Hey dear explorers! We welcome you to another enthralling escapade that features Ooty, the queen of hills. This time our blod is all about things to do in Ooty. Surrounded by the mighty hills, Ooty is home to a myriad of tourist attractions each of which is absolutely surreal in its own way. From witnessing the charismatic tourist spots to indulging in adventurous activities, there is a lot that you can do in Ooty. Ooty is more than just a tourist spot. It’s the hub of a lot of things, making this place even more worthy of visiting.
Whether you are a foody or a person who as an appetite for adventure, or you are a person who wants to spend some time in tranquillity, marvelling the beauty of the hills, Ooty has it all!
We bet that by the time you are done reading our blog, you will have a complete list of all that you can do in Ooty to have the ultimate fun on your trip to Ooty.
So without keeping you waiting any longer, we would quickly get started with our guide on things to do in Ooty!
Table of Contents
Things To Do In Ooty
1. Enjoy A Railway Ride In The Nilgiri Mountain Toy Train
Taking a Railway Ride in the Nilgiri Mountain Toy Train is undoubtedly one of the most iconic experiences. This ride is one of the most fun and joyful rides. Popular as the Ooty Toy Train, this train gives you the opportunity to enjoy the mesmerising views of lush green hills, stunning valleys, forested landscapes, and verdant meadows. It is the most enjoyable mode of transport to travel from Mettupalayam to Ooty and presents its tourists with a unique kind of experience that is hard to get anywhere else. This train ride is fondly enjoyed by people of all age groups. So if you are visiting with family, then this is something you must go for.
This train passes through 16 tunnels, 208 steep curves, and 250 beautiful bridges and covers a total distance of approximately 46 Km in 5 hours.
It was built in 1908 by the Britishers and this is a century-old UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Entry Fee: INR 205 per person for first class, INR 30 per person for second class, and INR 15 for unreserved category.
Timings: The departure time of the train from Mettupalayam to Ooty is at 7:10 AM every day and from Ooty to Mettupalayam, it is at 2:00 PM every day.
Distance: 2 Km from Ooty Centre
Exploration Time: Approximately 5-6 Hours
2. Delight Your Taste Buds With Tea At The Tea Museum
Alternatively known as the Ooty Tea Factory, the Tea Museum in Ooty is a heaven for tea lovers. It’s located
adjacent to the Doddabetta Tea Factory and boasts of an incredibly surreal location with lush-green tea plantations surrounding the area. Here, you don’t just get to taste the tea but you also get know about it’s evolution. What’s more? Here you can indulge in the aroma of fresh tea leaves and see how they are brewed. This is the spot where you can witness how a cup of tea is prepared. The stunning view of the magnificent Nilgiri Mountains only add to the charm of this place.
Also Read: Best Places To Visit In Ooty
When you are done exploring this place, don’t forget to visit the in-house souvenir shop from where you can buy a diverse range of tea to take back home. Apart from tea, the shop also sells a variety of tea cups and tea plates at reasonable prices.
Entry Fee: INR 250 per person
Timings: Open from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM on all days
Distance: 5.5 Km from Ooty Centre and Ooty Railway Station
Exploration Time: Approximately 1 Hour
Book Now: Ooty Food Crawl
3. Enjoy Boat Ride At The Ooty Lake
Your visit to this serene place is incomplete without enjoying a boat ride at the Ooty Lake. Ooty Lake is a must visit spot in Ooty and boating here is a very joyful experience. Alternatively famous as the Ooty Boat House, it’s spread across an area of 65 acres of land. Surrounded by Eucalyptus trees, Nilgiri ranges, and lush-greenery, this place is a great spot to spend your evenings with family and friends.
Boating is a major attraction at this place. You can also choose to hire Paddle Boats, Motor Boats, and Rowing Boats from the boathouse to explore the nearby areas of this marvellous lake. Boating is not the only activity that you can do here. Other activities include horse riding, cycling, and photography. What else? This lake also has an amusement park along with a Deer Park for the entertainment of children. To make things more interesting for kids, there is also a mini-train ride that allows kids to have a quick tour of the lake as well as the park.
Entry Fee: INR 10 per person for Indians, INR 560 per person for foreigners
Timings: Open from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM on all days
Distance: 1 Km from Ooty Bus Stand, 2 Km from Ooty
Exploration Time: Approximately 3-4 Hours
4. Photography At The Pykara Lake
The gorgeous waterfalls of the Pykara Lake are indeed a visual treat! Visiting this place is another must visit thing to do in this place, especially if you love photography and want some Instagram-worthy pictures. With the tall pine trees and a thick lush green cover at its backdrop, this lake can take your heart away with its beauty.
This place is all about serenity and tranquillity, allowing people to relax and unwind. Photography and nature lovers are going to find this place an absolute paradise. You can enjoy a short stroll, go on a boating ride, click some stunning pictures, enjoy the breathtaking views or go hiking to have some adventure. From serenity to adventure, this place has everything for everyone.
Entry Fee: INR 10 per person
Timings: Open from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM on all days
Distance: 24 Km from Ooty Centre
Exploration Time: Around 2 Hours
5. Trek To The Doddabetta Peak
If you want spend some moments of serendipity and solitude then this might be the perfect spot for you. The magical setting of the Doddabetta Peak allows you to lose yourself in the calm, serene environment and declutter your mind. What’s more? If you are adventurous, then this is the place where you can have the best kind of adventure. Present between Eastern and the Western Ghats, at a distance of 10 KM from the heart of Ooty, the Doddabetta Peak is a great sightseeing place for couples and families.
Book Now: Museum and Garden Tour To Ooty
Also Read: Nature’s Hidden Gem: Doddabetta Peak in Ooty
An incredibly amazing place for those who love hiking, Doddabetta Peak is perched at an altitude of 8606 feet. Interestingly, it is the highest mountain in South India that offere its tourists with some of the most stunning views from the top.
As you reach the top of the mountain, you’ll find a telescope from where you can witness the gorgeous skyline of Ooty and see the glorious vistas of Bandipur National Park. You can reach the viewpoint easily via vehicle or on foot, whatever suits you.
Entry Fee: INR 6 per person for people above 5 years of age; there is no entry fee for kids under 5 years.
Timings: Open from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM on all days
Distance: 10 Km from Ooty Centre, 8.7 Km from Ooty Railway Station
Exploration Time: Around 1-2 Hours
6. Spiritual Retreat At St. Stephen’s Church
If you are spiritual, then consider paying a visit to the St. Stephen’s Church. It’s located on the road to Mysore in the hill station and is the oldest church in the Nilgiri district. Having its own unique charm, this place is found to be very appealing by the tourists. Popular for its intricate architecture, this Church has a very peaceful vibe that can calm and declutter your mind.
This church has a very beautiful garden that is adorned with numerous flowers. You can take a stroll here to feel relaxed. Visiting this church on special occasions like Christmas can double the fun. You can also take some stunning pictures here to flaunt on your social media.
Entry Fee: There is no entry fee to visit St. Stephen’s Church in Ooty.
Timings: Open from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM and from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM on all days except Sunday
Distance: 1.5 Km from Ooty Centre, 2 Km from Ooty Bus Stand, 1.9 Km from Ooty Railway Station
Exploration Time: Approximately 1-2 Hours
7. Enjoy A Safari At Mudumalai National Park
If you are nature and wildlife lover, then going on a safari at the Mudumalai National Park is going to be an amazing experience. You can either choose a bus safari, elephant safari or jeep safari based on your preference. To add a little more adventure, you can also opt to go on a nighttime safari.
Present on the north-western side of the Nilgiri mountains, this national park is one of the most sought after destinations. Also known as Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, it has more than 500 different species of endangered creatures including animals, birds, reptiles, mammals, amphibians, and thousands of insects. What’s more? At this national park, you also get the opportunity to see majestic Elephants, Deer, and Langurs roaming freely inside the park.
Entry Fee: INR 30 per person; however, there will be an extra charge for a safari ride.
Timings: Open from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM on all days
Distance: 29 Km from Ooty Centre
Exploration Time: Around 4-5 Hours
8. Surround Yourself With Old Bollywood Vibes At The Pine Tree Forests
If you are a nature and Bollywood lover, then don’t forget to visit this iconic spot that attracts thousands of tourists. It is a very popular shooting spot in the Nilgiri district. It’s home to soaring pine, breathtaking views of the mountains and picture worthy settings. Popular Indian movies like Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, Dil Se, Sadma, Khuda Gawah, etc., have been shot at this spot.
Must Read: Best Time To Visit Ooty
Entry Fee: INR 5 per person
Timings: Open from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM on all days
Distance: 7.8 Km from Ooty Centre
Exploration Time: Around 1-2 Hours
9. Explore The Wax World Museum
The wax world museum is a very unique and iconic spot that has the look-alike wax statues of popular personalities, political leaders, and freedom fighters from Indian history. It was conceptualised by Shreeji Bhaskaran who was an IT professional. The names of some of the personalites whose wax statues are here include Mahatma Gandhi, APJ Abdul Kalam, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Subhash Chandra Bose, Shirdi Sai Baba, Mother Teresa, Gopal Krishna Gokhale etc. Present in a
a 130-year-old mansion, this museum is in close proximity to Ooty Lake.
Apart from wax statues of popular personalities, it also has replicas of village-style rural household life and figures of people doing pottery and farming, all of which are wonderfully made out of wax.
Entry Fee: INR 20 per person
Timings: Open from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM on all days
Distance: 2 KM from Ooty Centre, 1 Km from Ooty Railway Station
Exploration Time: Around 2-3 Hours
10. Get Spiritual At Elk Hill Murugan Temple
If you are in search of a place that offers you a completely different experience, then you can visit Elk Hill Murugan Temple to get spiritual. Situated at the top of the Elk Hill, the Elk Hill Murugan Temple is a very popular Hindu Temple in Ooty that offers holy and divine vibes to the devotees of Lord Murugan. It has a 40-feet tall statue of the presiding deity that can be seen at the entrance of the temple.
Other idols like Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha, Nava Kanika, Goddess Shakthi, etc., can also be worshipped within the premises of this temple. What’s more interesting is that from the top, you can witness a 360-degree view of the complete Ooty which is an absolutely mesmerising view. What else? Thaipusam is a highly celebrated festival at the temple that falls between the period of late January and early February. On this day, devotees from all over India present large containers filled with milk as an offering to Lord Murugan. Some of the pilgrims also bring a carrier that is all decked up with flowers and peacock feathers on their way to the temple. This is not just it. You can also enjoy the Kavadi Attam, which is a form of dance at this popular event.
Entry Fee: There is no entry fee to visit
Timings: Open from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM onwards
Distance: 2.3 Km from Ooty Centre, 4 Km from Ooty Railway Station
Exploration Time: Approximately 1-2 Hours
In A Nutshell
Before you start with your trip to this serene place, it’s better to have a list of all the things that you don’t want to miss doing there. We expect that our virtual guide helped you significantly in preparing this list. So among all these things that we listed out here, what all activities did you choose to do in Ooty?
FAQs
Must carry things for Ooty may vary depending on personal reasons. 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.
There are a plethora of adventurous activities you can do in Ooty. You can go trekking in the Nilgiris, explore the beautiful landscapes through horse riding, do mountain bicycling, glide from the mountaintop and do a lot more.
Some of the best things to do in Ooty include trekking, Nilgiri toy train ride, camping, rafting, jungle safari, tea plantation tours, horse riding, visiting chocolate factories etc
In Ooty, you can buy chocolates, eucalyptus oil, tea, antique toda jewellery and shawls.
The best time to visit this place is in the summer months between March and June. During these months the temperature is good and the air is less misty in comparison to the winter and monsoon months.
Ooty is famous for its tea plantations and its incredibly beautiful hill views.
The best time to visit Ooty is during the months of March to June during which the temperature is good and the air is also less misty.
You require around 3 days to enjoy the breathtaking beauty of Ooty and see all the major attractions.
The months of January and February are the coldest in Ooty.
Which one between Kodaikanal and Ooty is better depends on personal likes and preferences. Ooty is a more commercial place in comparison to Kodaikanal and also has a lot of attractions and activities. The crowd is less in Kodaikanal, so it’s a great place for those who want some peaceful moments, far away from the hustle and bustle. However, for those who want to explore and indulge in interesting activities, Ooty is a better place as it has more options.
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 is an incredibly stunning place surrounded by beautiful hills which is why it is popular as the Queen of Hill Stations.
