The 'Queen of Hill Stations' Udhagamandalam, better known as Ooty, is the most popular hill station in South India. Located in the Western Ghats at a height of 2240 metres, Udhagamandalam is the headquarters of the Nilgiri district. The Toda tribe has been living here since time immemorial, but the credit for 'discovering' Ooty, making it accessible and developing it, surely goes to the British. In 1822, John Sullivan, the then Collector of Coimbatore, constructed the 'Stone House', which is now the Chamber of the Principal of the Government Arts College and one of Ooty's better known landmarks. Ooty was the summer capital of the Madras Presidency, in the days of the British Raj.
The Rose garden located just 3-4 km from Charing Cross encompasses 10 acres of flowerbeds and exhibits 1919 varieties of roses!
The beautiful Ooty Lake is a favorite haunt of tourists. There are facilities for boating on the lake and pony rides for children around it.
Maintained by the Horticulture Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu, the Botanical Garden has a wide variety of plants that include different types of roses, imported shrubs, rare flowering plants, eucalyptus trees, several old trees and even a fossilized tree trunk that is 20 million years old. There is also a beautiful Italian floral garden.
At a height of 2623 meters, Dodabetta Peak is the highest point in South India. On a clear day, one can see the plains of Coimbatore and the Mysore plateau.
The undulating countryside just outside Ooty is ideal for long walks.
The picturesque waterfalls come down a 36 m drop. A popular spot for picnics and treks.
The beautiful countryside with tea and eucalyptus plantations undisturbed sholas and fine views is ideal for drives and picnics.
A pretty hill town, Coonoor is located amidst tea gardens. The Sims Park, established here in 1874, has fine lawns and a collection of rare plants and trees picturesquely located along a steep slope. Scenic waterfalls - Law's Falls and St. Catherine Falls and fine vantage points with breathtaking views and amusing names like Lamb's Rock, Dolphin's Nose and Lady Canning's Seat dre popular picnic spots.
The grassy meadows around the Pykara Dam and reservoir are popular with visitors.
Here, a calm lake is surrounded by forests.
