Nilgiris
How to Reach
Air
The nearest International Airport is Coimbatore(105km) which is well connected with all major cities.
Train
Ooty is connected to Mettupalayam by narrow guage Toy Train. One of the most picturesque train rides of India, the train goes through several tunnels, over waterfalls, edge of cliffs, tea estates, etc. While coming up, the nostalgic steam engine pushes the coaches from behind and while going down, the engine goes in reverse, pulling the coaches. A ride on this scenic train route is a must.
Road
Ooty is connected by road to several cities. It is 535 km to Chennai via Mettupalayam Salem, 89 km from Coimbatore, Calicut is 187 km via Gudaur, Mysore is 160 km via Gudalur, Bangalore is 290 km, Cochin is 281 km via Coimbatore Palakkad, Trichy is 302 km and Kodaikanal is 265 km via Coimbatore Palani.
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History and Geography of the Nilgiris
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The Nilgiris region has its roots in the Ganga Dynasty of Mysore. After being ceded to the British in 1789, it was initially part of Coimbatore district. In August 1868, the Nilgiris became a separate district, with James Wilkinson Breeks serving as its first Commissioner. By February 1882, it transitioned from a commissioner’s administration to a district with a Collector, Richard Wellesley Barlow, appointed as the first Collector of Nilgiris.
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Tourism in Nilgiris and Surrounding Attractions
Nilgiris district is a renowned tourist destination in Tamil Nadu, attracting visitors from across India and abroad year-round. Udhagamandalam, the district’s headquarters, is the largest hill station in South India, situated at an altitude of 2,286 meters and centrally located within the district. Surrounded by majestic hills, it was first referred to as “Ooty” or “Ootacamand” in the Madras Gazette around 1821, previously spelled “Wotokymund.” Known as the “Queen of Hill Stations,” Ooty features major attractions such as the Government Botanical Garden, Centenary Rose Park, Ooty Lake, Doddabetta Peak, The Ootacamand Club, Raj Bhavan, Adam’s Fountain, Honey and Bee Museum, Ooty Radio Telescope, Kamaraj Sagar Dam, Glenmorgan, Avalanche, and Pykara Lake.
The Tribal Museum is located within the Tribal Research Centre campus Udhagamndalam, Nilgiri district, Tamil Nadu. The foundation stone for the Tribal Museum building was laid on 12th September 1989 and the Tribal Museum building construction was completed in the year 1995 and it started functioning from 2nd October 1995. On 13th September 1995 the Tribal Research Centre was taken over along with Tribal Museum by the Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department, Government of Tamilnadu from Tamil University, Thanjavur. Tribal Museum is functioning at M.Palada, i.e., 10 kms. from Ooty Central Bus stand & Railway station towards Avalanchi road. It is an important place of visit for tourists, students, scholars and general public.
The main aim of establishing the museum is to preserve the cultural heritage of the Tribals. Museum artifacts like traditional Ornaments, Weapons, Utensils, Basketrty, Pottery, Tribal Model huts, Agricultural Implements, Hunting and fishing material Painting & Photography, Sculptures, Tribal model temple and Medicinal and Minor forest produce items are collected from about 36 different tribal ethnic Communities of the state of Tamilnadu and also tribal photography of other States of India and Union terrriotry of Andaman and Nicobar islands etc., were exhibited in the Tribal Museum.
Tourist important places Emerald Dam, Avalanchi and Eco Tourism places are located nearby the Tribal Museum. The Tribal Museum is attracting many visitors at national and International level.
This is the first Sanctuary to be set up in India and forms part of the Jawharlal Nehru National Park. It is located 36 kms from Ooty from Kalhatty and 67 kms via Gudalur. From Mysore it is 91 kms away. This Sanctuary extends over an area of 321 sq.kms in the junction of the three states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. It is at an elevation of 1,140 mtrs. A variety of habitat ranging from tropical evergreen forest, moist deciduous forest, moist teak forest, dry teak forest, secondary grasslands and swamps are found here.
It is rich in wildlife, like Elephants, Gaur, Tiger, Panther, Spotted Deer, Barking Deer, Wild Boar, Porcupine etc., birds like-minivets, hornbill, fairy Blue Birds, Jungle Fowls etc., and reptiles like python, Monitor Lizards Flying Lizards etc., You can take a ride into the jungle on elephant back or take a vehicle ride along designated visitor’s route inside the jungle. The elephant rides have to be booked at Ooty. The Mayor river and the life around it is an experience by itself. The Theppakadu elephant camp is popular tourist attraction.
The Pykara is the largest river in the District. It is considered very sacred by the Todas. The Pykara river rises at Mukurthi peak. It passes through hilly tract, generally keeping to North and turns to West after reaching the Plateau’s edge. It gets down majestically in a series of cascades; and the last two falls of 55 meters and 61 meters are known as Pykara falls. They are about 20 kms from Ooty.
The Pykara Lake is about 21 kms from Ooty on the Ooty-Mysore road. Boating on the Pykara lake is enjoyable. A restaurant is also available. Wenlock Downs, a vast Expanse of grassy meadow on way to Pykara, is a favorite picnic location and is very popular with the movie makers of this country.
Travel 28 kms from Ooty town past the Emerald Lake surrounded by undisturbed forest and you have reached Avalanche. It is on the way to Upper-Bhavani from Ooty via Emerald Camp. The gorgeous scenery at every turn is an experience of wonder and delight. The views from the top of the hill at Avalanche give a magnificent sight of the Avalanche Valley and reservoir In many places here, the shoals are so thick that even sunlight cannot penetrate. Avalanche is home to a wide variety of birds in great abundance. Spotting and identifying them can be a very rewarding experience for bird lovers.
At 35 km North west of Ooty is situated Glenmorgan, which was then very famous for the Tea estate. The beautiful lake at the foot of this estate constitutes the fore bay for the Pykara power house which is above 4 km down the hill at Singara.
Glenmorgan and Singara are of great importance to the tourist as delightful picnic spots. The view from the point above the rest house at Glenmorgan is panoramic. A picturesque view of the Pykara power house at Singara, the Moyar valley, The Mudumalai Wild life Sanctuary and the distant places of Mysore can be had from here.
Lamb’s rock is perhaps the most favorite place for picnic parties near Coonoor. It is a point on the way to Dolphin’s Nose, and the Seat was so called by the then Collector Mr.E.B.Thomas, after one Captain Lamb who made earnest attempts to open a path to the place. It is situated in Burliar village and is about 8 kilometre from Coonoor. The rock is a sheer precipice of jagged rock drops down several hundred feet to bury itself in the luxurient jungle below.
There are a few views which are beyond compare. On the right hand yawns to great Hulical ravine and from its base some 5000 feet below, ascends the roar of the Coonoor stream. The Lamb’s Rock is a sheer precipice of several hundred meters and commands a good view of the Coimbatore plains.
It is about 12 kms. from Coonoor bus stand situated near Tiger Hills. It is unique rock of tremendous proportions, jutting out of the face of hill side in the formation which its name suggests. The view here is extremely grand and well repays the exertion of getting there. Left and right are great ravines; on the one side is seen an excellent view of the magnificent St. Catherine’s Falls with their stream continuing several thousand metres below, while on the other, the familiar Coonoor stream meets the stream from Kotagiri. They together tribute to the great Bhavani river. In fact, we are metres away from the Nose opposite to it and separated in between by the deep valley that is covered with the beautiful greenary and mash of tree tops.
Government House (Raj Bhavan) is situated on a ridge of the Western Slopes of Doddabetta on the outskirts of the South Eastern Quarter of Udhagamandalam.
Before Udhagamandalam became the virtual summer capital of the state, it was visited periodically, by the Governors of Madras for a few months to -make a good escape from the hot sultry weather of Madras.
Built in 1877 by the Duke of Buckingham when he was the Governor of Madras, Government House, Raj Bhavan today, is used only occasionally during the Governor of Tamil Nadu’s visit to ooty. Otherwise, the sprawling cream-coloured mansion, overlooking the Botanical Gardens stands a silent reminder of the pomp and grandeur that it had seen in the days of the Raj.
A fine ballroom added by Sir Arthur Havelock in 1900 and in 1904 the entire building was electrified. The well-kept lawn and the beautiful gardens is the residence of the Governor for most of the summer months of April, May and June. Portraits of Governor and their ladies, of Queen Victoria, George V, George Marry, the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos and many others decorate the walls of the house.
At 2,623 mts above MSL, Doddabetta is the highest Peak in the Tamil Nadu and is about 10 kms. from Ooty bus stand. The name Doddabetta literally means ‘Big mountain’ in the Badugu Language, which is so in reality. It is at the junction of Western and Eastern Ghats and offer beautiful vistas of Nilgiri Hills range. It is surrounded by dense Sholas. One can have a magnificent panoramic view of landscape and the whole of the District and even beyond through the Telescope House run by T.T.D.C., which is an added attraction . The Sunset is spectacular from this view point.