Ooty

A bustling tourist town in Southern India, Ooty will surprise your with its quaint silence which you experience once you move away from the hustle and bustle of Charing Cross, the city centre of Ooty. Udhagamandalam or Ooty as the town is popularly known is an elegant mix of Indian charisma and nostalgic British days with numerous raj era bungalows lining the highway on the way to Ooty. The most popular hill station of Southern India, Ooty still retains magical charm of the British era. The region is a biodiversity hotspot and is home to numerous National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries which spread throughout the region.You can opt for travelling by the famed Nilgiri express which chucks its way around the meadowing tea estates or choose the road route which will give you an impressive view of the rural life of Nilgiri hills with numerous villages falling on the way.

History

Ooty was initially ruled by Ganga Kings and passed on to Hoysala rulers with King Vishnuvardhana playing a vital role in its development. He captured Wynad and Nilgiri areas during 11th century.  The major tribes in the region were Todas, Kotas and Alu Kurumbas, descendents of whom can be seen even today in the region.John Sullivan, the erstwhile Governor of Coimbatore can be credited with establishing tea, chinchona and teak plantations in the region.  He was handed over the power by Todas who were the traditional rulers of Ooty. After the treaty of Srirangapatnam was signed between Tipu Sultan and the British, the reigns of the area got finally transferred to the British. The biggest contribution of the British to Ooty was the initiation of Nilgiri Mountain Rails which incidentally was a joint venture between some British entrepreneurs and the Madras Government. The mountain rail continues till date and is a major attraction for tourists who use the same to visit Ooty in large numbers every year.

Geography

You will experience subtropical highland climate in Ooty which is quite unusual for Southern India. The weather is mostly mild throughout the year and nights especially during January and February are quite cold. The average temperature in the region is from 17-20 degrees with the same falling to freezing point during intense winters. The average rainfall in Ooty is in the range of 1,250 mm while the town lies at an altitude of 2240 metres above the mean sea level.

Environment

Western Ghats are rich is floral and faunal diversity and Ooty is no exception. You will find some faunal species in the region which are native to the area. Nilgiri langurs and hard to find Nilgiri thars are among these. In addition, you will find good numbers of tigers, panthers, hyenas and jackals in the area. Among the avian species in the region, the popular ones are Nilgiri marten, nightjar, golden oriole and hill mynah.

Ooty is known for its Kurunji, a flower that blossoms every twelve years and turns the landscape blue. In addition, the region has significant Orchid growth which lends a unique ambiance to the surroundings.

Protected Areas

The region is a biodiversity hotspot and is home to a Biosphere Reserve besides numerous Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks. The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve covers a massive area of 6,000 square km and includes in its preview, the faunal wealth of Ooty region which has over 350 bird species, 100 mammal species, 80 reptile species and 39 aquatic species besides others. Silent Valley National Park lies in proximity to Ooty and is around 28 km from the town. The National Park covers an area of 237 sq km and has a rich floral and faunal diversity. The other major sanctuaries in the area are Nugu, Wynad and Madumalai Wildlife Sanctuaries.

The major National Parks in the area are the Silent Valley, Nagarhole, Bandipur and Mukurthi National Parks.

Tourism

Ooty attracts a large number of tourists every year. The place is magical indeed as it is home to high mountain ranges, dense forests and numerous tea gardens which sprawl across the region. A weekend getaway for the British, Ooty still retains its magical charm and is popular indeed.

Places to See

Government Rose Garden

Ooty is home to the largest Rose Garden in India. More than 20,000 varieties of roses abound here with the major ones including Hybrid Tea Roses, Miniature roses, Floribunda, Papagena among others.

Ooty Lake

The lake spread in an area of 65 acres is a major tourist attraction in Ooty and offers boating facility for the tourists. John Sullivan, the first collector of Ooty designed this lake in 1824. The famous Nilgiri mountain rail passes through one edge of the lake making it a truly enchanting experience for the rail travellers and boat riders in the lake alike.

Kal Bangla

Stone house or the Kal Bangla as it is popularly known was the first bungalow to be constructed in Ooty. John Sullivan constructed this bungalow in 1822 and the bungalow reflects the traditional British architecture of the bygone era.

Traditional Toda Huts

You should not miss visiting the traditional Toda huts, when on a visit to Ooty. Some of these still exist on hills above the Botanical Garden. Though the art of building the toda huts is dying, some old timer toda people are showing interest in returning to their roots.

Ooty Mountain Railway

Initially operated by Madras Railway Company, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway has been around since 1908. NMR has been added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005 and still continues to hold charm among tourists who use the same in large numbers to reach Ooty.

St. Stephen’s Church

This church dates back to 19th century and is credited as being the oldest churches in Nilgiri district. The foundation stone of this church was laid by Stephen Rumbold Lushington who was the governor of Madras in 1829. St. Stephen’s Church was designed by John James Underwood who happened to be a captain in the Madras regiment.

Tribal Museum

You can get a glimpse of rare artefacts and photographs of tribal groups of Tamil Nadu and Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the tribal museum in Ooty. The museum also has houses belonging to Toda, Kota, Kanikarans, Kurumba and Paniya communities who were the real dwellers of the region in the olden days.

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