Queen of hill stations - Ooty

Trip members: Karthik, Sriram, Sathish Raja
Trip date: 24, 25 and 26 Dec 2016
Trip Plan : Chennai - Ooty - Chennai

Day-1

A quickly planned trip to Ooty - December visit is always exciting to any hill station.

The trip started to Ooty through KPN bus - direct to Ooty, with a delay of 2 hours in departing from Perungalathur - Christmas weekend! You know how it is !

We reached Ooty around 11 AM and got dropped near Charing Cross. We had booked our rooms at Hotel Astoria Residency - above Breeks school. We took a slow walk up the small slope to reach the hotel for check-in. The staff suggested to have breakfast a the rooms were getting ready. After having breakfast in their restaurant, we completed the check-in formalities. We had pooris and dosas and they were pretty good. We had the classic suites - the rooms were spacious, very clean and out of all - a great view of the Ooty town! Definitely, a worth enough room so near to the Charing Cross.

Charing Cross

Around noon, we reached Charing Cross to get some cab for the day. We got one for Ooty sight seeing towards the Pykara route. We decided to do the trip from the farthest and end with Botanical garden. The first stop was Pykara Lake - a great place for boating. This is around 24 kms from Charing Cross. When we visited, the crowd was average and so was the water level. There were 2 options for boating - a 10-seater boat and 3-seater speed boat. We took the speed boat 10-min option for Rs.785. After waiting for around 30 minutes and enjoying taking lot of photographs, we had a very memorable trip around the lake. The driver offers extra minutes, but we did not take it. A must-visit and must-do activity in Ooty!

The next hop was Pykara falls - we were told that there was very less water; but it was very very very less! The weather was bit harsh and it was very sunny. There is a battery car offering a ride for Rs.5 one way from the parking area to the water falls. The distance is little less than a km. The entrance ticket is Rs.5/-. There was some stagnant water at the top but, normally the running water sounds and the white trail it takes were totally missing! It was disappointing to see how bad nature was when rains were missed !!

We had some quick food at the shops there and next stop was Pei Mundh (9th mile). Entrance ticket of Rs.5 and Rs,10 for camera. This is one of the most famous film shooting spots - a grass meadow. The usually spawning green grass meadow was quite dry for the lack of rain but did not disappoint as the weather was getting little colder as well as the clear skies was a big treat. We did spend enough time for us to get lost in the nature.

The driver then stopped at the Kamaraj Sagar Dam. A quite and scenic place - very popular for many films being shot including Roja, The green slopes and blue waters give the place a very serene look. Definitely a must visit place in Ooty and spend quality time enjoying the views.

Next was the most popular spot in Ooty - Pine forests. Entrance ticket is Rs.5 per person and Rs.30 for still cameras. The slope is becoming more slippery and slanted year-year - soil erosion ! The beauty only keeps growing! One of the best spots for shutterbugs to experiment and enjoy! One should make sure they dare the slope and get down the bottom - to enjoy the amazing views of the lake beneath the pine forests. Another breathtaking point in Ooty.

On the way we say the Golf club and got dropped at the Botanical Garden. The entrance ticket is Rs.30 per person. The garden closes by 6 PM. The Botanical gardens in Ooty is one amongst the biggest gardens. The garden is of multiple levels and one could enjoy various views and flora as we move ahead to each. We reached the garden around 4:45 PM and temperature was around 24 degree Celsius. In an hour, as we reached back to the same point, we saw that the temperature had dropped to 16 degree Celsius. The weather started becoming so cold and it was a well enjoyable moment. Make sure you plan 2 hours atleast to be in the garden to enjoy the excellent views of green carpets of grass and well maintained collections.

We came out around 6:15 and walked down the alley all the way to Charing Cross - never miss this walk as it would be very pleasant in the chill climate. Hot groundnuts and corn are sold all over the pathway and one can enjoy the moment. There are lots of home made chocolate shops all along and you can munch them too! We paid Rs.1200 for the cab for the whole day.

Pankaj Bhojanalaya - we had hot piping rotis and Aloo mutter. They were good and served in a reasonable time. A good option very close to Charing Cross for North Indian food.

Day-2

Day-2 was planned for Avalanche. Avalanche is around 25 kms from Charing Cross. The route is through Cairn Hill - Muthorai - Ithalar - Emerald - Avalanche. There are small shops on the way to buy biscuits, cakes and water. We started around 08:30 and reached Avalance around 9:45. The whole route is quite scenic with changing views of tea estates, valleys, flat land across hills and of-course reservoirs. Plan your trip in the way that you plan 2-3 stoppages enroute to enjoy the nature. The last 5 kms are on damaged roads - but they are thus - if you want to enjoy the amazing views in Avalanche - one has to go through this, The rate was Rs,1500 for the trip to Avalanche.

Avalanche reserve forests operates vans and jeeps for a 2-hour trip to see 3 spots inside the R.F. They are Cauliflower Shola forests, River Bhavani origination point and upper Bhavani backwaters dam - Lakidi dam. Rs.150 - is the charge per person for the 2 hour tour. We fortunately got into the first bus of the day. There are jeeps also available for Rs.1200 upto 8 persons. The mud road makes sure you are going through reserve forest and not on a ghat road! We sighted Bison enroute!

The Cauliflower shola forest - resembles a cauliflower - closely packed evergreen shola forest. The initial travel goes through the banks of the Avalanche dam and slowly we get other views as well. The small stream near a small temple for Goddess Bhavaniamman is the origination point for River Bhavani.

The most exciting part of the this trip comes as we get to see Lakidi dam. WOW is guaranteed. The day with broad daylight and clear skies made it a treat of so much natural blue all round us! The drought had presented a 1/5th of the dam to be filled. Imagine it had rained and dam was full. The van driver allowed us around 20-25 minutes to get set with nature. We had enough time to capture the moments in camera as well as in our eyes. The hills-blue sky-water made it a treat to watch. Again, a place that made me wonder what else is in rest of the countries to see rather than see the beauty in India ! Make sure you add this to your list if you are visiting Ooty.

We returned to the parking area by 12 and the driver took us the Emerald Dam and views, He stopped by a bridge and they were so nice to watch and kill time. We spent around 20 minutes at the Emerald lake and splurged happily with nature.

The most important factor of having a local driver helped next - the food. The driver stopped by a very small eatery - hardly 10 can sit - Hotel Ramakrishna at Muthorai. The driver was very sure of getting a homely meals and it was. A simple rice-Sambhar-Rasam-Curd-Appalam - typical homely meals. Given that we had a good dose of feast to our mind and eyes, it was now for our tummy!

We then decided to spend rest of the time at Doddabetta ! Doddabetta Peak is around 7 kms from Charing Cross. This is the highest peak of Nilgiris - 8650 feet - tallest in South India! It has well laid walking lanes and good number of shops to eat and buy souvenirs.  Entrance fees is Rs.6 per person and Rs.10 for a camera. One gets to see grand views of towns all around Nilgiris. We sat on of the view points and enjoyed for around 1 hour.

Then, we returned to Ooty and a good dinner at Hotel Ooty Coffee house. We had ghee dosas and Oothappams - Sambhar and chutneys were very good. Hotel Ooty Coffee house is a local popular restaurant for South Indian food. It is also a hit with regular tourists. This is inbetween Charing Cross and Market - towards railway station. This is easily accessible if you are staying around Breeks School or in TTDC resort. There is a A2B opened near Charing Cross and they are taking more  time for servicing and is mostly crowded. A2B is definitely costly for the food they serve.

Day-3

The plan was to go to Connoor by NMR -Nilgiris Mountain Railway. I went to the railway station around 8 AM for 12:15 train and there was a vert long queue - this was quite bit of surprise. I was there around for 20 minutes and the crowd was big for the small train. Getting tickets for the 12:15 train looked like a puzzle then!

Returned back to hotel, checked-out and took a cab for Connoor site seeing. We got the cab for Rs,1500. The driver took us through Wellington and we enjoyed every bit of history and the military camps there by the driver. Photographs are prohibited in the WCB - Wellington Cantonment Board area. The sprawling acres of area are well fenced and maintained quite clean.

We went through the beautiful narrow roads by the edge of the hill in Connoor towards Dolphin's nose. This is the farthest point in the route and the whole route is very narrow that 2 vehicles cannot pass-by easily. Beware of traffic snarls in peak seasons, We stopped at the green tea estates for some quick photos. The blue skies and green leaves made it a great experience!

Our driver next took is to a shop were Eucalyptus was being processed and bottled. We were briefly explained how it is done and given some samples of the oil and various flavours of tea. We did some purchases for our homes and moved to next.

All along - we would see nothing but Blue Mountains! Definitely, it was a day where it was 100% an evidence to see the BLUE mountains. See it to experience and believe it!

Lady Canning Seat - a quick steep climb and you see the BLUE mountains. This small view point is a great promoter of the Nilgiris by name. Do stop by for few minutes and ensure you enjoy the view. This is 3 kms before Dolphin's Nose.

Dolphin's nose - the view point is in shape of Dolphin's nose. One can see great views of the deep valley and the long Catherine Water falls. Catherine water falls is on the Kothagiri hill range and best viewed from Dolphin's nose. This is a long water falls cascading the complete length of the gigantic Kothagiri hill range.

For Dolphin's nose, the entrance ticket is Rs.10 per person and Rs.20 for still camera. There is a small view tower as well in this place and is definitely a fitting place to have this. This offers majestic views of the mountain ranges and valleys beneath, Do not miss this.

The driver took us to a small mess for lunch - Sree Baba Restaurant - around 4 kms from Dolphin's nose. They served unlimited rotis, rice, dhall, sambhar, rasam, curd and Sabhjis. They charged Rs.100 per plate and the food was ok - no complaints.

Our last stop at Connoor was Sims Park. They charge Rs.30 per person and Rs,50 per camera. Sims park - like Botanical garden is multi-level - but, we need to do down for levels unlike the Botanical garden, where we climb up for the levels. Sims park hosts very rare specimens of trees - hosting 255 genes! We spent almost an hour here enjoying and resting with nature.

Around 3 PM, we started back to Ooty and stopped at the Ooty valley view point enroute. This point gives views for around 8 villages in the valley. A definitely a good view point - not to miss this.

After reaching Ooty by 4 PM, we bought some Varkey from the locally popluar shop - Impala Bakery; home made chocolates from King star and had some snacks at A2B. We boarded the bus by 6:30 for Chennai with very much cherishable memories of Ooty !

After having visited many places across India, and continuing to, truly, Ooty stands to its name of being BLUE mountains and undoubtedly the QUEEN of HILL STATIONS !

Note:
Upper Bhavani is said to be more beautiful and so is Mukuruthi Peak. Both requires R.F entry permission from District Forest Officer. So, plan accordingly, if you want.

• Charing Cross – Mukuruthi Peak – 48 kms
• Mukuruthi Peak – Mukuruthi lake – 3.5 kms
• Charing Cross – Avalanche Lake – 25 kms
• Charing Cross – Emerald lake – 22 kms
• Emerald Lake – Avalanche lake – 7 kms
• Avalanche Lake – Upper Bhavani – 17 kms