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Location: Nilgiri
District, Tamil Nadu
Famous Hill Stations: Ooty, Coonoor,
Kotagiri
The Highest Peak:Doddabetta
Famous Festivals:Tea And Tourism Festival,
Summer Festival, And The Fruit And Flower Show
Nilgiris- The
Blue Mountains
Nilgiri means
"Blue Mountains". The entire area of the Blue Mountains
constitutes the present district of Nilgiri. The height of the hills in
the Blue Mountain range varies between 2,280 and 2,290 metres, the
highest peak being Doddabetta at a height of 2,623 metres.
It's Location
And Boundaries High above
the sea level, situated at the junction of the two ghat ranges of the
Sahayadri Hills, Nilgiri district provides a fascinating view. Kerala on
the west, the Mysore State on the north, and Coimbatore district on the
east and south bound it. Headquarters of Nilgiris district is
Udhagamandalam (also called as Ooty).
The Beauty Of
Nilgiris Nilgiris derives
its  charm
from its natural setting. The steep hills and fantastically narrow
valleys with numerous rivers and rivulets running in all directions with
a few fine waterfalls here and there provide beautiful scenery. The
temperate and most equable climate further heightens the attractiveness
of the place. The major tea growing areas in the South are the Nilgiris
and these tea gardens are beautiful to watch.
Adventure And
Trekking In The Nilgiris The
Nilgiris are a trekker's paradise. Landscaped by nature, the hills
abound in trek for lovers of nature. There are treks and treks in
whichever direction you turn and from whichever point you start. A trek
can be full of thrill, excitement and adventure and a way of seeing and
enjoying nature in all its beauty and splendour.
Trekking
pamphlets are available with the Nilgiri Wildlife and Environment
Association (NWLEA). There are guides who have sound knowledge of
certain areas. If necessary, their services may be hired. And for
further details contact the Tourist Information Office at Charing Cross,
Ooty.
The Hill
Stations In The Nilgiris
Udhagamandalam
(Ooty) Udhagamandalam (Ooty),
the headquarters of Nilgiri district, is popularly known as the
"Queen of hill stations' among the tourist circuits. It is situated
at a distance of 105 kilometres away from Coimbatore. The Botanical
Gardens and the Doddabetta peak (the highest peak in the Nilgiris,
located 10-km from Ooty) are the major attractions.
PRIME
ATTRACTIONS
The Nilgiris, the
most popular hill resort of the south has a number of tourist of
attractions, which chiefly include the Botanical Gardens, Doddabetta
Peak, Mukkurthi Peak, the Pykara Dam and sprawling tea plantations.
Botanical
Garden Botanical gardens are a major tourist attraction for those
who visit Ooty. They sprawl over 50-acres and lie on the lower slopes of
Dodabetta peak, which is the highest point in Ooty. Marquis of Tweeddale
established these gardens in the year 1848.
Ooty Lake An
artificial lake constructed in 1824 by Mr. Sullivan. The lake garden is
an added attraction.
Doddabetta Doddabetta
is the highest peak (2,623 mts.) in the Nilgiris and offers beautiful
vistas of the hill ranges, plateaus and plains around. It is 10-km from
Ooty. There is a good motorable road to reach the peak.
Mudumalai
Wildlife Sanctuary The Mudumalai wildlife sanctuary is located where
the Nilgiri Hills, the offshoot of the Western Ghats meet the Eastern
Ghats. The Mysore-Ooty highway runs through the sanctuary, following the
course of the Mayyar River, which separates Mudumalai from Bandipur.
This 321-sq-kms
wide sanctuary encompasses a National Park measuring an area of
103-sq-kms. The sanctuary has varied mixture of flat land, open
grassland, swamp and valleys. Apart from the wide range of animal and
bird life, the rich fauna of this sanctuary has made Mudumalai very
popular with wildlife enthusiasts.
Laws Falls Laws
falls are a beautiful picnic spot, named after Lt. Colonel Law, who
traced and mainly constructed the Coonoor Ghat. They are about 5-km
below Coonoor on Mettupalayam road. The height of the falls is about 180
feet. There are vast stretches of undisturbed sholas and it is a
paradise for naturalists.
Dolphin's Nose
Dolphin's Nose is about 12-km from Coonoor. The Nose is unique rock
of tremendous proportions, jutting out of the face of the hillside in
formation in which its name suggests. It exposes a vast panorama, which
encompasses Catherine falls.
Kodanad
Viewpoint Kodanad Viewpoint located at a distance of 16-km
from Kotagiri commands a panoramic view of the plains and the eastern
slopes of the Nilgiris.
The Mukkurthi
Peak and National Park About 40-km from Ooty there is a beautiful
peak called "Mukkurthi". The Mukkurthi National Park is
located on the Southern corner of the Nilgiri Plateau. The Kollaribetta
and Nilgiris Peak are other major peaks around. A number of little
perennial streams flow between these peaks, which fall into Bhavani
Puzha. Silent Valley is located on the Western side in the Western Ghat,
which is a feast to the visitor's eye.
Pykara Pykara
is situated about 21-km from Ooty. Some of the tourist attractions of
this place are well-protected fenced sholas, Toda settlements,
undisturbed grassy meadows and also a good wildlife habitat. The Pykara
Dam, Pykara falls and the reservoir attracts many tourists. A boathouse
with restaurant and a rest house are available at Pykara.
HOW TO GET
THERE
Air: Coimbatore,
105-km from Ooty, is the nearest airport. It has daily flights to and
from Chennai, Bangalore, Cochin and Trivandrum.
Rail: Ooty is on
the narrow gauge railway connected to Mettupalayam (47-km), which is
directly connected to Coimbatore and Chennai. The famous toy train
connects Ooty with Mettupalayam and Coonoor.
Road: A good
network of roads and national highways connect Ooty with all major towns
and cities. There are regular bus services to and from Coimbatore,
Trichy, Bangalore, Madurai, Kanyakumari, Mysore, Palghat, Calicut,
Tirupati and other important destinations in South India. Ooty is also
well connected with major cities of Kerala and Karnataka.
Coonoor and
Kotagiri are also well connected by road with the major cities and towns
of the state. For local transportation, auto rickshaws and taxis are
available.
WHERE TO STAY
Accommodation is
available at the hotels, guesthouses and lodges in the hill stations in
the Nilgiris (Ooty and Coonoor). Coonoor has its share of luxury and
budget hotels to guesthouses and picturesque resorts. Upper Coonoor is
highly recommended.
In Ooty, varied
accommodation options varying from luxurious and economy class hotels to
lodges and resorts are available. Both Indian and Western style
accommodation and food are available. Prior booking is advisable,
especially during the summer months. It is also possible to get paying
guest accommodations through brokers haunting the bus stand/railway
station. Hotels
in Ooty
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