OOTY (Big Queen of the Blue Mountains),,,

OOTY (Big Queen of the Blue Mountains),,,

State Tamil Nadu,INDIA

Location the Queen of the Blue Mountains sits at the central of the Nilgiri Range, at 7,440 ft, 292 km SW of Bangalore

Route from Bangalore SH to Ooty via Maddur, Mandya, Mysore, Nanjangud, Bandipuir, Theppakadu and Gudalur

A perfect little name for the perfect Big Queen of the Blue Mountains.

Ooty, the Scotland of the East, is one of the most popular holiday destinations in South India. In season, it’s all about a crush of tourists on bad roads, taps running dry and shopkeepers out to fleece you. But there’s a secret to getting the best out of a trip to Ooty and its is this: go off-season (March to May). Go discover an Ooty that veils herself in season.
This Ooty is a series of piquant montages: the sun lighting up one hill even as the other beside it remains shrouded in green velvet; ponies contentedly chomping grass by the kerbside; the sharp fragrance of pines lining a mist-laden road; the aroma of hot filter coffee and sambar.

THINGS TO SEE AND DO

Ooty has plenty of attractions, both on and off the beaten path. The Botanical Gardens are well laid-out with avenues of shady trees and myriad ornamental plants and flowers. But the main attraction here is the fossilised tree trunk – all of 20 million years old. The garden includes different types of roses, imported shrubs, rare flowering plants and an Italian and Japanese garden. A Summer Festival is held here each year in May, with a grand Flower Show taking centre-stage.

The Rose Garden, atop a hill of Etiennes Road, is all of 10 acres. In winter, when the 1,919 varieties of roses of all hues are out, a stroll in this scented garden is an unforgettable experience.

Ooty Lake

John Sullivan, the first Collector and virtual founder of Ooty, constructed this 2 ? -km long artificial lake in 1824. There is a charming lake garden a jetty, snack bars, and pony and toy-train rides on offer for the kiddies.
For all that, 12 lakh tourists visit the lake every year. Boating is on offer here every day from 8am to 6 pm.

Best all year around. Ooty is never really out of season, though March to May is considered rime time here.

Adventure

Climb up the highest peak in the Blue Mountains at 8,606 ft – Dodda Betta, or Big Mountain – which commands the juncture of the Western and Eastern Ghats, offering unmatched vistas of the Nilgiri.

The Tourism Department arranges hang-gliding courses from March to May every year, plus the streams and lakes of the Nilgiris are an angler’s delight, stocked with trout, carp and trench.

Picnic spots

Ooty’s most popular picnic spot, is a vast expanse (20,000 acres) of undulating landscape, which used to be the ground for the Ooty Hunt. The Ninth Mile and Sandy Nallah, a popular spot for film shoots,Cairn Hill is situated about 3 km on the road to Avalanche and really is one of the last original walks.

The Kalhatti Falls, en route to Mysore, drops a good 131 ft down when in spate and is a hit with picnickers.

Shopping

Ooty is also famous for its tea, handmade chocolates, aromatic oils and spices. Handmade chocolates in every flavour you can imagine can be found in every other shop.

Pykara Lake (25 km)

Pykara’s dense shoals, Toda settlements, shallow downs and lake make it a lovely getaway. Apart from its lush surrounds, Pykara has a boathouse and restaurant.

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By: ravi
Article Source: http://articleaddict.com