The Queen of the Blue Mountains-Ooty is one of the most popular destinations in India. Ooty is a series of montages:- the sun lighting up the hill even as the other beside remains shrouded in green velvet, mountain ponies chomping grass by the kerbside, the sharp fragrance of the pines and the exuding aroma of the hot filter coffee and hot and spicy sambhar. Ooty is home to many Britishers who have fallen in love with this hill station where they discovered a little bit of England. "…Ooty indeed has a timeless appeal.

Eye Tonics

Botanical Gardens - The Botanical Gardens are well laid out with myriad ornamental plants and flowers. The main attraction here is the fossilised tree trunk about 20 million years old. A summer festival is held every year in May, which showcases a grand flower show. There is a Rose Garden here which is spread in about 10 acres and in winters one can delight one's senses by glancing at about 1,919 varieties of roses.

Ooty Lake - This is a 2.5 km long artificial lake constructed in 1824. There is a charming lake garden here. One can also enjoy boating and fishing in the lake if permitted by the authorities.

Lamb's Rock - Lamb's Rock is another vantage point that is ideal for taking pictures and is a wonderful picnic spot. It is merely 9kms. From Coonoor and is known for the splendid views it offers of the plains of Coimbatore and the tea states in the surrounding areas.

Art Gallery - The Art Gallery has various collections of contemporary paintings, tribal objects, an ecological display and various Tamil arts and crafts worth seeing.

Deer Park - This is park lies at about 1 km from the Ooty Lake and is a must to visit.

Elk Hill - This is an important visiting area of Ooty.

Government Museum - Located on the Mysore Road, Ooty, this museum has items of tribal objects and was set up in 1989.

Churches Of Ooty
St. Stephen's Church - This church was built in 1829 and is one of the oldest church in the Nilgiris. Its huge wooden beams came from the palace of Tipu Sultan and cemetery contains the graves of many old timers, both British and Indian.

Kandal church - Special Novena prayers are holy masses are offered every Friday at this shrine.

Ready To Rock?

All those thrill and adventure seekers, just out on your shoes and get ready to take a plunge in the depth in the adventure pond. Ooty offers immense scope for the recreation of the travellers.

Trekking - There are a number of planned trek routes from Ooty. Climb up the highest peak in the Blue Mountains at 8,606 ft - Dodda Betta or Big Mountain. The Dodda Beta offers unmatched vistas of the Nilgiris.

Hang- Gliding - For all who have a deep liking for hang-gliding , the Tourism Department arranges hand-gliding courses from March to May.

Angling - Angling is an important adventure activity in Ooty. Trout, several species of Carp, Tilapia, Catla, Mirgal and Rohu can be found in the various streams and lakes of Ooty.

Shopping

Exclusive Nilgiri products including Nilgiri tea, fruits, natural oils like Eucalyptas, Toda embroideries, plant nurseries are easily available in the town. Co-operative Super Market and Municipal Market are some of the best places for shopping fruits and general groceries. Kairali of Kerala Handicrafts and Poompuhar of Tamil Nadu Handicrafts have their showrooms near to Super Market Buildings on Charring Cross.

Eating Out

Ooty has a number of restaurants that offer fabulous Chinese food. The restaurants show great hospitality towards the guests and take care of their food needs.

• Shinkknows
• Blue hills
• Chandan Vihar
• Tandoor Mahal
• Ooty Coffee House
• Chinkos Chinese Restaurant
• Hills Palace.
• Hotel Sanjay
• Kurinji Restaurant

Accommodation

Hotels of various categories are found in the hill station of Ooty, suiting the pocket and taste of every individual.

• Savoy Hotel
• Holiday Inn Gem Park
• Hotel Sullivan Court
• Hotel Lake View
• Hotel Regency Villas Palace
• Hotel Sinclairs
• Nahar's Nilgiris Hotel
• Ooty Fernhill
• Ooty Elkhill

Climate Speaks..........

Ooty has a healthy and pleasant climate. In Winters the maximum temperature is 21 degree C and minimum is 5 degree C. In Summers the maximum temperature is 25 degree C and the minimum is 10 degree C. Even it is fun to signature a visit to Ooty in the off season and discover a different Ooty.