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Nilgiris- The Blue Mountains
Nilgiri means "Blue Mountains". The entire area of the Blue
Mountains constitutes the present district of Nilgiri. The height of the
hills in the Blue Mountain range varies between 2,280 and 2,290 metres,
the highest peak being Doddabetta at a height of 2,623 metres.
It's Location And Boundaries
High above the sea level, situated at the junction of the two ghat ranges
of the Sahayadri Hills, Nilgiri district provides a fascinating view.
Kerala on the west,
the Mysore State
on the north, and Coimbatore
district on the east and south bound it. Headquarters of Nilgiris district
is Udhagamandalam
(also called as Ooty).
The Beauty Of Nilgiris
Nilgiris derives its charm from its natural setting. The steep hills and
fantastically narrow valleys with numerous rivers and rivulets running in
all directions with a few fine waterfalls here and there provide beautiful
scenery. The temperate and most equable climate further heightens the
attractiveness of the place. The major tea growing areas in the South are
the Nilgiris and these tea gardens are beautiful to watch.
Adventure And Trekking In The Nilgiris
The Nilgiris are a trekker's paradise. Landscaped by nature, the hills
abound in trek for lovers of nature. There are treks and treks in
whichever direction you turn and from whichever point you start. A trek
can be full of thrill, excitement and adventure and a way of seeing and
enjoying nature in all its beauty and splendour.
Trekking pamphlets are available with the Nilgiri Wildlife and
Environment Association (NWLEA). There are guides who have sound knowledge
of certain areas. If necessary, their services may be hired. And for
further details contact the Tourist Information Office at Charing Cross,
Ooty.
The Hill Stations In The Nilgiris
Udhagamandalam
(Ooty)
Udhagamandalam (Ooty), the headquarters of Nilgiri district, is popularly
known as the "Queen of hill stations' among the tourist circuits. It
is situated at a distance of 105 kilometres away from Coimbatore. The
Botanical Gardens and the Doddabetta peak (the highest peak in the
Nilgiris, located 10-km from Ooty) are the major attractions.
Coonoor
Coonoor is situated on the eastern side of the southern extremity of the
Doddabetta range, at an altitude of 1,858 metres above the sea level. It
is the second largest hill station in the Nilgiris. Coonoor is located
19-km away from Ooty and is essentially a small tea garden town where the
weather remains pleasantly cool throughout the year.
Kotagiri
Kotagiri is located 16-km away from
Ooty and it is the
oldest hill station of the Nilgiris. Kotagiri is situated at an altitude
of 1,950m, which was once a British hill resort, that dates back to 1819
and is quieter than Ooty. Elk falls, Kodanad viewpoint and Catherine falls
are a few places to visit.
The Nilgiris, the most popular hill resort of the south has
a number of tourist of attractions, which chiefly include the Botanical
Gardens, Doddabetta Peak, Mukkurthi Peak, the Pykara Dam and sprawling tea
plantations.
Botanical
Garden
Botanical gardens are a major tourist attraction for those who visit
Ooty. They sprawl over 50-acres and lie on the lower slopes of Dodabetta
peak, which is the highest point in Ooty. Marquis of Tweeddale established
these gardens in the year 1848.
Ooty Lake
An artificial lake constructed in 1824 by Mr. Sullivan. The lake garden
is an added attraction.
Doddabetta
Doddabetta is the highest peak (2,623 mts.) in the Nilgiris and offers
beautiful vistas of the hill ranges, plateaus and plains around. It is
10-km from Ooty. There is a good motorable road to reach the peak.
Mudumalai
Wildlife Sanctuary
The Mudumalai wildlife sanctuary is located where the Nilgiri Hills, the
offshoot of the Western Ghats meet the Eastern Ghats. The
Mysore-Ooty
highway runs through the sanctuary, following the course of the Mayyar
River, which separates Mudumalai from Bandipur.
This 321-sq-kms wide sanctuary encompasses a National Park measuring an
area of 103-sq-kms. The sanctuary has varied mixture of flat land, open
grassland, swamp and valleys. Apart from the wide range of animal and bird
life, the rich fauna of this sanctuary has made Mudumalai very popular
with wildlife enthusiasts.
Laws
Falls
Laws falls are a beautiful picnic spot, named after Lt. Colonel Law, who
traced and mainly constructed the Coonoor Ghat. They are about 5-km below
Coonoor on Mettupalayam road. The height of the falls is about 180 feet.
There are vast stretches of undisturbed sholas and it is a paradise for
naturalists.
Dolphin's
Nose
Dolphin's Nose is about 12-km from Coonoor.
The Nose is unique rock of tremendous proportions, jutting out of the face
of the hillside in formation in which its name suggests. It exposes a vast
panorama, which encompasses Catherine falls.
Kodanad Viewpoint
Kodanad Viewpoint located at a distance of 16-km from Kotagiri commands a
panoramic view of the plains and the eastern slopes of the Nilgiris.
The Mukkurthi Peak and National Park
About 40-km from Ooty there is a beautiful peak called "Mukkurthi".
The Mukkurthi National Park is located on the Southern corner of the
Nilgiri Plateau. The Kollaribetta and Nilgiris Peak are other major peaks
around. A number of little perennial streams flow between these peaks,
which fall into Bhavani Puzha. Silent Valley is located on the Western
side in the Western Ghat, which is a feast to the visitor's eye.
Pykara
Pykara is situated about 21-km from Ooty. Some of the tourist attractions
of this place are well-protected fenced sholas, Toda settlements,
undisturbed grassy meadows and also a good wildlife habitat. The Pykara
Dam, Pykara falls and the reservoir attracts many tourists. A boathouse
with restaurant and a rest house are available at Pykara.
Air: Coimbatore,
105-km from Ooty,
is the nearest airport. It has daily flights to and from Chennai,
Bangalore, Cochin and Trivandrum.
Rail: Ooty is on the narrow gauge railway connected to
Mettupalayam (47-km), which is directly connected to Coimbatore and
Chennai. The famous toy train connects Ooty with Mettupalayam and Coonoor.
Road: A good network of roads and national highways connect
Ooty with all
major towns and cities. There are regular bus services to and from
Coimbatore,
Trichy,
Bangalore,
Madurai,
Kanyakumari,
Mysore, Palghat,
Calicut, Tirupati and
other important destinations in South India. Ooty is also well connected
with major cities of Kerala
and Karnataka.
Coonoor and Kotagiri are also well connected by road with the major
cities and towns of the state. For local transportation, auto rickshaws
and taxis are available.
Accommodation is available at the hotels, guesthouses and
lodges in the hill stations in the Nilgiris (Ooty and Coonoor). Coonoor
has its share of luxury and budget hotels to guesthouses and picturesque
resorts. Upper Coonoor is highly recommended.
In Ooty, varied accommodation options varying from luxurious and economy
class hotels to lodges and resorts are available. Both Indian and Western
style accommodation and food are available. Prior booking is advisable,
especially during the summer months. It is also possible to get paying
guest accommodations through brokers haunting the bus stand/railway
station.
Tea
And Tourism Festival
The Department of Tourism, Government of Tamil Nadu and Ministry of
Tourism, Government of India, jointly celebrate the annual Tea and Tourism
Festival during the months of January-February in the Nilgiris. The
festival is held for 3 days. Varieties of tea are on display. Visitors can
also taste and select from the wide varieties of tea available.
Summer Festival
There are several beautiful hill stations in Tamil Nadu. With the Summer
Festivals, the hills are even hospitable to welcome the visitors. The
summer festival is held in the 'Queen of Hill Stations', the evergreen
Ooty; the exquisite Kodaikanal and the salubrious heights of Yercaud -
where boat races, flower and fruit shows are specially organized.
The
Flower and Fruit Show
The annual Flower Show at Ooty and the Fruit Show at Coonoor are the
important cultural events, deserving special mention.
Just about anything available in the cities can be had at Ooty with the added attraction of leisurely shopping. Exclusive Nilgiri products including Nilgiri tea, fruits, natural oils like Eucalyptas, Toda embroideries, plant nurseries are easily available in the town. Co-operative Super Market and Municipal Market are some of the best places for shopping fruits and general groceries. Kairali of Kerala Handicrafts and Poompuhar of Tamil Nadu Handicrafts have their showrooms near to Super Market Buildings on Charring Cross.
Blue hills
Chandan Vihar
Tandoor Mahal
Ooty Coffee House
Chinkos Chinese Restaurant
Hills Palace
Tourist Office, Government of Tamil Nadu
Supermarket Complex
Charring Cross
Udhagamandalam-1
Ooty:
-
Government Hospital
H.F.M. Sait Memorial Hospital (Govt.)
Vijaya Nursing Home, Ettins Road
S.M. Nursing Home, Coonoor Road
Coonoor: -
Government Lawley Hospital, Mount Road
Sagayamatha Hospital
Jaya Nursing Home, Supply Depot Road
Nunkum Hospital
Kotagiri:
Government Hospital
Ooty:
State Bank Of India, Commissioner's Road
State Bank Of Travancore, 102, Commercial Road
Syndicate Bank, Charring Cross
Canara Bank, 24, Commercial Road
Central Bank Of India, Charring Cross
Coonoor:
State Bank Of India, K.N.M. Compound
State Bank Of Travancore, Church Road
Syndicate Bank, Glen View
Canara Bank, Salam Road
Central Bank Of India, Mount Road
Kotagiri
State Bank Of India, Kotagiri-down
Syndicate Bank
Canara Bank, Konavakarai
Central Bank
Area (District Area): 2,459-sq-kms
Population (district): 7,10,210 (1991 Census)
Latitude: N 11° and 11° 55'
Longitude: E 76°13'and 77° 2'
Altitude: 2,280 and 2,290 metres
Clothing: Heavy woollen in winter and light woollen in summer
Languages Spoken: Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam and English
STD Code: 0423
Climate: Temperate and Most Equable
Temperature Range (deg C):
Summer- Max 25ºC, Min 10ºC
Winter- Max 21ºC, Min 5ºC
Rainfall: 1,960 mm
From Ooty to
Coimbtore - 55 km
Coonoor - 13 km
Erode - 113 km
Namakkal - 161 km
Palni - 180 km