Ooty
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Ooty is the most popular hill station in the south, this beautiful hill station is located in the Nilgiri hills at 2286 m above sea level. With its rolling downs and salubrious climate it became the most important hill station in South India and the summer capital of the former Madras presidency. Old summer palaces of former Maharajas now hotels, are set in their beautiful parks.
A smart little hill train in a blue and cream in colour chugs up daily to Ooty from Mettupalayam in the plains. The journey is a marvelous experience as the train puffs up through an area with plantations, tea gardens, lush forests and pretty little stations on its four hour climb in Ooty.
Access
Road : From Coimbatore through Mettupalayam, at the foot of the hills, there are frequent (98 km from Coimbatore) and comfortable bus service is available from Chennai, Bangalore via Mysore, Pondichery, Kodai and Kozhikode.
Rail : A unique mountain train is available from Mettupalayam to Ooty through Coonoor.
Air : Nearest airport is Coimbatore, 105 km.
Govt. Botanical Gardens
2 km east of Ooty railway and Bus Stations. This beautiful garden is maintained by Govt. of Tamilnadu by its Horticultural Department. The Gardens are of the loveliest not only in India but the best among public gardens throughout the East. In the centre of the Garden just below the mini-lake there is a fosil tree trunk which is 20 million years old. The annual flower show is held on the 3rd Sunday of May every year. Attracting large number of tourist from all corners of India (opening 6.00 am to 6.30 p.m.).
Aquarium
Close to Bus Station. This Aquarium is run by Department of Fisheries. Here in this aquarium the department rears exotic first varieties.
Ooty Race Course
The race course is right opposite the Bus Station. The Racing season starts on 14th April and lasts till June.
Doddabetta
The name literally means Big Mountain. This is the highest peak in the Nilgiris located off the Ooty-Kotagiri Road. The height of the peak is 8640 feet. The road to Doddabetta a motorable. (10 km from Ooty on the Kotagiri Road)
Ooty Lake – Boat House
The artificial lake (65 acres) was constructed in 1824 by Mr. John Sullivan, the collector of Coimbatore. All kinds of boats are available for hire at Boat House.
The lake garden and toy train rides are other attractions of the place. In the adjacent site there is a recently created deer park.
Govt. Museum
The Govt. Museum, Mysore Road, Ooty was set up in 1898. The museum has items of Tribal objects, district’s ecological details and representative sculptural arts and crafts of Tamilnadu. (Opening time 10.00 am to 1.00 p.m and 2.00 pm to 5.00 pm).
Pykara
It is situated about 21 km, from Ooty on the Ooty – Mysore Road. Well protected fenced Sholar, Toda settlements, undisturbed grassy meadows and also a good valid habitat. The Pykara Dam and the reservoir attracts many tourists.