Tourist Attractions
NEEDLE ROCK POINT
It is 8 km on Gudalur-Ooty road. This view point gives you a 360-degree view point. The sunset from here on clear days is guaranteed to take your breath away. A panoramic view of the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary and Gudalur town far below is a visual treat from this view point.
MUDUMALAI TIGER RESERVE
Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary is based at an elevation of 1000 meters and extends over an area of 321 sq.km. You must add Mudumalai to your weekend gateway when in Ooty since the place is home to stunning flora and fauna. The wildlife includes Elephant, Gaur, Tiger, Panther, Sambar, Spotted Deer, Barking Deer, Mouse, White Boar, Parcupine, etc. You can visit Theppakadu and see the majestic elephants all around you.
The Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary is located amidst the beautiful Nilgiri Hills. This is the point where the Western Ghats merge with the Eastern Ghats. The relief of the sanctuary is an interesting mix of plain, swamp, undulating parkland, open grassland, valleys, and streams. There is a National park measuring 103 sq. km inside the sanctuary. The Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary is home to a variety of vegetation. As a nature and wildlife lover, you will find the breathtaking surroundings of the sanctuary very appealing. The hilly terrain of the Western Ghats, with dense forests, adds to the attraction of the wildlife sanctuary. As you move on the Mysore-Ooty highway through the National Park, you will find yourself surrounded by nature all the way.
Fauna at the National Park
As you move inside the sanctuary, you can spot a variety of fauna life at the National Park. Some of the important animal life at the wildlife sanctuary are Elephant, Macaque, Common langur, Gaur, Bonnet, Chital, Tigers, and Leopards, Panther, Sloth Bear, Barking deer, Python, Otter, Four-Horned Antelope, Giant flying squirrel, Crocodile, Sambhar, Wild Dog, Hyena, Wild Boar, Spotted Deer, Jackal, Mouse Deer, Hare, Mangoose, and Porcupine.
While exploring the wildlife sanctuary, you will come across a variety of bird life. Some of the birds that you can easily spot here at the sanctuary are the peacock, gray jungle fowl, large racquet-tailed dronge, Malabar whistling thrush, spotted babbler, magpie-robin, green pigeons, small green barbet, Malabar gray hornbill, little brown dove, mynahs, and bulbuls. Besides the above mentioned varieties of birds, you can also spot a few birds of prey including eagles, buzzards, hawks, falcons, harriers, and king vultures. You will be amazed to know that some migratory water birds also visit the wildlife sanctuary.
MOYAR FALLS
It is located inside the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, 22 km. from Gudalur. Another waterfall, 38 km from Gudalur via Masinagudi, too is full of scenic beauty.
SIM’S PARK
3 KM FROM COONOOR
ESTABLISHED: 1874
AREA: 12.14 HEC
ALTITUDE: 1780 MTS. ABOVE MSL
AVERAGE RAINFALL: 150 CM
MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE: 30 C
MINIMUM TEMPERATURE: 5 C
This garden was laid out in 1874. Mr. J.D. Sim, the then Secretary to Government and Major Murray, acting Superintendent of the Nilgiris forest and the park was named after the former. Though this was started as a pleasure resort for the residents and visitors, the park has now developed into Garden. This garden is spread over 12 heactares of undulating land and possesses a number of natural advantages at an elevation of 1768-1798 meters above M.S.L.
Sim’s Park is the venue for the annual vegetable and fruit show. The park cum botanical garden contains many species of trees and shrubs not found in Ooty. Annual Fruit and Vegetable Show is held every year in May here attracts tourists in large numbers. Pomological research station located near Sim’s Park can also be seen which do research on nursery plants and fruits. The Pasteur Institute may also be seen just across Sim’s Park which produces anti-rabi vaccine, DTP, DT, and TT.
LAMB’S ROCK
8 KM FROM COONOOR
Lamb’s Rock is perhaps the most favorite place for picnic parties near Coonoor. It is a point on the way to Dolphin’s Nose, and the Seat was so called by the then Collector, Mr. E.B.Thomas after one Captain Lamb who made earnest attempts to open a path to the place. It is situated in Burliar village and is about 8 km from Coonoor. The rock is a sheer precipice of jagged rock drops down several hundred feet to bury itself in the luxurient jungle below. There are a few views which are beyond compare. On the right hand yawns to great Hulical ravine and from its base some 5000 feet below ascends the roar of the Coonoor stream. The Lamb’s Rock is a sheer precipice of several hundred meters and commands a good view of the Coimbatore plains.
LADY CANNING’S SEAT
8 KM FROM COONOOR
Lady Canning’s Seat is about 8 km from Coonoor busstand and further along the same road as that to Lamb’s Rock. It is perhaps the loveliest point in the heart of the woods. Lady Canning, wife of the Viceroy was fond of this spot, which commands a panoramic view of the numerous tea estates, Lamb’s Rock, the Droog, the Lampton’s Peak all could be seen one above the other and even Mettupalayam is visible at a distance.
It is 8 km on Gudalur-Ooty road. This view point gives you a 360-degree view point. The sunset from here on clear days is guaranteed to take your breath away. A panoramic view of the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary and Gudalur town far below is a visual treat from this view point.
MUDUMALAI TIGER RESERVE
Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary is based at an elevation of 1000 meters and extends over an area of 321 sq.km. You must add Mudumalai to your weekend gateway when in Ooty since the place is home to stunning flora and fauna. The wildlife includes Elephant, Gaur, Tiger, Panther, Sambar, Spotted Deer, Barking Deer, Mouse, White Boar, Parcupine, etc. You can visit Theppakadu and see the majestic elephants all around you.
The Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary is located amidst the beautiful Nilgiri Hills. This is the point where the Western Ghats merge with the Eastern Ghats. The relief of the sanctuary is an interesting mix of plain, swamp, undulating parkland, open grassland, valleys, and streams. There is a National park measuring 103 sq. km inside the sanctuary. The Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary is home to a variety of vegetation. As a nature and wildlife lover, you will find the breathtaking surroundings of the sanctuary very appealing. The hilly terrain of the Western Ghats, with dense forests, adds to the attraction of the wildlife sanctuary. As you move on the Mysore-Ooty highway through the National Park, you will find yourself surrounded by nature all the way.
Fauna at the National Park
As you move inside the sanctuary, you can spot a variety of fauna life at the National Park. Some of the important animal life at the wildlife sanctuary are Elephant, Macaque, Common langur, Gaur, Bonnet, Chital, Tigers, and Leopards, Panther, Sloth Bear, Barking deer, Python, Otter, Four-Horned Antelope, Giant flying squirrel, Crocodile, Sambhar, Wild Dog, Hyena, Wild Boar, Spotted Deer, Jackal, Mouse Deer, Hare, Mangoose, and Porcupine.
While exploring the wildlife sanctuary, you will come across a variety of bird life. Some of the birds that you can easily spot here at the sanctuary are the peacock, gray jungle fowl, large racquet-tailed dronge, Malabar whistling thrush, spotted babbler, magpie-robin, green pigeons, small green barbet, Malabar gray hornbill, little brown dove, mynahs, and bulbuls. Besides the above mentioned varieties of birds, you can also spot a few birds of prey including eagles, buzzards, hawks, falcons, harriers, and king vultures. You will be amazed to know that some migratory water birds also visit the wildlife sanctuary.
MOYAR FALLS
It is located inside the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, 22 km. from Gudalur. Another waterfall, 38 km from Gudalur via Masinagudi, too is full of scenic beauty.
SIM’S PARK
3 KM FROM COONOOR
ESTABLISHED: 1874
AREA: 12.14 HEC
ALTITUDE: 1780 MTS. ABOVE MSL
AVERAGE RAINFALL: 150 CM
MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE: 30 C
MINIMUM TEMPERATURE: 5 C
This garden was laid out in 1874. Mr. J.D. Sim, the then Secretary to Government and Major Murray, acting Superintendent of the Nilgiris forest and the park was named after the former. Though this was started as a pleasure resort for the residents and visitors, the park has now developed into Garden. This garden is spread over 12 heactares of undulating land and possesses a number of natural advantages at an elevation of 1768-1798 meters above M.S.L.
Sim’s Park is the venue for the annual vegetable and fruit show. The park cum botanical garden contains many species of trees and shrubs not found in Ooty. Annual Fruit and Vegetable Show is held every year in May here attracts tourists in large numbers. Pomological research station located near Sim’s Park can also be seen which do research on nursery plants and fruits. The Pasteur Institute may also be seen just across Sim’s Park which produces anti-rabi vaccine, DTP, DT, and TT.
LAMB’S ROCK
8 KM FROM COONOOR
Lamb’s Rock is perhaps the most favorite place for picnic parties near Coonoor. It is a point on the way to Dolphin’s Nose, and the Seat was so called by the then Collector, Mr. E.B.Thomas after one Captain Lamb who made earnest attempts to open a path to the place. It is situated in Burliar village and is about 8 km from Coonoor. The rock is a sheer precipice of jagged rock drops down several hundred feet to bury itself in the luxurient jungle below. There are a few views which are beyond compare. On the right hand yawns to great Hulical ravine and from its base some 5000 feet below ascends the roar of the Coonoor stream. The Lamb’s Rock is a sheer precipice of several hundred meters and commands a good view of the Coimbatore plains.
LADY CANNING’S SEAT
8 KM FROM COONOOR
Lady Canning’s Seat is about 8 km from Coonoor busstand and further along the same road as that to Lamb’s Rock. It is perhaps the loveliest point in the heart of the woods. Lady Canning, wife of the Viceroy was fond of this spot, which commands a panoramic view of the numerous tea estates, Lamb’s Rock, the Droog, the Lampton’s Peak all could be seen one above the other and even Mettupalayam is visible at a distance.
Ooty nestles in an amphitheatre created by four majestic hills: Dodabetta, Snow don, Elk hill, and Club Hill. These hills are a part of the Nilgiri ranges that are really the meeting point for the Western and the Eastern Ghats.
The lush green serenity of these southern hills of India would be difficult to find anywhere else. For a summer of peace and uncluttered, cool days is what Ooty offers, with their resonant echoes of a rich and tangible Dravidian culture. Here are some of the well known tourist attractions in Ooty.
- The Botanical Garden
- Ooty Lake
- Dodabetta Peak
- Coonoor
- Kotagiri
- Kalhatty Ghats
- Gudalur
- Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary
Have you ever wondered why the name 'Blue Mountain' is used? Well, when the lavender-blue flowers of the famous Strobilanthes cover the hills in floral profusion, it would be time to stop wondering, for it is these funnel-shaped blossoms that are the reason for the name. Anywhere you go around, the serenity of the Nilgiris will be around you. Especially the strategic points from where one could either see Ooty or the view all around, like Dodabetta.
