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The Nilgiris is the first Biosphere in India and one of the biggest districts of the southern state of Tamil Nadu. It is part of the Western Ghats that share borders between Kerala and Karnataka states. Tourist can visit many tourist places in Ooty and enjoy their valuable time.
The people of this place are familiar with Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada, especially those who have proximity near the borders. Many are fluent in English too. If you are a tourist planning to visit the Ooty tourist places, that would give you a great traveling experience.
Weather in Ooty, Nilgiris
The Nilgiris district is a hilly station covered with forest and natural life. So what weather can you expect? Certainly chillness compared to other places. It differs in lower areas like Gudalur and Pandalur, bordering Kerala and Karnataka.
Ooty lies about 2240 meters above sea level, whereas Coonoor is around 1650 Meters. Both places come at approximately 6,000 feet, and you can expect a cool climate most of the months.
If you visit Ooty in December, and January, the temperature may go to Zero degrees at night. In summer, the temperature may increase to 20 to 25 degrees but comes below 20 when the sun sets.
It is a splendid destination for people who want to explore the terrain. If you like to make beautiful memories with your family, friends, and partners, visit Ooty.
A land of spices, tea, and coffee
The Nilgiris, often called the “Blue Mountains,” is an astonishing tourist destination in Tamil nadue. The place is prominent for its landscapes and status as a land of spices.
It is, however, the aromatic spices that steal the spotlight here. The place is a treasure of cardamom, pepper, cloves, cinnamon, vanilla, tea, and coffee.
These aromatic gems thrive in the region’s cool, misty climate, which imparts a unique flavour and smell to the products. The Nilgiris’ spices and scenic beauty make it an enchanting destination for people worldwide.
18 best Tourist Places in Ooty (Udagamandalam)
1. Ooty Botanical Gardens
It is a destination that tourists always remember to visit. The Government Botanical Garden is the main attraction of ooty tourism. Every people who visit this vast garden brings beautiful memories.
The horticultural departments of Tamil Nadu maintain one of this Ooty visiting places. The garden offers you a treat with beautiful flowers and nature. Every year, the officials organise a flower show to attract tourists worldwide. The garden has five divisions, such as
- Lower garden
- New garden
- The Italian Garden
- The Conservatory
- The nurseries
Important Details
| Visiting Hours | 07:00 AM – 6:30 PM (All days) |
| Entry Fee | Rs: 30 for adults and 15 for children. Still camera Rs: 50, and for a video camera, Rs: 100. |
| Best Time To Visit | March, April, and May |
2. Ooty Train
Nilgiri Heritage Train or Nilgiri Mountain Railway is historically famous worldwide. Only two such trains climbing hills and down are available now, one in India and the other in the UK.
If you ever get a chance to travel from Mettuppalayam to Ooty or vice versa, grab it without any second thoughts. Trust me, no other train journey will match it. Climbing up and down mountains gives you an astonishing fest for your eyes.
The marvellous journey takes about 4 to 5 hours, and the distance you cover is about 46 KM. A short commute is possible between two eminent places, from Ooty to Coonoor and the opposite.
The toy train in the Nilgiris operates daily and provides unforgettable tourist service. During the season, the train experiences a heavy flow of tourists. But officials usually increase the service. It runs with steam engines and was sometimes replaced with diesel trains to give more strength.
Commuting Time
The time can vary according to the weather and situations. So please confirm the time before leaving
Schedule 1 (46 KM Distant commute)
| Mettuppalayam To Ooty | 07:10 AM – 11:55 AM |
Schedule 2 (46 KM Distant commute)
| Ooty To Mettuppalayam | 14:00 PM – 17:30 PM |
Schedule 3 (Short commute)
| Coonoor to Ooty Toy train (19 KM) | 07:45 AM – 09:00 AM |
| 10:40 AM – 11:55 AM | |
| 12:35 PM – 01:45 PM | |
| 04:00 PM – 05:10 PM |
Schedule 4 (Short commute)
| Ooty to Coonoor Mountain Train (19 KM) | 09:15 AM – 10:20 AM |
| 12:15 AM – 01:15 PM | |
| 02:00 PM – 03:05 PM | |
| 05:30 PM – 06:35 PM |
3. Rose garden
Do you want to treat your eyes with varieties of roses? If you are a fan, come to the rose garden, where you will see colourful roses that you have never seen before.
A famous garden won the Garden Excellent Award from South Asia from the World Federation of Rose Societies. It belongs to one of the 35 renowned rose gardens around the world.
The climate of the Nilgiris is perfect for a rose garden. It boasts thousands of roses that offer you nothing but happiness. The rose garden in Ooty has varieties of cloud roses from around the world.
Important Details
| Visiting Hours | 07:30 AM – 06:30 PM |
| Entry Fee | Rs: 30 for adults and 15 for children. Still camera Rs: 50, and for a video camera, Rs: 100. |
| Best Time To Visit | March, April, and May |
4. Wax Museum Ooty
Museums are many, and this one you visit is different from others. Please don’t misunderstand that it is a massive place like other museums where you can spend hours.
The Wax Museumcan gift you a wonderful experience for your eyes. It showcases the statues of famous personalities such as Mahatma Gandhi, Netaji Subash Chandra Bose, Abdul Kalam, Jesus Christ, Mother Teresa, Sai Baba, Maharaja Sivaji, and others.
It is one of the ooty places to visit with in2 KM from the main town. Imagine if artists made all these out of wax, then you can admire them and enjoy their works.
Important Details
| Visiting Hours | 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM |
| Entry Fee | Rs: 30 Adults, Rs: 20 children, and Rs: 50 for camera. |
| Best Time To Visit | October to May |
5. Doddabetta Peak
The peak is nestled among the blue mountains of the Nilgiris, experiencing an abundance of visitors daily. It is the second-highest peak in south India after Anamudi. Doddabetta means a big mountain in the Badgha language found in Nilgiri.
It is an ideal place for those who love trekking and service, with many inspiring views. Doddabetta is the highest one among the 24 peaks found in the Nilgiris. The trekking experience is unique here. It is one of the ooty best places fit for natural and adventurous lovers.
Important Details
| Visiting Hours | 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM (All days) |
| Entry Fee | Rs: 6 (Below age 5 is free), for still camera Rs: 10, and video camera Rs: 50 |
| Best Time To Visit | October to May |
6. Deer Park
Have you heard about a park alone for deer? If not, you will find one here. It’s about 3 km away from town and takes only 10 to 15 minutes. The destination is accessible for tourists wanting to spend time with family.
Important Details
| Visiting Hours | 10 AM – 05:00 PM |
| Entry Fee | No Fee |
| Best Time To Visit | October to May |
7. Boat house or Ooty Lake
Visitors who travelto this place can go boating and enjoy trees, bushes, and landscape. It is an artificial lake with rich biodiversity. Visitors can travel in pedal boats, rowboats, and motorboats.
This boat house is one of the best tourist places in Ooty. Tourists can enjoy valuable time with their friends and family at the boat house.
The locals created a beautiful lake for fishing, but it turned into one of the best places to visit in Ooty. Many teams conduct a boat race as part of the summer festival, an essential attraction of the area.
Several activities and entertainment are available at the lake and nearby. They include cycling, horse riding, mini trains, and delicious food.
Boating details
| Boat Type | Price | Time |
| Pedal Boat – 2 Seats | Rs.300 | 30 minutes |
| Pedal Boat – 4 Seats | Rs.400 | 30 minutes |
| Row Boat – 4 Seats | Rs.450 | 30 minutes |
| Row Boat – 6 Seats | Rs.500 | 30 minutes |
| Motor Boat – 8 Seats | Rs.900 | 20 minutes(Sharing possible) |
| Motor Boat – 10 Seats | Rs.1100 | 20 minutes(Sharing possible) |
| Motor Boat – 15 Seats | Rs.1600 | 20 minutes(Sharing possible) |
8. Tiger Hill
Tiger Hill lies on the east side of Ooty and at the lower end of Doddabetta Peak. An accessible destination from Ooty town with just 6 KM is a loving sport for trekking and hiking.
Those who like to relax would rent a room in the nearby resort to enjoy their time. Some of the resorts lie in the middle of an attractive place. Victors often come here to see the sunrise and setting, offering majestic views of the lands.
Important Details
| Visiting Hours | 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM (All days) |
| Entry Fee | No Fee |
| Best Time To Visit | March to May |
9. Ooty Pine Forest
The landscape and the pine trees fancy the people who love nature. The pine forest is a magical place where you can spend time with your dearest one by taking photos.
Filmmakers consider the area famous, and they filmed several movies in the pine forest. Tourists can love their time in and around this place with horse-riding, and camping experiences.
Important Details
| Visiting Hours | 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM (All days) |
| Entry Fee | No Fee |
| Best Time To Visit | October to May |
10. Emerald Lake
A beautiful lake located 19 KM away from Ooty town and near the Kerala border. People prefer this place for picnics and fishing. You can also enjoy time taking photos and seeing the plantation and surrounding lake.
Important Details
| Visiting Hours | 8 AM – 5 PM (All days) |
| Entry Fee | No Fee |
| Best Time To Visit | October to March |
11. Pykara Waterfalls
Pykara Waterfalls is gorgeous and one of the famous places in Ooty. The falls are 20 KM away from Ooty towards Mysore road. The site has emerged as a superior tourist picnic spot.
The monsoon is unpredictable in the Nilgiris, so be alert with the water level increase that may be dangerous to you.
The surroundings are famous for the Todas community, found only in the Nilgiris area. Their customs are unique from rest, and their hut, “Dogles,” is one of the must do things to do in Ooty. For travellers, the place is a paradise where you feel chill even during the hard summer.
Important Details
| Visiting Hours | 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM (All days) |
| Entry Fee | Rs:10 per head |
| Best Time To Visit | October to May |
12. Shooting spot
Do you like to visit an iconic place seen in many movies in India? Drive to shooting points. It is one of the famous tourist places in Ooty, where you witness picturesque views, green meadows, and rolling hills in thin fog. It is 15 KM away from Ooty on Gudalur and Mysore Road.
The ambiance you get at shooting sports makes you comfortable and cheerful with friends and family. It is a perfect destination for tourist who want to relax from their urban life and noisy atmosphere.
Important Details
| Visiting Hours | 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM (All days) |
| Entry Fee | Rs: 10 |
| Best Time To Visit | March to May |
13. Sim’s Park
The Sim’s Park was named after the British Officer Mr. J.D. Sims, the Secretary to Government during that time. Ensure you have enough time to visit the park as it is one of the unavoidableCoonoor tourist spot.
It’s a home for around 1K species of flowers and can see older trees over 100 years old. The park is an excellent place for people to spend time with family. Visitors can take photos, indulge in games, gather, and pedal boating in the park.
A perfect tourist destination on Coimbatore Road can change your vibes, especially for new couples. The main festival of this part is the fruits and vegetable show. The Department of Horticulture has been organising this for over 50 years.
The two-day fruit shows happen in the summertime. Thousands of people come to watch this show from different parts of the world. They create different creatures and models with vegetables and fruits.
| Visiting Hours | 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM (All days) |
| Entry Fee | Rs: 15 below 12 & Rs: 30 for Adults |
| Best Time To Visit | March to May |
14. St. George’s Church
Every person is different in one way or the other. Some tourists also seek peace and spirituality even if they are traveling. If you are such person, visit St. George’s Church, built in the 18th century.
If you are a tourist who want other things to do in Coonoor, don’tmiss this place. The church’s architecture resembles European culture and offers an excellent treat for your eyes. Visiting the church during Christmas and New Year provides an unforgettable experience.
| Visiting Hours | 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM (All days |
| Entry Fee | No fee |
| Best Time To Visit | September to May |
15. Lamb’s Rock
Lamb’s Rock is the topmost place in Coonoor hill station. A must-visit tourist area in the Nilgiris offers a peaceful atmosphere with greenery. You get a majestic view of the surrounding areas from this place. The Rock is 7 KM away from Coonoor town, which also offers an adventurous trekking experience.
| Visiting Hours | 8:00 AM – 6:30 PM (All days) |
| Entry Fee | Rs: 10 |
| Best Time To Visit | September to May |
16. Dolphin’s Nose
The name Dolphi’s nose is derived from what it looks like. Indeed, this place offers fantastic views and cools your mind with peace and happiness. You can capture stunning photos of your best time in the dolphin nose, making your time valuable and remembering. The place is one the way to Kothagiri, giving easy access to Kodanad areas.
| Visiting Hours | 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM (All days) |
| Entry Fee | Rs: 15 |
| Best Time To Visit | March to May |
17. Needle Rock View-point
The needle rock point in Gudalur, Nilgiri, is also known as a suicide point among the residents. It is around 8 KM from Gudalur town and 50 KM from Ooty town. It is the place that connects Karnataka and Kerala.
Tourists can get a vast view of the city and even the Sulthan Bathery from the rock that resembles a needle. This place is a perfect destination for trekking. Tourists can enjoy the views of meeting clouds with hills from the point.
| Visiting Hours | 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM (All days) |
| Entry Fee | Rs: 10 Per person |
| Best Time To Visit | September to May |
18. Mudumalai Tiger Reserve
Mudumalai Tiger Reserve is one of the most critical ecological systems in the country, connected with Bandipur Tiger Reserve in the north and Mutthanga Tiger Reserve to the south.
It also houses more than 500 species of animals, birds, reptiles and even more species of insects that you never see in other places. The government declared that about 103 tigers are living alone in the reserve.
The forest in this region is crowded with more elephants and deers than other places in India. If you are a person who wants to see wild elephants, visit the Mudumalai tiger reserve, especially in the evening.
What can you do in the reserve?
- Jungle Safari
- Elephant Safari
- Watch elephant camps
- Trekking in the Mudumalai forest (with permission)
- Bird watching
| Visiting Hours | 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM (All days) |
| Entry Fee | Rs: 30 Per person |
| Best Time To Visit | September to May |
Plan your visit or journey this way
- Tourists coming through Coimbatore or Mettuppalayam side- Coonoor-Ooty-Gudalur-Wayanad-Mysore.
- Tourists coming through Bangalore or Mysore side- Wayanad-Gudalur-Ooty-Coonoor.
- Tourists coming via Calicut and Sulthan Bathery side- Wayanad-Gudalur-Ooty-Coonoor.
- Tourists coming via Nilambur and Vazikkadav side- Wayanad-Gudalur-Ooty-Coonoor.
Airports nearby and time taken to Ooty
- Coimbatore- 4 to 5 hours minimum
- Calicut- 4 to 5 hours minimum
- Bangalore- 7 to 8 hours minimum