General Information / History
Ooty the queen of southern hill stations, Ooty (also Ootacamund or Udhagamandalam) is located in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. The British Collector John Sullivan discovered this place and had developed it to a summer resort for the people of South India. This picturesque place nestles in an amphitheatre created by four majestic hills namely the Doddabetta, Snowdon, Elk Hill, and Club Hill.

Sightseeing

Botanical Garden
The beautiful gardens maintained by the Horticulture Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu have wide variety of plants and include Italian and Japanese sections. One of the main attractions here is the fossilized tree trunk, which is about 20 million years old. During the month of May every year, a Summer Festival is held here. The major attractions of the festival are flower shows, cultural programmes relating to classical arts, and adventure sports like trekking.

Ooty Lake
Built in 1825, the 2.5-km-long Ooty Lake is a place worth visiting. You can go for boating and fishing in this lake. However, for fishing you need a prior permission. A racecourse is also located near the lake. A mini-train takes the visitors around the lake.

Dodabetta Peak
Situated at about 10 km from the Ooty town, it is one of the most prominent view points around Ooty. The top of the peak remains covered by mist most of the time but on a clear day, you can have a look at the landscape as far as the plains of Coimbatore and the Mysore plateau.

Kodanadu View Point
On the eastern edges of the Nilgiris, at about 16 km from Kotagiri, lies the Kodanadu View Point. You can get a panoramic view of the tea estates and the Moyar River from either side of the road. There is a watchtower from where you can view the Rangasamy peak and pillar.

Lamb's Rock
About nine kilometres from Coonoor lies Lamb's Rock, a viewpoint on a high precipice. The point offers stunning views of the Coimbatore plains and the coffee and tea estates on the slopes.

Excursions: Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Kotagiri, Kalhatty Waterfalls, Sim's Park, Dolphin's Nose, Mukurthi, Avalanche, Coonoor.