Ooty Must Visit Places
It is best to take long walks along the many paths and greenery of this scenic paradise. The Botanical Gardens, the Rose Garden, and Cairn Hill are some of the finest options. Ooty Lake offers a great boating experience. If picnicking is for you, head to Wenlock Downs which is a vast rolling meadow perfect for a lazy afternoon. For adventure one can climb Dodda Betta (Big Mountain) which is the highest peak in the Nilgiri range. The place also offers the thrill of hand-gliding. For some peace and quiet the many churches in Ooty are just the thing. The best ones are St Stephen’s, the oldest in these mountains. Union Church and Holy Trinity Church have magnificent stained glass windows and engravings showcasing the British era. Ooty is also big on celebrations. In January the Tea and Tourism Festival, and the famed Flower Show and Summer Festival in May all promise vibrant experiences. Just 25kms from Ooty is the Pykara Lake which allows one to interact with the native tribe of the Nilgiris, the Todas. Largely unaffected by the onward march of civilization these people go on with their lifestyle, weaving their own clothes.
Ooty's Famous Cuisines
The best place to eat traditional Tamil fare is Kurinji on Commercial Road. Chinese food is also hugely favoured in Ooty. There are several such places, one of the best being Shinkows. For cakes, pastries and a local take on cookies and baked items try West Coast Bakery.
Ooty Markets
The best thing to do is visit the Tamil Nadu state emporium, Pumpoohar, for regional collectibles. A unique thing to do is check out some fine handmade silver jewellery and shawls by Todas in Charing Cross. Numerous shops also sell home grown tea, coffee, chocolates and aromatherapy articles. The favourite chocolate shop is King Star Confectionery. Book lovers can spend hours at the grand old Higginbotham’s.
How To Reach Ooty
The best thing to do is drive from Bangalore, though from Chennai that is a big ask. You can take the rail route up to Coimbatore and then a great uphill drive in a hired