At a distance of 1 km from Ooty Bus Station & Railway Station, Ooty Lake is an artificial lake situated in the beautiful hill station of Ooty. It is one of the most visited tourist places in Ooty and also one of the popular places to represent Ooty Tourism. It is also one of the top attractions you must include in Ooty packages.
Ooty Lake was built by John Sullivan in 1824 AD, the then Collector of Coimbatore. Covers an area of 65 acres with an average depth of 40 feet, the lake is fed by the mountain streams in the Ooty valley. The lake was originally intended to be used for fishing with ferries being used to travel across the lake. It gradually shrunk from its original size giving place to the current bus stand race course, and the lake park.
The lake is surrounded by groves of Eucalyptus trees with a railway line running along one shore. Situated amidst beautiful valleys, Ooty Lake is a major landmark in the town and is the prime attraction in Ooty. The Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation on behalf of the Tourism Department took the possession of the lake in 1973, for providing boating facilities as a tourist attraction.
The lake also has a boat house attached to it which makes boating one of the most popular things to do in Ooty. The Ooty Boat House offers various boating facilities include row boats, pedal boats, motor boats etc. In the month of May, boat races and other entertaining events are organized for two days as a part of Summer Festival in Ooty. There is a Mini Garden with an amusement park for children with a toy train next to the Lake.
There is a large parking area with several shops selling woolen cloths and toys. Horse race is available outside the lake. There is a flower garden near the exit that also sells variety of flowers and seeds.
Boat Club Timings: 8 AM to 5.30 PM.
Entry Fee: Rs. 10 for Person, Rs. 560 for Foreigners, Rs. 30 for Camera, and Rs. 125 for Video
Boating (30 Mins): Rs. 160 for 2 seater Pedal Boat, Rs. 200 for 4 seater Pedal Boat, Rs. 180 for 2 seater Row Boat, Rs. 450 for 8 seater Motor Boat
At a distance of 3 km from Ooty Bus Station & Railway Station and 4 km from Ooty Lake, Ooty Botanical Gardens is a beautiful garden situated on the foothills of Dodabetta Peak in Ooty. Maintained by Tamil Nadu Horticulture Department, Ooty Botanical Gardens is one of the top places to visit in Ooty and also one of the best botanical gardens in India.
The Botanical Gardens in Udhagamandalam was laid out in 1847 AD. It was designed by the architect William Graham McIvor under the supervision of George Hay, 8th Marquess of Tweeddale, the then Governor of Madras. The original purpose of the Botanical Gardens was to promote and study the various flora in and around Nilgiris. Now, it is open to the public as a park that can be enjoyed by visitors.
The garden spreads over an area of 22 hectares with more than 650 species of flowers and trees. The garden has a terraced layout and is divided into several sections, namely Lower Garden, New Garden, Italian Garden, the Conservatory and the Nursery. It houses a thousand species of plants, shrubs, ferns, herbal, bonsai plants and trees. The Botanical Garden is home to several rare species of trees such as the cork tree, the monkey puzzle tree, and the paper bark tree. The cork tree is probably one of its kinds in India.
The highlight of the garden is a fossil tree that is believed to be 20 million years old. Another attraction here is the Toda tribe settlement towards the top of the garden, which gives the visitors an insight into the lives and culture of Todas. The Botanical Garden is also a heaven for bird watchers where a variety of birds, both seasonal and year-round residents, can be sighted.
Every year in the month of May, a flower show is conducted at the Ooty Botanical Gardens for two days. Indian and Japanese flower arrangements, vegetable carving, flower rangoli, Bonsai and floral decorations are the major attractions at the festival.
Ideally, the month of May is the best time to visit the Botanical Garden, as there are several exhibitions and other programs organized, which draws many tourists to the venue.
Timings: 8 AM to 6.30 PM
Entry Fee: Rs.30 for Adults, Rs. 15 for Children, Rs. 50 for Camera & Rs. 100 for Video
At a distance of 9 km from Ooty, Doddabetta is a mountain peak situated on the Ooty - Kotagiri Road in the Nilgiris district of Tamilnadu. Literally means Big Mountain, Doddabetta is the highest point in Nilgiri Mountains and also one of the popular places to visit in Ooty. It is among prime place to visit on a Ooty trip.
Situated at an altitude of 2623 m, Doddabetta is regarded as one of the highest peaks in South India, which lies at the junction of the Western and Eastern Ghats. The area surrounding Doddabetta is mostly forested. Sholas cover the hollows of its slopes. Tall rhododendron trees, flowering sub-alpine shrubs and herbs are common, even very near the peak. One can have a magnificent panoramic view of the landscape, beautiful valley, plains of Coimbatore and the flat highlands of Mysore from the peak.
The Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation manages a Telescope House in the Doddabetta Peak which enables the visitors to get a better view. This TTDC Telescope House gives a complete view of the surrounding landscape. There is also a TTDC restaurant, which caters to the taste of the visitors. The area around the peak is a reserved forest and is home to many endangered species of flora and fauna. Tourists can also indulge in trekking at the Doddabetta Peak.
There is road access to the summit. There are frequent bus services to Doddabetta Peak from Ooty.
Timings: 7 AM to 6 PM
Entry Fee: Rs. 10 for Person
At a distance of 4 Kms from Coonoor Railway Station, Sim's Park was laid out in 1874 by Mr.J.D. Sim, then Secretary to Government and Major places to visit in Coonoor.
Spread over 30 acres of land, it was started as a pleasure resort for the residents and visitors, and later developed into Garden. This park cum botanical garden contains many species of trees and shrubs not found in Ooty.
Sim's Park has wonderful landscaped gardens & walkways lined up with beautiful flowers spread across and variety of flower plants collected from different parts of the country. There is a lake situated inside the park that offers boating facility as well.
Annual Fruit and Vegetables show is held every year in May here attracts tourists in large numbers.
Timings: 8.30 AM - 6 PM
Entrance Fee - Rs 5 for adults and Rs 2 for children. Still Camera - Rs 35, Video camera - Rs 250.
At a distance of 8 Kms from Coonoor Railway Station (on the way to Dolphin's Nose), Lamb's Rock is situated in Burliar village and it is one of the favorite picnic spots from Coonoor and also one of the best places to visit in Coonoor.
Named after Captain Lamb who attempted to open a path to this place, the rock drops down several hundred feet to disappear in thick jungle below. The plains of Coimbatore and surrounding valleys offer magnificient views from this spot.
This place demands moderate level trekking (Trek duration not available).
At a distance of 4 km from Ooty and 12.5 km from Coonoor, Ketti Valley View Point is a popular vantage point situated on Ooty - Coonoor Road in Nilgiris district of Tamilnadu. It is one the most beautiful sightseeing places in Ooty and also one of the top places to experince Ooty Tourism.
As the name suggests, the view point provides a panoramic view of the Ketti Valley, the largest valley in the Nilgiris, and its beautiful surroundings. Ketti Valley is home to several tribes, such as Todas and Badagas. There are over 14 villages in this valley that belong to the tribes of Badagas. These tribal people are experts in cultivating fresh vegetables and fruits in the valley.
Also known as Switzerland of Nilgiris, the Ketti Valley is a heaven for nature lovers and photographers. The view of Ketti from the viewpoint is majestic and often compared to views of Switzerland. Nature lovers, adventurists, experience seekers and even casual Traveller will love the view from this viewpoint. There is also a telescope room to get a closer view of the valley and surroundings. This valley also houses a popular brand of the needle making industry, known as Pony Needles. There is not much to see in the valley apart from indulging in the pleasant atmosphere of Ketti Valley.
Ketti town is connected by Nilgiri Express and lies between Coonoor and Ooty stations. From there, local transportation modes like taxis and autos are available to the Ketti Valley.
Summer is the best time to enjoy a pleasing view of the valley.
Telescope: Rs. 10 for Person
At a distance of 12 Kms from Coonoor Railway Station, Dolphin's Nose is a wonderful viewpoint with picturesque views of the Hills of Nilgirs. It is one of the most visited Coonoor tourist places.
Situated near Tiger Hill, this place is ideally visited in the morning (after 9 AM to 11 AM) for better views of the surroundings. A view of the distant Catherine falls can also be captured from here.
This place demands moderate level trekking.
At a distance of 9 km from Ooty Bus Station, Kamraj Sagar Dam, also known as the Sandynalla Reservoir, is a very quiet and scenic dam situated on the slopes of the Wenlock Downs in Ooty. It is one of the top Ooty tourist places and also a must include in every Ooty Tour Package.
The dam, built on the Kamrajar Lake, is spread over 400 acres and is situated on the way to Wenlock Downs & Pykara. The dam is a monsoon fed water body and measures about 6 km in length. The dam and the serene location make it a heavenly place and a favorite haunt for the nature lovers. It is also a popular destination with honeymoon couples because of its picturesque natural beauty. It is a popular shooting location in Ooty.
There are several walking trails around the lake and visitors can also explore several tourist places in the area through these walking trails. The surroundings of the lake are home to variety of birds which include peacocks, storks, kingfishers, cranes, herons and sunbirds can easily be spotted in the area. The animals that are seen in this area include wild boars, Indian bison, barking deer, monkeys, mongooses and leopards.
There is a pine forest adjacent to the main road through which the reservoir is accessed. Pine trees spread across several acres is a nice place to take snaps & famous shooting spot as well. You need to walk down through the slopes (around 200 meters) of pine trees to reach the banks of the reservoir. The path is very steep and slippery in monsoons. There are horses on hire for those who find it difficult to trek the slopes.
Timings: 9 AM - 6 PM
At a distance of 2 km from Pykara Lake and 23 km from Ooty Bus Stand, Pykara Falls is a majestic waterfalls situated on Ooty - Mysore road in Ooty, Tamil Nadu. This is one of the best waterfalls near Bangalore and also one of the most popular Ooty tourist places. It is another popular attraction not to miss in a Ooty tour package.
Pykara Falls is formed by Pykara River on the downstream of the Pykara Dam. The falls drops down into two sections with height of 55 m and 61 m through multiple layers on the rocky bed providing a unique beauty to the stream. The waterfall amidst the dense forest is a treat to watch. It is one of the must visit places for honeymoon couples and nature lovers during their Ooty trip. During rainy season, the waterfall is in full bloom. There are barricades setups along the waterfall view point for the safety of the tourists.
Swimming is possible at upper cascades, but not recommended as the path is filled with sharp rocks and depth of the water is very less. Swimming lower part of Pykara Falls is dangerous and is mostly closed in the monsoon season to avoid accidents. The falls offer best views in monsoons and post monsoons.
The best time to see the falls is in July. The falls can be reached by little moderate walk (5-10 mins) on well laid path from the parking location.
Timings: 8.30 AM - 5. 30 PM
Entry Fee: Rs. 5 for Person
At a distance of 16 km from Ooty, Wenlock Downs is a vast expanse of grassy meadow located on the way to Pykara in Ooty, Tamilnadu. It is one of the most scenic places in Ooty and also one of the best Ooty tourist places. Along with Ooty Lake, this place is most commonly represented for Ooty Tourism.
Wenlock Downs is a spectacular meadow named after Sir Arthur Lawley's sibling Beilby Lawley, third Baron Wenlock. The downs spread majestically across 20,000 acres of rolling lands that seems to be stretching endlessly. The entire place is covered with Shola forest. More popularly known as the Shooting Point, Wenlock Downs has two popular movie filming points known as Sixth Mile and Ninth Mile named so because of they are located at 6 miles and 9 miles away from Ooty.
The extensive grassland of Wenlock Downs was once used as hunting ground by the British and Europeans. Today, Wenlock Downs home to the Gymkhana Club, the Hindustan Photo Films Company and a Government Sheep Farm.
The journey from Ooty to Wenlock Downs takes one to the most serene excursions from Ooty. The Wenlock Downs are perfect for walking and hiking amidst this elegant landscape. The peak offers breathtaking views of the Nilgiris and is one of the best places to watch the nature of Ooty. The view of a lake (formed by backwaters of Pykara) from Wenlock Downs is very scenic. This place is usually visited while going to Pykara with 30 minutes - 1 hour of additional effort.
Timings: 9 AM - 6. 30 PM
At a distance of 22 km from Ooty, Pykara Lake is a placid lake situated on Ooty - Mysore road in Tamilnadu. Pykara Lake & Dam is one of the best places to visit in Ooty and an ideal place to experience beautiful boat ride.
Pykara Dam built on Pykara River amidst dense forest is a beautiful destination offering breathtaking scenery. Pykara is the largest river in Nilgiris district. Pykara Lake is a blessed lake for the Todas, the local tribe of Nilgiris. This is the best place to relax and admire the beauty of nature. The dam is near the main Ooty - Gudalur road and includes a power station. Often referred as one of the oldest power plants in South India, the Pykara Power Station still functions and generating about 60 megawatts electricity. It was declared as a heritage plant in 1997, triggered the establishment of more hydro-electric power stations in the state.
A boat house on the Pykara reservoir is an added attraction for tourists and is maintained by Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation. Boating in Pykara Lake is a memorable experience. Visitors can hire a speed boat or motor boat from the boat house and enjoy a fun ride in the lake. The boat house also includes a restaurant and a rest house, where tourists can relax. The place is a popular picnic spot among locals as well as tourists. The lake is surrounded by thick forest of Mukurthi National Park. If you are lucky, you can catch a glimpse of wildlife like elephants roaming on banks of the lake.
Boat house is usually crowded on weekends and holidays and may have to wait for more than 30 minutes some times.
Boat House Timings: 9. 30 AM - 5. 30 PM
Pedal Boat (30 mins): Rs. 60 for 2 seater, Rs. 100 for 4 seater
Motor Boat (20 mins): Rs. 325 for 6 seater, Rs. 425 for 8 seater and Rs. 525 for 10 seater