Ooty Botanical Gardens
Ooty Botanical Gardens, Ooty Overview
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. Another highlight of the Botanical Garden is the Toda hill, known as the Toda mund, which gives the visitors an insight into the lives and culture of Todas (a tribe of the Nilgiris).
The Ooty Botanical Garden was laid down in the year 1848 and was designed so as to have a terraced terrain. The slopes of the hill lie at an ascent of 2500 metres above mean sea level, as a result of which the garden enjoys a temperate climate ideal for a number of plants and shrubs to grow. The Botanical garden in Ooty is home to many rare species of trees, chief among them being the cork tree, the only one of its kind in India. The paperbark tree, the monkey puzzle tree and an old fossilized tree estimated to be 20 million years old round out the other rare species. The monkey puzzle tree has been named so because even monkeys fail to climb it. In addition to these, a number of exotic and indigenous vegetation of plants, shrubs, ferns, trees, herbal and bonsai plants are found here as well.
Ooty Rose Gardens
Rose garden lies in the heart and soul of Ooty.The construction stays to be magnificent and there are small tunnels made wherein the roses are planted.
This botanical garden conducts the best flower show of the century and it has the highest amount of rose production in the country. Different kinds of roses are cultivated here, incorporating different hybrid quality like tea and miniature roses which are gathering great footing in the market place these days. The roses grown in the Botanical garden are exquisite and hold great market value. Also they make lovely bouquets and are the perfect gift for your loved ones.
Nilgiri Mountain Railway, 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. 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. It was declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2005. 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.
Weaving amidst the forests, dark snaking tunnels, sharp bends and amid the mist and fog, the Toy Train is a spectacular trip up and down the slopes with birds and trees dancing along. As the train passes through the stunning gorge, the dancing sunlight above and dream-like drizzling makes it the experience of a lifetime. Apart from offering a beautiful journey, the uniqueness of the trip lies in the fact that the rail system is the steepest in Asia and worth a visit. The ride `starts from Mettupalayam; a small place on river Bhavani. The first 5 miles are plain, but in the next 12 miles engine pushes the coaches upwards to a height of 4363 feet. Covering Mettupalayam, Kellar, Coonoor, Wellington, Lovedale and Ootacamund on its way, this is the best means to discover the pristine treasures of the Nilgiris.
Ooty Lake
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. The lake is filled with beautiful water birds with the exotic Nilgiri mountain ranges in the background.
Ooty Lake is pretty fun as well activity-filled place. One can hire paddle boats, rowing boats and motor boats from the boathouse here. There is a mini train too for kids to hop on and take a quick tour of the lake. Boat races, as well as other events, are also organized here for two days in May. Since there are a lot of visitors during weekends, it is advisable to visit the lake during weekdays. The romantic song 'Dil Deewana' from Maine Pyaar Kiya (1989) too was shot here along with a few scenes of Ajab Prem Ki Gazab Kahani (2009).
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