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Stone House Ooty

Stone House is the first mansion of Ooty. Today, it serves as the residence of the Principal of the Government Arts College of Ooty.

Ooty, also called Ootacamund and Udhagamandalam, is a picturesque hill station nestled in Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu. Ooty is known as ‘Queen of Hill Stations.’

Stone House of Ooty is soaked in vibrant history and architectural beauty. Presently, this House is regarded as one of the most loved tourist spots of this place. It is located around 120 km from Mysore via Masinagudi route and around 155 km via Gudalur route.

The Toda tribals of this place call the Stone House as ‘Kal Bangala.’ The word “kal” means “stone” and the world “bangala” means “mansion.” The House is completely made of stone.

History

Ooty’s Stone House was constructed by John Sullivan, the then collector of Coimbatore in 1822. He acquired land from Today tribals at Re. 1 per acre.

It so happened that Sullivan sent Mc Mahon and Keys to explore the Nilgiris for the purpose of development. The beauty of Nilgiris enchanted the officials. They told this to Sullivan. He himself went to explore the place.

Sullivan was the one who pioneered the idea of urbanization in Ooty. He sensed the potential of this place to be a hot tourist destination. So, he built the first Stone House built in English style. This laid the foundation of habitation in this Nature’s beauty basket.

Architecture

Stone House served as the residence of Sullivan. Before the collector built the House, the land was a lush green spot covered with pine trees, lichens, ferns, and orchids.

The House features a sloping roof, which is done in green. Architecture of the House is simple, yet resembles a classic British cottage that features a crackling fireplace in the living room.

There is a tree in front of the House. It is called Sullivan’s Oak.

Nearby Attractions

When in Ooty, tourists must not miss the enchanting Ooty Lake. This irregular L-shaped lake is an artificial lake built by Sullivan himself.

The Doddabetta Peak, about 10 km from Ooty, is Nature’s wonder and the second highest peak in the Western Ghats.

While coming from Bangalore to Ooty, tourists can enjoy the marvel of Pykara Falls that fall enroute. Pykara Lake is also there. Talking of lakes, the Upper Bhavani Lake is a must-see.

Two of the most popular tourist spots are the Botanical Garden of Ooty and the Rose Garden. It is hard to miss the 20 million year old fossil tree in the Botanical garden. Tourists interested in the lives of Toda tribals must come here, as there is a famous Toda Hill in the garden.

Best Time to Visit

Tourists can visit Ooty all year round. The best time to enjoy this hill station to the maximum is from April to June and from September to November.

How to Reach

The nearest domestic airport from the Queen of Hill Stations is Coimbatore, about 88 km. There is a direct flight from Bangalore. Tourists can get regular flights from Chennai, Mumbai, and Delhi. On reaching Coimbatore airport, tourists can avail themselves a bus or taxi straight to Ooty.

The nearest railway junction from Ooty is Mettupalayam about 40 km. The junction is connected to Coimbatore, Chennai, Mysore and Bangalore. From Mettupalayam, tourists can take the heritage train, which is called ‘Nilgiri Mountain Train’. It gives visitors a thrilling uphill journey.

Tourists can avail themselves luxury and government buses from Chennai, Mysore, and Bangalore that run straight to Ooty. A special government bus leaves Calicut everyday at 5pm and 7pm and reaches Ooty in 6 hours.

One of the best ways to imbibe the stunning scenery of this hill station is take a road trip to Ooty. As tourists take the road amidst Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary and Bandipur National Park, they have a rendezvous with Nature at its most mesmerizing form. Elephants greet tourists on this road.

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Stone House Ooty
Stone House Ooty
Stone House Ooty
Stone House Ooty
Stone House Ooty
Stone House Ooty

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