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.
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.
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).
How to Get There
- 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.
Major
Attractions of Nilgiri Hills
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Shopping in Nilgiri Hills
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.
Shopping in Nilgiri Hills
- Coimbtore - 55 km
- Coonoor - 13 km
- Erode - 113 km
- Namakkal - 161 km
- Palni - 180 km
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.