As you might know, Ooty is also called Udhagamandalam. This hill station in Tamil Nadu attracts tourists from across India. This hill station stands in the Nilgiri Hills. It will not be an overstatement to say that this hill station is a paradise for adventure seekers, honeymooners and nature lovers alike. Above all, well-maintained Ooty tourist places also make this hill station one of the key attractions in Tamil Nadu.
With its lush tea plantations, serene lakes and most importantly pleasant weather, this hill station offers something for every traveller. Most tourists choose between April and June to visit this hill station. The reason is that when the climate across India during this season is very hot, Ooty offers a cool escape for tourists. Before you start exploring Ooty tour packages, you should know about the best places to visit in Ooty. In this blog post, I would like to share details of the top 20 places that contribute a great share to the development of Ooty tourism and Tamil Nadu Tourism:
Here, I have categorized the best tourist places in Ooty under different categories. So, you can choose places from the category you love the most:
The Best Ooty Tourist Places Under Different Categories
Lakes and Waterfalls
1. Ooty Lake
Otherwise called Ooty Boat House, this picturesque lake is one of the sought-after tourist attractions in the hill station. So, during your Ooty trip, do not forget to visit this spot for a peaceful boat ride. This is an artificially constructed lake spread over an area of 65 acres.
The lake was originally constructed in 1824 for fishing by the British rulers in this region. When the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation took over in 1973, it was transformed into a tourist attraction in the hill station.
The lake offers different fun activities. You can hire cycles to ride around the lake. Also, the lake houses a garden. Your kids can travel in the mini train available in the park.
2. Pykara Lake and Waterfalls
Pykara Lake and Waterfalls are not located in the main part of Ooty. During your Ooty trip, you will have to travel around 20 km from Ooty to reach this destination. The lake and waterfalls are close to each other. To reach the waterfalls, you will have to walk for a few kilometres.
Pykara Lake is located on the Mysore Road from Ooty. You can expect a serene escape. Photography and boating are popular activities in Pykara.
3. Emerald Lake
This is yet another pristine lake and one of the best Ooty tourist places. However, you will have to travel for around 17 km from the main town to reach this lake. The healing blue water will give you a different experience for sure.
You can plan your visit to this spot during sunset. The area around the lake is relaxing. You can calm down for some time as it is away from the other busy tourist spots in Ooty.
4. Avalanche Lake
Again, you will have to travel for around 28 km from the Ooty town to reach this lake. However, the good thing here is that you will have to travel past Emerald Lake to reach Avalanche Lake. It means that you can cover both these lakes on the same day,
The gorgeous scenery at every turn that leads to this lake from Ooty will provide you with a relaxing experience. The lake is located on the way to Upper Bhavani. So, you can expect a spectacular view from the hill at Avalanche. Also, due to the dense nature of Avalanche, you can spot different species of birds that you have never seen before.
5. Kalhatty Waterfalls
How about getting stunning views of waterfalls after trekking for 3 km? Yes, if you love trekking, you should check whether your Ooty tour packages include the Kalhatty Waterfalls visit. These waterfalls are located around 13 km from Ooty. After reaching Kalhatty village by vehicle, you will have to begin trekking to reach the waterfalls.
Ooty tourism development relies greatly on these waterbodies even though most are located a bit away from the town. Now, if you are more into parks and gardens that are located rightly within the town, you can consider visiting the following places:
Gardens and Parks
6. Botanical Garden
Ooty Botanical Garden is located in the main town. If you are interested in spending a few hours amidst lush surroundings, you should not miss out on a visit to the Botanical Garden.
This garden hosts flower shows every summer. You can plan your visit during this time of the year to view a stunning collection of flowers. However, the garden will be crowded during the flower show every year.
The garden boasts a rich collection of flora that includes orchids, and indigenous and exotic plants. You will be surprised to spot a fossilized tree trunk that is expected to be more than 20 million years old in this garden.
7. Rose Garden
If you have an ardent love for roses, you will be surprised to see roses in different colours at Rose Garden. Do you want to see roses in full bloom? If so, you should be particular about selecting the best time to visit Ooty, particularly the Rose Garden. You can plan your visit between March and June.
You will see more than 20,000 varieties of roses here. As the plants are planted in layers of hilly terrain, you will have to engage in a lot of walking inside the rose garden. So, if you are ready, you are sure to get an enchanting experience.
8. Sim’s Park
If you are travelling back from Ooty via Coonoor from Ooty to reach your hometown, you can plan a visit to Sim’s Park. It is located around 22 km from the Ooty town. Again, this park is a paradise for plant and flower lovers. You will be impressed with the different flower varieties at this park.
Sim’s Park is again a Botanica Garden and it features a wide variety of plant species. You will enjoy the scenic walking trails and terraced gardens at this park.
Viewpoints and Peaks
When talking about tourist places in Ooty, a hill station, you cannot miss out on viewpoints and peaks, isn’t it? Yes, here are the best viewpoints and peaks you can visit during your Ooty trip:
9. Doddabetta Peak
This is the highest peak in the entire Nilgiri Range. So, you can undoubtedly get stunning views of the surrounding hills from this peak. The peak houses a telescope house from where you can get a bird’s eye view of the entire mountain range.
Apart from the telescope house, the peak also houses a garden. You can find a lot of food outlets and gardens with benches to spend some quality time with your family. Do not forget to take some stunning pictures here. You can also find instant professional photographers here, who can make your visit to this peak memorable with a stunning family picture.
10. Dolphin’s Nose
Again, you can cover Dolphin’s Nose when you visit Sim’s Park. Yes, it is also located on Coonoor. It is around 30 km away from the Ooty town. From this viewpoint, you can get a stunning view of the Nilgiri Hills and also Catherine Waterfalls. You can include this place in your Ooty trip to get spectacular views of the entire hills.
11. Lamb’s Rock
When you are exploring places in Coonoor, you can cover Lamb’s Rock as well. From this viewpoint, you can get stunning views of the surrounding valleys. Particularly, the stunning views of the tea plantations will provide you with a refreshing experience for sure.
12. Needle Rock Viewpoint
If you are from Mysore or Bangalore and after exploring places in Ooty, if you are travelling back to your hometown, through Gudalur, you can cover Needle Rock Viewpoint. It is located on Gudalur-Ooty Highway. You can expect stunning views of the mountain range from this peak.
During your Ooty tour, you can explore wildlife and nature reserves as well. Here are some Ooty tourist places that fall under this category:
Wildlife and Nature Reserves
13. Mudumalai National Park
In case, you have travelled to Ooty from Bangalore or Mysore, you can cover Mudumalai National Park during your return trip. The reason is that it is located on the Mysuru to Ooty Road. Travelling by car on this road itself is an experience. The reason is that you can spot wild elephants and spotted deer on this road.
Further, at this national park, you can participate in safari trips that will take you deep into the forest. You can spot wild animals like beer, wild boar and even tigers if are lucky enough. During this trip, you can also cover elephant camp, where you can feed elephants and watch them bathe.
14. Mukurthi National Park
This national park is again located on the Ooty-Gudalur-Mysore Road. It is a Unesco-listed biosphere reserve. This National Park is the home to the Nilgiris Tahr. This is one of the most endangered species of wildlife. If you love wildlife photography and trekking, you will love a visit to this National Park. However, it will be part of only a few Ooty tour packages.
Cultural and Religious Spots
Are you more into religious and cultural spots? If so, Ooty tourism will not disappoint you. Yes, some spots in the hill station match people with these interests:
15. St. Stephen’s Church
Located in the main town of Ooty, this is one of the oldest churches. You will be surprised to know that it was built in 1829. The church never fails to impress visitors with its colonial architecture and stained-glass windows.
16. Elk Hill Murugan Temple
In addition to a peaceful ambience, you can expect panoramic views of the Ooty town from this temple located in Elk Hill. It is again located in the main part of the town.
17. Annamalai Temple
You will have to travel around 35 km from the Ooty town to reach this temple dedicated to Lord Murugan. The temple gets more beautiful with its silver oak trees and tea estates. The temple also houses an observatory at the top of the hill. So, you can enjoy spectacular views from the observatory. In addition to spirituality, you will enjoy the serene atmosphere at this temple.
18. Toda Village
How about visiting the indigenous tribes of Ooty? Yes, Toda Village is located around 15 km from the Ooty town. You can visit this village and gain knowledge about the culture and food habits of these tribes. During your visit to this village, you can visit the Toda Temple as well. However, only men can enter this temple according to the culture of the tribes.
Dams and Reservoirs
Not only for gardens, you should know about the best time to visit Ooty to visit dams and reservoirs. Only when the climate is pleasant, you can explore these spots peacefully. Here are the popular dams and reservoirs to visit in Ooty:
19. Kamaraj Sagar Dam
This dam is located in Sholur about 8 km from Ooty town. This spot is a favourite among birdwatchers and nature lovers visiting Ooty.
Historical and Heritage Spots
20. Nilgiri Mountain Railway
Your visit to Ooty will not get wholesome unless you travel on the Nilgiri Mountain train. The toy train takes you from your Mettupalayam to Ooty. It offers a scenic journey through lush green landscapes, bridges and tunnels. Travel on this train should be part of your Ooty trip.
Conclusion
Apart from these 20 tourist places in Ooty, you can also visit other spots like Catherine Falls and Wenlock Downs. It should be stated that Ooty is a delightful hill station that is filled with adventure, history and beauty. Irrespective of whether you are looking for thrill or relaxation, these 20 tourist places in Ooty will not disappoint you. Plan an unforgettable trip and get the best experience at this hill station!
Check out my other posts related to Ooty:
How to Reach Ooty by Train, Flight, Bus or Car? Know the 4 Modes of Travelling
Best 5-day Ooty itinerary – Explore the Gems of Ooty in 5 days
20 Best Hotels in Ooty – A Luxurious Escape Amidst Nature’s Serenity
14 Famous Restaurants in Ooty – A Gastronomic Delight
The Top 12 Places to Visit Near Ooty: Exploring the Enchanting Neighbourhoods