Things to Do in Ooty

Do you know why Ooty, which is known as the "Queen of Hills," is one of the most popular places to visit in India? If someone asked me the same question, I honestly wouldn't know where to start. Because, in my opinion, Ooty has almost everything a tourist could want, it would be hard to pick out one thing that makes it a favourite among tourists. Ooty is a popular tourist destination because it has everything. Most other places are only known for their beautiful scenery, historical sites, or religious sites. The best thing about a trip to Ooty, though, is that most of the things you can do here are either free or cost very little.

So, Ooty is the place to go if you want to go on a cheap trip with friends or family. So, here are some things you have to do when you go to the hill station.

Get close to nature at Pykara Waterfalls

Pykara Falls is a beautiful waterfall that is about 21 km from Ooty. It will impress even the most hard-to-please people. The Pykara River starts at Mukurthi Peak and flows through a series of waterfalls on its way to the Pykara Falls. Two separate falls with heights of 55 metres and 61 metres make up Pykara Falls. Seeing a river fall in the middle of a lush green forest is a sight that doesn't happen very often. So, if you are in Ooty, don't miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime chance.

Important Tips

• Wear shoes that have a firm grip
• Carry warm clothes even during summers, as it can be quite chilly at the falls in the evenings
• Stay away from falls during the monsoon, as the water level might rise suddenly and catch you unaware

Timings: Morning to evening

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Capture the magnificence of Avalanche Lake

Avalanche Lake is one of the most popular tourist spots in the Nilgiris region. It is about 20 km from Ooty. And if you're wondering where the name "Avalanche" came from, here's what happened. In the early 1800s, a huge landslip hit the Nilgiris area. Because of this, the lake became known as the Avalanche lake.

Beautiful flowers, like orchids, magnolias, and rhododendrons, bloom in the background of Avalanche Lake, making the area a favourite of people who love nature. Tourists also like to camp in the area, often setting up their tents near the lake.

Important Tips

• Take your camera with you to capture the beauty of the region
• Avoid swimming unless you are really adept at it

Timings: Morning to evening

Travel back in time with a tour of Raj Bhavan

If you are a tourist in Ooty, you can't miss the beautiful pale green building that is now the official summer home of the Governor of Tamil Nadu. Raj Bhavan is not only a great example of colonial architecture, but it is also a place where you can be enchanted by the lush green cover of ornamental gardens that cover about 9 acres.

But the building wasn't as beautiful as it is now back in the 1870s. In fact, when the Duke of Buckingham spent the night here, he saw that it wasn't a good place to stay. So, he suggested that a big, two-story building be built. At the time, this would have cost the government almost 8 lakh. Since then, the building has been updated, changed, and added to in several big ways.

Important Tips

• Travelers must make an online request for visiting the Raj Bhavan
• All online requests to be made at least three days before the visit date
• Reach on time to avoid being denied entry.
• Carry valid photo id proofs

Timings: 9:30 am to 5:30 pm

Visit the quaint Stone House

John Sullivan built Ooty's first bungalow, Stone House, in 1822. Tribal people called it the Kal Bungalow. Aside from being the oldest bungalow in Ooty, it is also worth noting that the land on which it is built was bought from the Toda people for 1 per acre. Surprised? Well, don't be, because £1 was a lot of money in the early 1800s. The average person couldn't have paid that much back then. The principal of Government Arts College, Ooty, lives in the heritage building at the moment. I wish I was the head of this school.

Important Tips

•  Do not litter. Carry a bag to dump all the waste
• The building can be seen only from the outside, so don’t barge into the house, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

Timings: N/A

Explore St. Stephen’s Church

Stephen Rumbold Lushington, the Governor of Madras, gave the order to build St. Stephen's Church in 1829. It is one of the oldest churches in the Nilgiri district. The church was built because there was no church in Ooty just for British people. However, in 1931, it became open to everyone. One of the most interesting things about the church is that the huge beams and wood that were used to build it were taken from Tipu Sultan's palace and brought up the Sigur Ghat all the way from Srirangapatna.

Important Tips

• Be respectful to the church, its rules, and its processes
• Dress appropriately. Find out if the church follows any dress code
• Observe the people around you to understand things better

Timings: 10:00 am to 01:00 pm and 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Pay respect at Mariamman Temple

The Mariamman temple is near Ooty Market. It is dedicated to Mariamman, who is the local rain goddess. People say that traders from Coimbatore used to come to the market every Tuesday to buy and sell goods with the tribals. On that Tuesday, two sisters who looked like angels went to the market and asked for a place to sleep for the night. The only place they were given was a spot under a tree. Soon after that, the sisters left, taking the lightning with them. When people in the area found out that the two sisters were gods, they built a temple there. Since then, people have been going to the temple every Tuesday.

The Mariamman Temple Festival is held every year in April to honour the goddesses. Tens of thousands of devotees from all over the country come to take part. Another festival is the Car Festival, which is like Puri or the Ratha Yatra. During this February event that lasts for 28 days, idols of different goddesses are carried in processions.

Important Tips

• Avoid visiting the temple during the festival if you don’t like crowded places
• Several devotees, sometimes to show their love for the goddess, walk barefoot on burning coal. Don’t get carried away is all we can say

Timings: 6:00 am to 8:00 pm

Pooja Schedule:

Kaala Sandhi – 7:00 am

Utchikaalam – 12:00 pm

Saayaratchai – 6:00 pm

Raakala Pooja – 8:00 pm

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