9 BEST Places to Visit in Ooty

Ooty, which is also known as Udhagamandalam, is located in the state of Tamil Nadu in southern India. Ooty is one of the romantic and cheapest hill stations in India for couples to start their newlywed life or else, one can spare a memorable time in the laps of the Nilgiri Hills.

Surrounded by hills, varieties of flower, flora and fauna and one of the best hill stations in south India. In the center of the hill station, there is an artificial lake which is the center of attraction, tourists never miss a chance to enjoy a boating ride in the lake. A beautiful hill station where the English used to escape the heat, so there are lots of beautiful old buildings. It also has lots of chocolate shops!

This honeymoon paradise sees newlyweds all through the year. The climate, the Blue Mountains and the experience that Ooty offers make it super popular among photography and nature lovers. The estates, the tea gardens, the toy train, the high mountains and the splendid views make this a great escape for any occasion.

Doddabetta Peak, Ooty Lake, Emerald Lake, Deer Park, St Stephen's Church, and Kalhatty Waterfalls are the best places to visit in Ooty. Tourists can enjoy Nilgiri hills toy train, boating on Ooty lake, bikepacking, mountain biking in the Blue Mountains, paragliding and hang gliding in Kalahatti. It cannot get prettier than Ooty and Nilgiris biosphere reserve.

Cold climate, sprawling tea estates dotted with tiny villages, dense forests, avalanche and emerald lakes, carrot plantations, fresh water streams, mini waterfalls, tea and chocolate factory, the surroundings are so nice and pretty that you can stop your vehicle anywhere. If there is any place to escape even in peak summer, it is this. You get to see prettiest lakes, breathe purest air and experience untouched wilderness.

In the Blue Mountains in southern India, you can escape the tropical heat, because the green hills are sufficient with eucalyptus trees and tea tree plantations — all accessible by a funny miniature train. The Nilgiri Mountains form part of the Western Ghats in western Tamil Nadu. The highest peak of Nilgiri mountains is Doddabetta, at 2,637 metres (8,652 feet).

The Nilgiri Hills are part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (itself part of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserve). Over 2,700 species of flowering plants, 160 species of fern and fern allies, countless types of flowerless plants, mosses, fungi, algae, and land lichens are found in the sholas of the Nilgiris. No other hill station has so many exotic species.

It houses, probably, the highest number of exotic species in the world. Main vegetation of the region is Montane Grasslands and shrublands interspersed with Shola forests. The Nilgiri Hills are separated from the Karnataka Plateau to the north by the Noyar River. One of the most amazing and beautiful hill station of the world is located in this hill which is Ooty.

Explore the sprawling Botanical Gardens where the Summer Festival takes place in May, and climb the Doddabetta peak to shoot perfect shots. You can ride around the lake or further into the beautiful countryside, treat yourself to the region’s famous chocolates and have locally planted tea to wash it away. For a little while else you can also go to the scary Wax Museum.

Not mentioning Ooty in the list of must to visit romantic places in India will be a crime. Otherwise known as Udhagamandalam, Ooty is a sloped station situated in the foothills of Tamil Nadu, in southern India. A charming town in Tamil Nadu, known for its tea gardens.

Ooty is considered as the queen of the Hill stations. Enshrined inside the beauty of Nilgiri Hills, Ooty is a place for all those who love the chilling cold and morning cold tea, especially from the tea plantations of Ooty. A plethora of things to do if you are planning to visit Ooty.

Nilgiri Mountain Railway, Ooty Lake, Stone House, Fernhill Palace, St. Stephen’s Church, Pykara Waterfall, Botanical Garden, Dolphin's Nose, Lamb's Rock, Pine Forest, Kamaraj Sagar Lake are some of the famous tourist places to visit in Ooty



Here are some of the best things to do in Ooty.

1. Ooty Lake

As I mentioned above there is an artificial lake in Ooty which is the most attractive destination in Ooty. People ever miss a chance to have an experience of the boat ride in this lake. The lake is situated 2 Km away from Ooty in lush greenery in the Nilgiris District of Tamil Nadu. There are various type of boat including motor boats, pedal boats, rowing boats and much more.

Encompassed by lush green trees, the picturesque Ooty Lake is an immense artificial spree of water with delight vessels. If you're visiting there never forget to have this mesmerizing experience in Ooty.

2. Thread Garden

This place is the attraction of the tourists due to various varieties of artificial flowers and plants , which was made by skillful artist just by using threads. One can find thousands of different varieties of flowers and plants in this thread garden. The entry fee in this garden is Rs 30 for adults and Rs 15 for kids. The still camera charges are Rs 50 and video Camera charges are Rs 100.

3. Katary Falls

Located near about 2,000 meters above from the sea level and water falls from a height of 55 meters. This site is very much famous for picnic spots, watching birds and nature treks. If you love to discover about flora and fauna, then you will definitely love this place because you will find many rare birds and wildlife there and this will be so fascinating.

4. Emerald Lake

Emerald is a small village in the silent valley of Ooty, this lake is top among the best places to visit in Ooty. This place is most favorite for nature lovers. This is the best picnic spots in Ooty also for the family. This lake is mainly famous for varieties of fishes and watching birds. The sunrise and the sunset have the most lovely view from Emerald Lake. So, this is a must to visit place in Ooty for all nature lovers.

5. Elk Hill Murugan Temple

This temple is located on the top of the Elk hill and one of the best place where you can find peace, solitude. So, do visit this place and seek blessings of the god in Elk hill Murugan temple.

6. Mariamman Temple

This temple is named after the Hindu goddess of Rain and this is located just near the Ooty market. There is an annual celebration held here in the month of April every year, that celebration is not less than a grand Carnival. This is one of the most popular temples in Ooty.

7. Rose Garden

On the inclines of close by Elk Hill, there is the Rose Garden, which is the home to above 2,000 assortments of various roses.

8. Government Botanical Garden

The Government Botanical Garden, created in the mid-nineteenth century, has various plants, orchids, and an ancient, fossilized tree as well, which is a must visit sight.

9. Tibetan Market

Wherever you visit, shopping is a very permanent thing to do in that place. Ooty is the best location for the shopping of handmade chocolates, species. And you can find Tibetan market from where you can collect some amazing stuff. There are so many shops out there in the market which can let you taste the chocolates and then you can decide you have to buy this or not.

And in some of the markets in Ooty, there is a huge scope in bargaining. So, this is a win-win situation. You can have good quality products at reasonable prices.

Best Time to Visit Ooty

The average temperature of the hill station is around 15 degree celsius.

How to reach Ooty

By Air

The nearest airport to Ooty is the Coimbatore domestic airport. Ooty is 88 km from the Coimbatore Domestic Airport.

By Train

The nearest railway station to Ooty is Mettupalayam. From this railway station Ooty is approximately 40 kilometer away. Taxis are very much easily available from this railway station to Ooty.

By Bus

Ooty is a very popular hill station of the Southern India. Millions of tourists visit this place every year. Due to this government bus as well as luxury buses are easily available for Ooty from everywhere.