| Botanical Gardens |
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Spread over 22 acres and lying on the lower slopes of the Doddabetta peak, the flora at the Botanical Gardens is divided into six sections comprising ferns, trees, fashioned beds, Italian formal gardens, flowering plants, house ferns, orchids and nurseries. The annual show is held here in May when over 650 species of plants in the garden and the fossil of a tree trunk that is said to be 20 million years old are exhibited.
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| Ooty Lake |
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Tucked in the Nilgiri hills, this man-made lake dates back to 1824 and stretches to a length of 2 km. It is framed by eucalyptus trees on one side and a children's park on the other, you can enjoy pony rides for just a few rupees. Paddle boats, motorboats and decorated shikaras crowd the boat house. Spend time walking along the cobbled pathway while gorging on roasted peanuts, spiced mangoes and farm fresh carrots from the makeshift stalls put up by the locals.
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| Doddabetta |
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Doddabetta is the highest mountain peak in the Nilgiris at an altitude of 8,652 feet. You can see the Hecuba, Kattadadu and Kulkudi peaks from here. Climb up to the observatory where you can have a view of the whole area with a telescope. Warm up with piping hot cups of tea and delicious corn on the cob. |
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| Toy Train |
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The toy train runs between Ooty and the nearby town of Coonoor. The ride on the UNESCO World Heritage train provides breathtaking views of forests, sloping hillocks and verdant tea gardens. |
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| Coonoor |
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The second largest hill station in the Nilgiris, it is situated at an altitude of 1839 metres. Viewing points and picnic spots around Coonoor include Lamb's Rock, Lady Canning's Seat, Dolphin's Nose, St Catherine Falls, Law's Falls, Ralliah Dam and Droog.
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| Sim's Park |
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This 12-hectare park in Coonoor exhibits over 1000 species of plants. An annual fruit and vegetable show is held here in May.
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| Dolphin's Nose |
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At a distance of 12 km from Coonoor, one can catch a glimpse of the magnificent St Catherine Waterfalls. |
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| Fernhill Palace |
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The erstwhile summer residence of the Maharaja of Mysore, this palace resembles a Swiss Chalet. There is an interesting church like indoor badminton court on the grounds. The Fernhill Palace has now been converted into a luxury heritage hotel. |
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| Kandal Cross |
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This is a Roman Catholic shrine considered by the Nilgiri Catholics to be the "Calvary of Tamil Nadu" situated to the west of Udhagamandalam Railway Station. A relic of the true cross is here and it is believed that it cures the sick and bestows heavenly blessings, peace and joy on the visiting pilgrims and tourists. Special Novena Prayers and Holy Masses are offered every Friday. The annual feast is held in May every year. |
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| Wellington Staff College |
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Located between Coonoor and Ooty, Wellington is a military town with rows of barracks. The headquarters of the Madras Regiment of the Indian Army is located here. |
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| Rose Garden |
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Situated in the heart of Ooty town, this garden has been beautifully laid out in terraces with rose tunnels, pergolas and bowers with rose creepers. It has the largest collection of roses in the country, including Hybrid Tea Roses, miniature roses, Floribunda, Ramblers and roses of unusual colours like black and green that will captivate your senses. |
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| Kodanad View Point |
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Located at a distance of 16 kms from Kotagiri on the eastern edge of the Nilgiris, Kodanad View Point offers panoramic view of the tea estates and river Moyar. A watchtower offers an excellent view of the Rangasamy peak and pillar. |
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| Pykara |
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Drive up the road to Pykara which is called by the locals as the "Filmy Chakkar" - scenic areas where Bollywood biggies and South Indian directors shot their films. The serpentine road begins with the rolling green Golf Course and the adjacent Gymkhana Club. The best spot in the Filmy Chakkar is 9th Mile, a grassy hillock with a view to die for. A short 10-minute walk uphill will take you to the top that offers views of a stupendous landscape. Just round the bend is Pykara Dam, and a little further on, Pykara Lake.
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| Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary |
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Lying at an elevation of 1140 m, the sanctuary is located at a point where the Western Ghats meet the Eastern Ghats, at a distance of 65 km from Ooty. This sanctuary has a mix of flatland, undulating parkland, open grassland, swamp, valleys and nullahs. Scenic points in the sanctuary include Moyar Waterfalls, Chief Minister's Watchtower, Ombetta swamp and Theppakad elephant camp. The Mayyar river forms a series of spectacular cascades on its 65 km route on the Udhagamandalam-Mysore highway.
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| St. Stevens Church |
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A small Gothic style structure built in the 1820's and is one of Ooty's first colonial buildings. The church was built on the site of a Toda temple. The wood used in the church was procured from Tipu Sultan's palace at Srirangapatnam. The cemetery attached to the church contains the grave of John Sullivan and other pioneers of Ooty.
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| Charing Cross |
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Very much like the main square of an old English town, it is the focal point of the busy commercial area of Ooty, where you will find the main shopping street and the vegetable market.
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| Tea Factory
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This two storey building is a veritable museum. Here one can browse through the exhibits of Tea Museum that tells the story, before being breezed through the tea-making process. At the end of the demonstration, you will be treated to a cup of hot, milky, sweet Nilgiri tea that has been flavoured with cardamom.
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| Toda Villages |
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Pay a visit to the Toda villages, who live in windowless barrel-shaped huts that are made of bamboo, grass and cane and are called a "mund". Take a look at the pale brown buffaloes with long horns, and drink some delicious buffalo milk. Men are allowed to go inside the cone shaped dairy temple that is decorated with sun, moon, serpent and buffalo- head motifs. You can shop for homespun Toda cotton shawls at a bargain. These "Putjikuzhis" (shawls) can be used as festive wraps, blankets or throws and are very stylish.
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