Things to do in Ooty

Ooty Lake lies at a distance of approximately 2 km from Ooty city in the district Nilgiris. The beautiful lake is spread over an area of 65 acres, and its foundation was laid down by John Sullivan who was the collector of Coimbatore in 1824. The Lake is surrounded by Eucalyptus trees and greenery all around. One can also spot numerous streams coming out through the hills. This is a perfect place to capture for people who are genuinely interested in photography and is surely one of the best things to do in Ooty. The lake is filled with beautiful water birds with the exotic Nilgiri mountain ranges in the background.

This is a unique natural site where a protruding rock looks like a dolphin's nose! Climbing up to the spot might require some effort, but it is totally worth it! From this point, one can catch the breathtaking view of the Catherine falls hundreds of meters below and also of the Coonoor stream meeting the Kotogiri stream. Visiting the vantage points is one of the most exciting things to do in Ooty.

The Toy Train, also known as Nilgiri Mountain Railway Toy Train, is the key attraction of the popular hill station Ooty. Started in the year 1899, it has continued to charms its visitors with equal zest winding its way through the best of nature and is one of the best things to do in Ooty. The Toy Train covers a distance of total 46 km in a span of 5 hours and takes one through a truly spectacular journey filled with picturesque views en route. Another fascinating feature of the train is that its youngest X class loco is over 50 years old and the oldest is 80 years old.

Towering at a staggering height of 8650 feet or 2,623 meters above the sea level, Dodabetta, which literally translates into 'big hill' is the highest peak in the Nilgiri Hills. It actually stays in the suburbs of Ooty and is hardly 10 km from the place. A treat to the eyes, this picturesque land is indeed a great sightseeing place and visiting it is one of the best things to do in Ooty. It is a wonderful place for shooting and capturing nature's scenic beauty in the camera and making all your fellow mates back at home turn green with jealousy. The summit offers an astounding view of the nearby areas which are covered with dense forests.

Pykara is a popular getaway that is at a distance of about 20 kilometres from Ooty, in the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu, India. The Pykara village, along with a beautiful river by the same name, also houses a dam and a power plant. Because of the construction of the dam, the backwaters have formed an enormous lake, which is now known as the Pykara Lake and has become a significant tourist attraction that is included in the top things to do in Ooty and is visited by large numbers of people all year round. Nature lovers, photographers and adventure seekers should definitely not miss out on this unique and fun-filled place. 

Ooty Tea Factory or Tea Museum is situated on the Doddabetta Road in Ooty. Surrounded by emerald green tea plantations, the museum takes you on a tour of tea evolution from the origin to the present. It has a variety of preserved tea leaves on display. It also has an adjacent souvenir shop where you can try and buy various kinds of tea leaves. This is definitely one of the unique things to do in Ooty.

Ooty Rose Garden is a mesmerizing garden in the heart of the town of Ooty, in the South-Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is also known as the Jayalalithaa Rose Garden, the Nootrandu Roja Poonga and the Centenary Rose Park. Nature lovers are drawn to the Rose Garden like bees to honey. The view of the lush green garden with areas dedicated to captivatingly fragrant roses is a sight to remember and visiting here is one of the topmost things to do in Ooty. The flowers add more than just colour and attract visitors from all age groups, especially those who are interested in the study of Botany.

Ooty, once the summer capital of the British in India, is bestowed with the bounty of nature. A favorite sport of the area, trekking has gained admiration with the tourists in the recent years. This has been one of the most thrilling things to do in Ooty, over the years. Ooty forms the perfect base for a number of exciting treks, some long and some short, into the adjoining hills. There are several treks which differ in distance, heights and landscape. Also, a base camp is built at Parsons Valley, which aids as an initial point for the trekkers.

Lying on the lower slopes of the Doddabetta peak, the Government Botanical Garden is a splendid garden in Udhagamandalam, near Coimbatore in the state of Tamil Nadu. Sprawled over an area of 22 hectares, the garden is divided into several sections that are trimmed beautifully to present an endearing sight. Visitors are greeted with astounding colourful natural beauty from the moment they pass through the gates. For more than 160 years, foreign and local travellers have strolled the lush green lawns of the garden, admiring the stunning variety of flowers, ferns and orchids present here and it is truly one of the best things too do in Ooty.

Emerald Lake is situated in Emerald Village, around 20-22 kilometres from the main city of Ooty. The lake is a part of the Silent Valley National Park in the Nilgiris District. Serene and away from the maddening crowd, the lake and its surroundings are much cleaner and offer a perfect place to enjoy a leisurely time in the vicinity of nature and quietude. It is one of the unexplored and virgin places of the South Indian hill station and one of the topmost things to do in Ooty. Emerald Lake is the ideal spot in Ooty for nature lovers. It is a paradise for nature photography enthusiasts as the delightful landscape offers a perfect subject and composition. 

The St. Stephen's Church in Ooty is indeed a marvellous and breathtaking architectural marvel that the British left for us after they finally gave us our independence. The structure dates back to the 19th century and was built by the British government. The fabulous pale-yellow building of the St Stephen's Church bears testimony to the marvels of British architecture that existed during those times. This grandeur is also reflected in the painting of 'The Last Supper' that can be found in the Church. Be sure too include this in your bucket list of things to do in Ooty.

When in the hill town, market browsing for traditional homemade chocolates is one of the top things to do in Ooty. You can try and buy these at the Main Bazaar. Besides that, you can shop for apparels and woollen clothes at the Tibetan Market and spices at the Upper Bazaar Road.

At a distance of 26 kilometres from Ooty, the Avalanche Lake in the Nilgiris District of Tamil Nadu is a famous tourist spot. Especially renowned among nature enthusiasts and photographers, the Avalanche Lake is counted as one of the star attractions that Ooty houses. The lake is set amidst a captivating landscape which is filled with lovely flowers. The waterfalls that fall down the nearby mountains further add to the beauty of the place. People have the option of enjoying mountain trekking, rafting and trout fishing while at the Avalanche Lake. Tourists can also choose from horse riding, rappelling and open jeep driving at the lake. Be sure to include this in your bucket list of things to do in Ooty.

Kalhatti falls is called as 'Bird Watcher's Paradise' as it gives you a bird point view of the whole valley. The lovely beauty and calm atmosphere of the place makes it the best for spending vacations and for short trips. The lake is also a very important attraction of Bellikkal which is surrounded by lush greenery and it is the source of fresh drinking water. Elephants visit this lake frequently which becomes a great sight for the travelers. Visiting the stunning Kalhatti Falls is one of the popular things to do in Ooty.

Ketti Valley View Point is perched atop a hill and is a popular vantage point in Ooty offering a panoramic view of the Ketti Valley below, which is the largest valley in the Nilgiris. The hilltop also has a telescope room to facilitate better 360 degree views of the mesmerising landscape. Watching the picturesque scenery through the telescope is one of the most exciting things to do in Ooty.

The thread garden at Ooty is a popular tourist spot that exhibits some of the most magnificent and exquisite collection of artificial flowers and plants, all made by the expert hands of the skilful artists by using JUST thread. It is one of the better experiences and unique things to do in Ooty. Approximately 6 crore meters of embroidery thread have been employed in the creation of this one-of-a-kind attraction in the world. Stiff cardboards for flowers and petals, steel and copper wires for stem were veraciously used along with a variety of colorful threads to create these visual delights.

One of the most mesmerizing destinations in Ooty is the Tiger Hill. This exotic spot lies to the east of the hill station and towards the lower end of the Doddabetta peak. It is located at a distance of about 6 km from the main town. You can relish a trek upto Tiger Hill. The top of the hill holds a water reservoir that meets the needs of the town and also the trekkers! There is also a cave close to Tiger Hill which is believed to be associated with many religious legends. This is a beautiful picnic spot and locals and tourists flock to this place to unwind and relax. Be sure to include this in your top things to do in Ooty.

Honey & Bee Museum is situated on the Sargan Villa Club Road in Ooty and aims to provide in depth knowledge about the anatomy of a bee and the manufacture of honey from its nascent stage. The tour is a very informative one. And while the other things are common to most hill stations, a tour in this museum is unique and among the most unique things to do in Ooty.

The Upper Bhavani Lake is a mesmerising and breathtaking lake that is located above the Avalanche Area in the Nilgiri Hills in Udhagamandalam, (also known as Ooty), in Tamil Nadu. This beautiful lake, which was previously ignored and consequently unexplored, is now gaining some popularity and credit for its charming beauty and picturesque scenes. Prior permission by the Forest Department is required to enter the area, along with details of the number of the car and the people who are coming into this zone. The journey to the Upper Bhavani Lake from Ooty is a long car ride, followed by a trip in a bus/jeep and provides the tourists with spectacular views of famous attractions such as Avalanche Hydel Power, Cauliflower Forest, Bhavani Amman Temple and the Upper Bhavani backwaters. This is one of the top things to do in Ooty.

Wenlock Downs are extensive verdant grasslands situated on the way to Pykara in Ooty. Spread over a vast area of 20000 acres, the grasslands are also popularly known as Shooting Point owing to its ethereal beauty; and has two movie filming points named Sixth Mile and Ninth Mile. The spot is also used for trekking and hiking.

A not so famous destination for traveller's list is Annamalai temple which is situated 20 km away from Ooty on the outskirts of Coonoor. The temple is built in dedication of Lord Murugan and now is known as the 7th Hill House of the Lord. It is a lesser known attraction for people not belonging to Coonoor. The locals perform poojas here, and an aged man runs a small ashram beside it. The lush green grasslands above the hills add seven stars to its glory. Hence, the temple lands on one of the most picturesque locations.

Housed within a 130 years old ancient manor in Ooty, Wax Museum is a popular tourist spot in the city. The museum has life sized statues of prominent personalities, indian freedom fighters and political leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa, A. P. J. Abdul Kalam etc. It also has wax replicas of traditional Indian villages, rural landscape etc. Be sure to include this in your top things to do in Ooty.

Located in the North Lake Road near the bus stand in Ooty, Thunder World is a kid amusement park, water park and a dinosaur attraction zone. It offers a plethora of fun activities for the kids as well as the adults including Big Foot, Rain Forest, Haunted House, 5D theatre etc. The amusement park also has a cafeteria which serves snacks and drinks. The park has several model dinosaurs for decor which serve as a prime attraction, thus, making a visit here is one of the most popular things to do in Ooty.