Most Popular Places To Visit In Ooty

by Henry Lio Travel Consultant

Ooty is the queen of hills in South India and rightly lives up to the love showered on it. The beautiful hill station in the south is endowed with tremendous atmosphere and looks charming year around. Of all the places to visit in Ooty the Ooty Lake, Tiger Hill, and Rose Garden are the most sought after. One of the most popular hill stations in Tamil Nadu a scenic spot in the south, Ooty must be visited by every nature seeker who looks forward to a happening vacation in the hills in the Nilgiris.

1. Ooty Lake

Ooty Lake is located at a span of about 2 km from Ooty city in the Nilgiris. The gorgeous lake is spread over 65 acres. Its base was laid down by John Sullivan who was the then collector of Coimbatore back in 1824. Eucalyptus trees surround the Lake and one can easily spot plenty of greenery around.

There are numerous streams shooting out of the hills in the Ooty lake region which makes it another enchanting view for the onlookers. What a perfect place it is to capture the grand views of the surroundings for people who are genuinely interested in photography! Beautiful water birds with the exotic Nilgiri mountain ranges in the background makes the stunning frame when you start gazing at the lake closely.

2. Rose Garden

The Rose Garden happens to be the largest of its type in the country. The garden is a sprawling piece of attraction sitting pretty at an altitude of 2000 meters. Located in the gradients of the Elk Hill, it's scattered across 4 hectares. The garden is managed and taken care by the Tamil Nadu Horticultural Department. Ooty's unique climatic disposition can be clearly seen in the garden. What a true specimen of nature's grandeur.

The climate of Ooty allows this region to have an extended flowering season which happens to be the greatest in the country. The low-temperature difference and maximum amount of rainfall are the other providing circumstances.

What appears as a slice of heaven on Earth, Rose Garden happens to be one of the most amorous places in the country. This place is toured by thousands of people year-round. More than 20,000 varieties of roses can be spotted here.

Nila Maadam is the observation deck in the garden area. Beautiful flowers can be easily spotted from the observation deck and sights are just unbelievable. The Rose Garden has drawn praises from horticultural specialties from around the world. It is the winner of the coveted Garden of Excellence Award.

3. Botanical Garden

Botanical Garden or the Government Botanical Gardens is a highly frequented amongst places to visit in Ooty. It is segregated into different sections. Over 22 hectares the garden is spread perfectly making the area even more enchanting. The garden sits pretty on the slopes of the Doddabetta Peak thus making for a surreal sight for every nature lover.

The landscape of this region is a type of terraced design that is perfect to look. The garden goes further increasing to an altitude which is in excess of 2000 meters. The fact that the climatic conditions here are temperate makes this region is host to hundreds of visitors every day.

Here you can easily find over 1000 species of plants, herbs, and trees. Some are fascinating and some are natural varieties. A quite old tree trunk is located at the heart of the Botanical Garden. There are several lawns here with flowering plants, ponds, and such naturalistic delights. The garden is beset with the Kikuyu grass variety that is known for its sprightly posture and lends aesthetic value to the already picturesque surroundings.

4. Kamaraj Sagar Dam

The vast dame is positioned in the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu. The dam is a major source of fishing and educational activities for visitors planning an excursion to Ooty. The Kamaraj Sagar Dam boasts of an idyllic location which makes an ideal fit for a wholesome picnic.

The dam is also touted as a famous spot for filming exercises and toured mostly by study groups. Do plan an outing here for an eventful day out. The entire region around the dam echoes with the fragrance of wholesome nature beauty. People mostly perform fishing activities here.

The dam is primarily found near Kandal and has towering trees that are several centuries old. As you plan a visit here, you would get to see a lot of visitors as well as environmentalists here. Lots of atmosphere based enthusiasts and scholars visit this place regularly to study the dynamics of flora and fauna. The entire surroundings around the Kamaraj Sagar Dam is a natural beauty to behold.

5. Tiger Hill

Tiger Hill in Ooty is one of the most sought-after and mesmerizing destinations in the south. Towards the lower part of the Doddabetta peak, Tiger Hill is the place you should be when you are planning a vacation in south India. This place is located 6 km from the main town where tourists head to celebrate picnic or vacation.