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Chennai |
Mamallapuram
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Kanchipuram
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Tiruvanamalai
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Chidambaram
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Kumbakonam |
Thanjavor |
Tiruchinapalli
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Madurai |
Rameshwaram
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Kanyakumari
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Ooty |
Kodaikanal |
Coimbatore |
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Area : 36 kms.
Altitude : 2,240 mts.
Languages : Tamil, kannada, malyalam and English
Called the "Queen of the hills stations", picturesque,
Udhagamandalam, better known as Ooty is the most popular hill
station in the south. Along with kotagiri and coonoor nearby, Ooty
is famous for its rolling hills covered in pine and eucalyptus
forests and its coffee and tea plantations.
Near the borders of Tamil nadu, Karnataka and Kerla, Ooty was
mentioned in the madras gazette of 1821 as ‘wotokymund’.It had been
inhabited by toda tribal people who lived in villages or ‘munds’
consisting of a handloom of huts. Historically, this is the area of
the toda, the tribal people whose belief systems and practices
centre on the buffalo. Today only about 1500 toda remain,their
cone-shaped shrines prominent throughout the hills.
In the early 19th century, the british established Ooty to serve as
the summer headquarters of the madras government. Until about two
decades ago Ooty resembled an unlikely combination of southern
England and Australia. Now tourist development has totall
transformed ooty, but it retains a certain appeal. Life is relaxed
here and touting and haranguing is less prevalent than elsewhere.
Places of attraction :-
Botanical Gardens:
A variety of exotic and ornamental plants adorn this garden which is
the venue for the flower show held in May every year. There is a
small lake with a fossil tree which is 20 million years old.
Established in 1848 these beautifully maintained gardens include
numerous mature species as well as Italian and Japanese sections. At
the eastern end of the gardens there is a Toda mund (hill/village)
where Toda people display aspects of their traditional culture to
gawking tourists. Now a highly commercial show it is far removed
from the reality of Toda life in the Nilgiri Villages.
Lake:
This artificial lake was constructed in 1824 by John Sullivan the
then collector of Coimbatore as a vast tank but has been shrinking
for decades. Part of the land which was under water in the last
century has been reclaimed for the racecourse. The tourism
department hires out boats from the Boat House. The lake has become
polluted and water hyacinths cause a problem despite government
efforts to clean it up at enormous expense. Boating is possible from
0800 hrs to 1800 hrs on all days. The lake garden any toy train
rides are other attractions.
Government Museum:
The government museum Mysore Road Udhagamandalam has items of tribal
objects ecological details and representative sculptural arts and
crafts of Tamil Nadu.
The Mukurthi Peak & Mukurthi National Park:
Mukurthi peak is about 40 kms.from Udhagamandalam. The Mukurthi
National peak is located on the southeastern corner of the Nilgiris
Plateau. The area contains a sizeable population of Nilgiri Tahr.The
Silent Valley is located on the western side and it bears
resemblance the Himalayan flora and fauna. It is surrounded by high
hills and is 6 kms long.The name from ‘muku’ (nose) and ‘ardha’(half)
suggests a severed nose to describe the peak. Mukurti peak not an
easy climb is to the west. The Todas believe that the souls of the
dead and the sacrificed buffaloes leap to the next world from this
sacred peak.
Pykaras:
Situated about 21 kms on the Udhagamandalam-Mysore road Pykara has
toda settlements well-protected fenced shoals undisturbed grassy
meadows and a rich wildlife habitat. The Pykara Dam and Reservoir
attracts many tourists.The river Pykara 19 kms from Ooty has a dam
and powerplant.
Glenmorgan (17 kms.):
There is an electricity board (E.B) which that carries staff from
Glenmorgan viewpoint to the powerhouse at Singara. All 4 kms of the
winch track passes through undisturbed sholas and wildlife habitat.
Prior permission of E.B.authorities should be obtained to enter the
viewpoint zone. There are about ten Toda settlements.
Upper Bhavani:
10 kms from Korakundah and about 20 kms from Avalanchi. Some of the
best sholas like the Thar Shola lies en route.The erea is an
undisturbed wildlife habitat. From Bangithappal via Sispara one can
trek to the Silent Valley.
Avalanche:
Located at a distance of 28 kms from Udhagamandalam there’s
beautiful lake which is surrounded by thick shoal. There are places
where the shoal is so thick that even sunlight does not
penetrate.The ‘avalanche’ in 1823 gave the valley its name. It is
beautiful part of the shola 24 kms from town with plenty of
rhododendron magnolia and orchids and a trout stream running through
and is excellent for walking and superb scenery.
Doddabetta:
This is the highest peak (2623) in the Nilgiris and is 10 kms from
Udhagamandalam. It lies at the junction of the western and Eastern
Ghats and offers beautiful vistas of the Nilgiri hill ranges. There
is a telescope house run by the TTDC.
Trekking:
There are a whole lot of trekking routes in Udhagamandalam. Trekking
on breathtaking picturesque routes is organized regularly. Check
with the local tourist office for more details.
Hang Gliding:
Hang gliding courses are also organized during March to May every
year with the assistance of the Dept.of Tourism.
Angling:
Trout cap and mixed water fishing is possible in various streams and
lakes in the Nilgiris.The Assistant Director of Fisheries fishing
license for a fee.
St. Stephen’s Church:
Ooty’s first church built in 1829 in a Gothic style occupies the
site of a Toda temple. This Church is the oldest in the Nilgiris and
its huge wooden beams came from the palace of Tipu Sultan in
Srirangapatnam-hauled the 120 kms distance by a team of elephants.
The attached cemetery contains the graves of many an Ooty pioneer
including John Sullivan the founder of Ooty.The clock tower and the
gallery were added in 1851 and the nine tubular bells in 1894.The
inside of the church and the graveyard at the rear are worth seeing.
Raj Bhavan:
Built by the Duke of Buckingham in 1877 when Governor of Chennai in
the style of his family at Stowe. The Government houses now the Raj
Bhavan is superbly positioned on the Dodabetta Rodge and is
approached through the Botanical Gardens.
Stone House:
The first bunglow built here by John Sullivan is the residence of
the principal of the Govt.Art College which has its campus opposite.
Kandal Cross:
3 kms west of the railway station is a Roman Catholic shrine
considered the ‘Jerusalem of the East’.During the clearing of the
area as a graveyard in 1927 an enormous 4 mts. High boulder was
found and since then a cross was erected. Now a relic of the True
Cross brought to India by an Apostolic delegate is shown to pilgrims
every day. The annual feast is in May. |
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