There is something mystical about the Blue Mountains. Being a mountain lover, the whole idea of travelling to one of my favorite hill stations in the country, known as “The queen of Hill Stations” in South India, was unquestionably the most enthralling one. I was excited to be amidst the alluring landscapes. As you start moving through the twisted road, passing by the verdant valleys and towering Eucalyptus trees, the bountiful outdoors become your constant companion, taking you to one of the most picturesque location, popularly known as Ooty. Once regarded as the summer headquarters of the Madras government, Ooty was established by the British in the early 19th century. During the British rule, it was bustling with colonial bungalows, churches and exotic vegetable &fruit farms. It is believed that the seeds of a hill station were planted during this period. In 1827, Ooty was declared the official summer capital of the Madras Presidency. Since then, this quaint hill station has become a favorite gateway,boosting numerous tourist places and considerable numbers of Ooty hotels ranging from budget to luxurious ones.
From botanical gardens, scenic lakes, breath-taking mountain peaks, cascading waterfalls, dense forests, sprawling grasslands, extensive tea gardens to the toy train ride, Ooty has a lot to offer.
Table of Contents
Find out the top places to visit in Ooty
Nilgiri Mountain Railway
The best way to appreciate the tranquil scenery of Nilgiri is getting on-board the Nilgiri Mountain Railways. As the train makes its way through the curvaceous trail, you will be amazed by everything passing by. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway was introduced in 1899 by the British and it continues to chug up from Mettupalayam to Ooty. The journey covering 26 km, travels through 16 tunnels, 208 curves and 250 bridges. In 2005, UNESCO added Nilgiri Mountain Railway in the list of World Heritage Site as part of the Mountain Railways of India. Don’t miss this enchanting journey whenever you are in Ooty.
Botanical Gardens
Located`on the lower slopes of Doddabetta Peak in Udhagamandalam, one of the most scenic locations in the city is the Botanical Gardens. Established in 1848 during British rule, the garden is divided into 6 separate sections called Lower Garden, New Garden, Italian Garden, Conservatory, Fountain Terrace and Nurseries. It also includes a glass house, a 20-million-year-old fossilized tree, and over a thousand species of exotic flora spread around the gardens.
Doddabetta Peak
If you are in Ooty, a visit to Doddabetta Peak is a must. Situated at a height of 8,650 feet from the sea level, this is the highest mountain in the Nilgiri Hills. The 9 km trail flanked by towering Eucalyptus trees leads you to one of the most awe-inspiring point, giving an uninterrupted view of the luxuriant valley. Doddabetta Peak is considered one of the most popular tourist destinations of Ooty.
Emerald Lake
Surrounded by the tea plantation and Rolling Meadows, Emerald Lake is one of the must visit places in Ooty. Located in the Silent valley of Nilgiri district, the sight of this lake is picture perfect. This place is a famous picnic spot and with its amazing landscape,it is an ideal location for photographers.
St. Stephen’s Church
St Stephen’s Church is one of the most iconic tourist spots in Ooty. Built in the 19th century, during the British rule, the church is located on the Ooty-Mysore Road. This Gothic church is known for its finest colonial architectures, the painting of “Last Supper’, and stained glass windows.
After a truly relaxing trip, I plotted another kind of holiday! This time I decided to head to the pristine beaches in Goa from Bangalore; it was a drastic shift but looking at the great deals on Bangalore Goa flights got me in the mood to follow my Wanderlust once again.
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Great Post!! Ooty is like heaven on earth, there are lots of other places near Bangalore to visit near Bangalore. This is really useful information about our riders as well who rent out bikes from us for going on road trip. Good!! Keep on writing these kind of articles.
Wow!! Stunning pictures!! Loved them 🙂
I’d love to see Emerald Lake. Would be nice to wander around the tea plantage and then see such a view! Thanks for sharing.
This emerald lake looks AMAZING and it’s absolutely something I would love to hike around!
Thanks Kinga. A must visit place
I am a lover of mountains too. This place looks great !
Thanks a lot 🙂 You must visit this summer capital of British
Great post
Thanks a lot 🙂