also many resorts in Ooty overlooking the lake, and they are great places to stay in. Another lake named Avalanche lake is loved for fishing and camping and requires permission to visit as it is a restricted area. Both lakes are different in their way and offer unforgettable experiences.
Some of the things to do in Ooty is to visit the tea factory, which is a rich experience, and tourists get to learn about the intricacies of tea, how tea is processed and the large number of available flavours of tea. There is a retail outlet within the factory, and tourists can buy small sachets of unusual flavours of tea to take back with them. There is also a spice plantation in Ooty, which is recommended for a visit. Tourists are provided rich insights into how plants bearing home spices such as cloves, cardamoms, cumin and other spices are grown and harvested.
A holiday worth cherishing
The lure of a holiday in the Queen of the hills with so much to do promises an unforgettable holiday.
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