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Explore ExperiencesHello fellow wanderers! We are back again with another exciting guide featuring Ooty. So what’s in this time? This time, our virtual guide is all about some of the best places to visit in Ooty. If you are planning a trip to Ooty any time sooner, then this blog is going to be of great help. We have listed out most of the major attractions in Ooty that you must visit to make the most of your trip. From lush green landscapes to places that are filled with serene beauty, Ooty is an absolute paradise and a place that cements its place in people’s heart with its own unique charm.
So what are we waiting for? Hop on with us on this virtual ride that discovers some of the best places to visit in Ooty.
Table of Contents
Best Places To Visit In Ooty
Avalanche Lake
Avalanche Lake in Ooty is one of the most surreal places with mesmerising views. Surrounded by mountains and beautiful flowers, this place is far away from the hustle and bustle of the city and gives you the gift of tranquillity. If you are visiting with family or seeking the perfect setting for adventure, then this is the place for you. An interesting fact about this lake is that it was formed by a huge landslide and not an avalanche as is suggested by its name.
Entry Fees: No Entry Fee
₹200 per person for Bus Safari
₹2000 per trip for Jeep Safari
Address: 28 kms from Ooty, The Nilgiris, Ooty, Tamil Nadu, 643001, India
Timing: Open all days from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Time to Explore: 2-3 hours approximately
Things to do: Trekking, Jungle Safari, Camping, Fishing
Also Read: Avalanche Lake Ooty
Ooty Lake
Ooty Lake is one of those places without visiting which your trip to Ooty is incomplete. Surrounded by eucalyptus trees and green bushes along the shores, this lake is an artificial lake that was initially constructed for the purpose of fishing. However, owing to its charm, it became an important tourist attraction overtime. This lake is also commonly known as the Ooty Boat House as boating is one of the primary attractions of this place. With the mountain railway running through one of its banks, this lake is one of the most beautiful lakes you will see in South India.
Entry Fees: ₹13 per person for Indians
₹560 per person For Foreigners
₹30 for Still Camera
₹150 for Video Camera
Address: Ooty Lake, Ooty, The Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, 643001, India
Timing: Open all days from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
Time to Explore: 2-3 hours approximately
Things to do: Boating, Photography, Cycling, Horse Riding, Taking a mini train ride and Visiting the Amusement Park.
Emerald Lake
Boasting its lush greenery and stunning tea plantations, Emerald Lake is a beautiful place that has an air of peace and tranquillity. Spending some time here looking at the magnificent views can relax you out and make you feel refreshed. What’s more? This lake has an exotic species of ducks and other aquatic animals. This place is one of the best places to be visited with family. There is also a park on the right side for the entertainment of kids. This is also a great place for couples who can spend some time together here surrounded by serenity and some of the most majestic views.
Other popular tourist attractions near Emerald include Sim’s Park, Rallia Dam, Dolphin’s Nose, Art Gallery, Government Botanical Gardens, Lamb’s Rock, St. Catherine Waterfall, Avalanche Lake, Frog Hill View Point.
Entry Fees: No Entry Fee
Address: Emerald Village, The Nilgiris, Ooty, Tamil Nadu, 623704, India
Timing: Open all days from 6:00 am to 5:00 pm
Time to Explore: 2-3 hours approximately
Things to do: Shopping, Strolling in the tea gardens, Recreational activities.
Must Read: Places To Visit Near Ooty
Ooty Botanical Gardens
Ooty Botanical Gardens are another important site that must be visited on your trip to Ooty. Spread across an area of 55 acres, the Government Botanical Gardens are well organized, well maintained and one of the most famous tourist sites in Ooty. These are maintained by the Horticultural Department of Tamil Nadu.
This garden is divided into 5 sections. First is the Lower Garden, which has the fern house that harbours one hundred and twenty seven species of ferns. Second is the New Garden, which has the rose garden, a lot of natural floral carpets and natural ponds. Third one is the Italian Garden, laid down by Italian Prisoners of War from the First World War. Fourth is the Conservatory, which has lots of groups of flowering plants. Fifth and the last section is the Nurseries, which contains a series of glass houses having a lot of varieties of exotic plants. What’s more? The Flower show is held as a part of the Summer Festival in Ooty and is a must see if you visit Ooty during that time.
Book Now: Touristic Highlights of Ooty
Entry Fees: ₹30 per person for Adults
₹15 per person for Children
₹50 for Still Camera
₹100 for Video Camera
Address: Nilgiris, Vannarapettai, Ooty, Tamil Nadu, 643001, India
Timing: Open all days from 7:00 am to 6:30 pm
Time to Explore: 2 hours approximately
Things to do: Strolling in the lush green gardens witnessing a huge variety of flowers and plants.
Doddabetta Peak
The term Doddabetta is a combination of two words: Dodda and Betta where the former means big and the latter means the mountain. So the word Doddabetta means the Big Mountain. If you are an avid trekker, then this is the place for you. What’s interesting about this place is that there are 24 higher peaks in the Nilgiris and Doddabetta is the highest peak among them.
From the Doddabetta Peak, you can enjoy the stunning views of forests of Bandipur National Park and the open highlands of Mysore. Since the summit is flat, travellers can sit here comfortably and enjoy the calm ambience and nature’s beauty.
Tea Garden, Botanical Garden, Rose Garden, Ooty Lake and Thunder World are some other popular tourist attractions near Doddabetta.
Entry Fees: No fees for upto 5 years
Above 5 Yrs: ₹6 per person
Still / Digital Camera: ₹10
Video Camera: ₹50
Address: 9 km from Ooty, Ooty Kotagiri Road, Ooty, The Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, 643002, India
Timing: Open all days from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm
Time to Explore: 2 hours approximately
Things to do: Trekking, Visiting the Telescope House
Kalhatty Waterfalls
Kalhatty Waterfalls is one of those places that can leave you awestruck and amazed with its beauty. An absolute wonder of nature, this is said to be the place where Saint Agastya used to live during his time. What makes this place even more charming is that you will find a huge variety of flora and fauna surrounding the waterfalls. So this place is an absolute paradise for nature and wildlife lovers.
Entry Fees: No entry fees
Address: Sigur Ghat Road, 13 km from Ooty, Ooty, The Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, 643001, India
Timing: Open all days from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm
Time to Explore: 2 hours approximately
Things to do: Witness the variety of flora and marvel at the beauty of the waterfalls
Mudumalai National Park
Located in the Nilgiri district on the border of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, Mudumalai National Park is one of the first forest ranges to be declared as a National Park. Another interesting fact about this park is that it’s famous for its tiger population and was recently declared a Tiger Reserve with a population of about 103 tigers. This place has breathtaking views and is an enchanting one for those who love nature.
Apart from animals like tigers, elephants, panthers and deer among others, here you can find a lot of amphibians and many exotic birds, like different types of parrots, eagles, vultures and some others which you have never seen in your life and can only see here.
Entry Fees: ₹30 per person Entry fee
₹53 for Still Camera
₹315 for Video Camera
₹340 per person For Bus safari
₹4200 per trip For Jeep safari
₹1120 per trip For Elephant safari
Address: NH 67, Gudalur NH 67, Gudalur, Devarshola, Tamil Nadu, 643223, India
Timing: Open all days from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm
Time to Explore: 2 hours approximately
Things to do: Jungle Safari, Elephant Safari, Elephant Camps, Trekking, Bird Watching
Book Now: Ooty Food Crawl
Needle View Hillpoint/Needle Rock View-point
Hidden away from the public view, Ooty Needle View Hillpoint is a lesser known spot that is absolutely worthy of exploring and deserves all the appreciation for its stunning beauty. This place offers some of the most beautiful sights that are beyond imagination. It is a highly forested area and it is advised to visit it during the day time.
Entry Fees: No entry fees
Address: Gudalur, Ooty Main Road, National Highway 67, Ooty, Tamil Nadu, 643212, India
Timing: Open all days from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm
Time to Explore: 2 hours approximately
Things to do: Trekking, exploring the forest area
Ooty Rose Garden
If roses fascinate you, then this place is no less than a heaven for you. Ooty takes pride in its Rose Garden that is incredibly beautiful and has some of the most mesmerising views. It has won the Garden of Excellence Award for South Asia from the World Federation of Rose Societies. What’s more interesting is that it has more than twenty thousand varieties of roses and is one of the most beautiful and well maintained gardens you will find in the country, or probably the world!
Entry Fees: ₹30 per person for Adults
₹15 per person for Children
₹50 for Still Camera
₹100 for Video Camera
Address: Horticulture House, Elk Hill Rd, Bombay Castel, Ooty, Tamil Nadu, 643001, India
Timing: Open all days from 7:30 am to 6:30 pm
Time to Explore: 2 hours approximately
Things to do: Marvel at the beauty of the huge variety of roses.
Ooty Toy Train
Taking a toy train ride in Ooty is one of the most interesting experiences. If you are travelling from Mettupalayam to Ooty, then go for the Ooty Mountain Railway, rather than going through any other mode of transport. An interesting fact about the Nilgiri Mountain Railway is that it is the only mountain railway that operates on a daily basis in South India. The train runs one to and fro journey every day and the frequency increases during peak summer, to accommodate the heavy crowd of tourists. It runs from Mettupalayam to Ooty via Coonoor.
The track is total 46 kilometres long and runs entirely via the picturesque Nilgiri Mountains making the journey worth the time spent in the train. Both first class and second class tickets are available. If you are a person who loves silence and calm then we advise you to go for the first class tickets and enjoy the mountains and the beautiful scenery from the train.
Book Now: Heritage and Cultural Walking Tour of Ooty
Entry Fees: ₹290 per person in First Class
₹80 per person in Second Class
₹15 for Unreserved category
Address: Mountain Railway, Ooty, The Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, 643003, India
Timing: Train timings depend on which route you take and on the day.
Time to Explore: 1 hour 15 mins approximately
Things to do: Witness some of the most stunning views from the train.
Summing Up
Ooty is home to some of the most exquisite tourist attractions that are incredibly stunning. From stunning views to adventurous activities, Ooty has something for everyone and never fails to amaze its visitors. We hope our virtual guide was resourceful enough to help you out in planning your trip to Ooty.
Have you ever visited Ooty? If yes, then how many of these places have you been to? We would love to hear about your experiences in the comments section!
FAQs
Things which you want to carry majorly depend on personal factors. For instance, if you have any underlying medical conditions then don’t forget to carry medicines. Other essentials might include sunscreen for sun protection, lip balm, moisturiser, stick for trekking, sun glasses, raincoat and umbrella.
To enjoy some adventurous activities in Ooty, you can go trekking in the Nilgiris, explore the beautiful landscapes through horse riding, do mountain bicycling, glide from the mountain top and do a lot more.
When you’re visiting Ooty, brace yourself to be amazed by the stunning, green landscapes, pleasant weather, incredible views of the mountains, adventurous activities, culinary delights, shopping spots and a lot more.
There are a lot of options to commute within Ooty. Depending on your choice, you can commute by local buses, cabs, auto rickshaws and rental service rides.
Top activities in Ooty include trekking, Nilgiri toy train ride, camping, rafting, jungle safari, tea plantation tours, horse riding, visiting chocolate factories etc.
Top sightseeing places in Ooty include Government Botanical Garden, Government Rose Garden, Government Museum, Tamilnadu Tourism Boat House, Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Pykara Waterfalls, The Tea Factory and The Tea Museum, Doddabetta Peak, Adam’s Fountain, Toy Train Railway Station and many more.
Some of the best places to visit near Ooty include Bellikkal, Coonoor, Kotagiri, Bandipur, Mudumalai, Coimbatore, Nilambur, Wayanad, Kabini to name a few.
Ooty is the summer capital of Madras Presidency. Furthermore, it is home to the Oldest Military Institution in India. It’s also one of the most filmed location in India. It’s a premium education hub and has the Nilgiri Railways which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Ooty has a pleasant climate throughout the year, but the best time to visit this place is in the summer months between March and June. During these months the temperature is also good and the air is less misty in comparison to the winter and monsoon months.
Ooty is famous for tourism because of its majestic beauty, green landscapes, tea plantations, wonderful weather and some of the most popular tourist attractions.
Ooty is an amazingly beautiful hill station for which you require around 3 days to enjoy its breathtaking beauty and see all the major attractions.
Ooty is an incredibly stunning place surrounded by beautiful hills which is why it is popular among the tourists as the Queen of Hill Stations.