Imagine walking on the mystical pathways that urge you to explore more every time you step out of your hotel/resort. Imagine seeing the bright green soothing slopes that inspire you to sit for hours doing nothing than just admiring the overall beauty.
Imagine enjoying the best time of your life amidst the mesmerizing meadows, verdant landscapes, and refreshing environment that tempt you to head for a getaway right now. Doesn’t all this create a picture of a blissful staycation you need to take a break from the boring city life? If yes, then how about considering Ooty to turn all your imagination into reality with our Ooty Darshan Packages?
The Queen of Hill Stations lying in the Nilgiri hills of the western ghats, Ooty is a popular honeymoon destination in India that quenches the thirst of all types of travelers and has everything to keep you happy all the time. It’s the picturesque beauty of this little hamlet that can hypnotize anyone, encouraging nature-buffs, wanderers, experience seekers, and sightseeing lovers to experience a truly heavenly experience during their visit to the southern side of the nation.
Featuring an amazing blend of years-old traditions with new-age modernity, Ooty is dotted with a plethora of things to do and see throughout the day that makes this hill station a preferable holiday destination for individuals, couples, and families. While you can always engage yourself in the usual sightseeing, there are a few places in Ooty that shouldn’t be missed at any cost. The top 5 tourist attractions to cover with our Ooty darshan packages are as follows:
1. Ooty Lake
Among the popular lakes in Ooty, Ooty Lake is one scenic place that provides a relaxing ambiance to declutter your mind in utmost tranquility. It’s a great spot for all those who wish to experience nature at its best with beautiful streams gushing out throughout the majestic hills.
Surrounded by Eucalyptus trees, Nilgiri ranges, and lush greenery from all sides, Ooty Lake is a man-made lake that delights people of all age groups and has something to cater to everyone’s interests. Depending on your mood and holiday style, you can choose to sit back alongside the shores for leisure time and spot the water birds in the lake or engage yourself in various recreational activities for a fun-filled day out with family. These include boating, cycling, and horse riding.
Other than that, Ooty Lake also houses an amusement park with a haunted house and mirror house for the entertainment of both adults and children alike. You can also let your kids enjoy a joyful toy train ride whilst you stroll around the food stalls that serve everything from North Indian and South Indian delicacies to Tea, Coffee, and quick evening snacks.
2. Ooty Botanical Garden
Take some time off to admire the serenity at Ooty Botanical Garden. Also referred to as the Government Botanical Garden, Ooty Botanical Garden is a well-maintained and well-organized garden that features over 600 different species of plants to attract gardening lovers from different parts of the world. It is an ideal destination for tourists to have a great time with their loved ones under one roof and is also a go-to picnic spot for locals.
Lying on the lower slope of Doddabetta Peak, the Botanical Garden covers an area of 55 acres of land and is split into various sections named as Lower Garden, New Garden, Italian-style Garden, Fountain Terrace, Conservatory, and Nurseries. It is also blessed with verdant lawns, artificial ponds filled with lilies and lotuses, exotic woods, rare orchids, and several medicinal herbs. Other highlights include a fossil tree that is as old as 20 million years old.
Don’t miss the annual flower show which is organized in the month of May every year at the Ooty Botanical Garden. It’s a 2-day affair that displays a colorful range of flowers belonging to different families. Approximately 150000 people attend this event every time, making it a hit all over the country. Hence, it shouldn’t be ignored at any cost if you’re in Ooty at that time of the year.
3. Ooty Tea Factory
Heaven for Tea Lovers, the Ooty Tea Factory or Tea Museum is another popular tourist place to visit in Ooty that presents an exciting weekend retreat for people interested in learning everything about tea. It is a must-visit destination for travelers who wish to take a complete tour of the evolution of tea. It is no less than a paradise for holidaymakers wanting to learn about the entire process of tea making right from how the tea leaves are plucked to what it takes to turn them into small grains.
Established in the year 2005, the Ooty Tea Factory boasts an exquisite location near Doddabetta Tea Factory and has emerald green tea plantations for locals as well as visitors to indulge in the refreshing aroma of this beverage like never before. Here you can also look over the enchanting views while sipping your cup of tea and please your eyes with jaw-dropping mountains.
Owing to its pleasant atmosphere, the museum has become a preferable attraction for everyone on their Ooty tour and deserves to be included in your itinerary list if you wish to make the most of your trip.
4. St. Stephen’s Church
If you’re in search of a place where you can experience peace, spirituality, and positivity at a time, then St. Stephen’s Church can be the right location to visit in Ooty. It’s an ancient building that was built by Britishers in the 19th century and features the colonial style of architecture to impress people from far and wide.
Located on Mysore Road, St. Stephen’s Church is the oldest church in the Nilgiri district that offers a calm and composed atmosphere with holy vibes to make you feel good about yourself from the inside out. It’s the elegance and charm of this building that welcomes people from different castes and creeds with open arms and the intricate carvings it possesses will surely blow your mind, leaving you mesmerized for many days.
Try heading to St. Stephen’s Church during special occasions like Christmas or New Year to enjoy your visit to the fullest. Why? Because the overall structure is decked up with vibrant lights, making it look even prettier than ever before. Please note that entry to the church is free for everyone and the recommended exploration time is 1-2 hours.
5. Elk Hill Murugan Temple
Perched atop Elk Hill, the Elk Hill Murugan Temple is a Hindu pilgrimage site that boasts a 40-feet tall statue of Lord Murugan outside the area with astounding landscapes and panoramic vistas at the backdrop that is a sight to behold. It’s a spectacular temple that makes you forget everything about the daily hassle as soon as you step inside its premises. Such is the aura of this place.
Encompassed by dense forests, the Elk Hill Murugan Temple invites people to attain peace of mind in the kind of environment that they’ve been craving for a long time. Here you can also enjoy a 360-degree view of the hill station along with seeking blessings from other deities such as Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha, Goddess Shakthi, Nava Kanika, etc. In addition to all this, the temple is also known for its rich and flourishing wildlife, giving another major reason to travelers to flock to this place at least once for sure.
To reach the top of the temple, you need to climb at least 108 steps barefoot. Although it can be a little challenging at the start, once you get there, you’ll realize that it is worth all your effort as the view you get to see will surely make your heart skip a beat.
Ooty, the Queen of Hill Stations, has a lot more to unveil to its visitors than the above-mentioned sightseeing places. If interested and have time, you can plan to extend your getaway to a few more days to cover the places like Emerald Lake, Pykara Lake, Dolphin’s Nose, Avalanche Lake, Rose Garden, Thread Garden, Kalhatti Falls, Tiger Hill, Kamraj Sagar Lake, Bison Valley, Thunder World, Adam’s Fountain, Mini Car Museum, Wax Museum, and many more.
Book an all-inclusive Ooty tour package with us to have a gala time in Ooty. We at Ooty Tourism, a division of Holidays DNA, present a variety of Ooty travel packages to address everyone’s varied holiday needs.
Depending on your trip duration and budget, our team of experts can help you customize the packages along with curating an itinerary that helps you explore the frequently visited sightseeing places in Ooty. You can also avail the benefits of travel deals available with us to enjoy your Ooty tour at pocket-friendly prices. What else? Please fill out the Contact Us form to know more about our services in detail.
How to Reach Ooty?
As a prime hill station in India, Ooty can be easily accessed by people via all modes of transportation. What matters, in the end, is your comfort. So, you need to travel wisely. Following are the 3 ways of traveling that help you get to Ooty at your ease:
By Air: Coimbatore International Airport is the nearest airport that connects Ooty to the rest of the country via various domestic flights. This airport is also well-served by many international flight carriers from different parts of the world. So, whether you’re an Indian traveler or a foreigner, you can surely fly to this airport to cover the maximum distance in minimal time.
By Train: Another convenient way is via train. You can catch a train to Mettupalayam Railway Station from the metro cities like Bangalore, Coimbatore, Mumbai, Chennai, Mysore, etc., to reach Ooty in a hassle-free manner. From Mettupalayam Station, opt to travel in Nilgiri Mountain Railways to experience a scenic journey through the Nilgiri hills.
By Road: Lastly, the Tamil Nadu government also operates various private and state-owned buses to and from Ooty at pocket-friendly prices. Several luxury coaches with AC and non-AC facilities are also available for your convenience. Alternatively, you can book a private taxi from the list of top car rental companies in Ooty to enjoy a smooth and safe road trip in your comfort.