Queen of Hill stations-Ooty

This is my First visit in the years, that also with newly made friends. All that I learned from this trip and what I feel to go somewhere without any knowledge of the place and preparation. There are some good things and there are some things that will give you experience.

We(Me and my 2 friends) went in the late March. So, more likely it is going to be the end of the tourist season and all the people are thronging out to mark their visit on the queen of the Hill. All of us know the beauty of Ooty from someone or somewhere. So all the people in INDIA want to visit once in their life to experience the beauty of the most beautiful hill station in south India. It is more likely the meeting point of the Eastern Ghat and Western Ghat.  The Nilgiri Hills( The Blue Mountain)

Planning to visit the place was sudden. Obviously, there is no reservation in train and we did not have much money to go by bus. People who are enjoying the travel in public transport with low budget can follow and get the most out of it.

We had boarded the train from KR Puram station( A small station in Bangalore) to Coimbatore in a general berth. It's a Friday and people are going to the native to enjoy the weekend with their loved ones after tiresome work in the weekdays. There is no way we could have entered the full packed general berth, but anyhow we are lucky enough to board the train.  So we sat down in the basement as there is no place to stand. People, who have come across such situation in General Berth can relate and know. 

The journey is painful but the experience we got is unforgettable. Thanks to the upcoming hero in Kerala film Industry, who was telling us the story of his journey and experience in the regional movie center. Anyhow, we got down at the Coimbatore Station at Midnight around 3:00 AM. Our friend was coming from Chennai, We waited for the train he boarded to Coimbatore.  We had a little time for rest before our train arrives so I was sleeping on the platform. Most surprisingly an intercity train has come on time. From Coimbatore to Mettur only 1-hour journey.

We have planned that we will take the World Heritage Nilgiri Toy Train from Mettupalayam to Ooty but, thanks to our no plan journey we did not get any of the tickets for the Train. People have already booked the ticket before 2 months. Click here to check IRCTC site for the availability.

We have taken a bus from the Mettupalayam to Coonoor.

Coonoor

Coonoor is the Second largest hill station in Nilgiri Hill Station. Though it is not as crowded as Ooty. It has been established by British early nineteenth century as a summer Head quarter. Famous for its Tea Plantation, is a beautiful place, full of colour. We are on a bus and were climbing towards the clouds. We reached the middle of the Ghat roads for breakfast. I was enjoying the view. The place was so cold and full of greenery. I have not seen such dense forest in my life.

After reaching Coonoor bus stand, We headed towards the Sim's park. The place is full of old trees and well maintained. It is a good place for the locals to use it for Kid's playground. 

We need to leave the place due to time constraints. Our next stop was Catherine Falls.

Catherine Falls

After so much confusion and interaction with the locals, we come to a decision to hire an Auto for the round trip to Catherine falls.

We booked the Auto for 250 Rupees. Ghat roads are so steep and full of the mist.

It was a different experience altogether. We reached the place but due to mist, we are not able to see the Giant Catherine falls clearly. The place is surrounded by the Hills. On our way back to the bus stand, the generous auto driver took us to the fairly big TeaEstate.  I have never been to any other such factory in my school days. It was a great pleasure to know something productive. I am a big fan of How it's done in Discovery.

A guided walk through the factory gives you a brief insight into the tea manufacturing process. We spent around 1 hour over there. The view from the Tea company is awesome. Manager of the Tea company offered us some tea made by them. It was good but we are in the mood of buying the stuff.  Though it an obligatory duty towards the country to promote the Made in India product.

We came back to Coonoor bus stand and had lunch and found something interesting that there is a train from Coonoor to Ooty and ticket counter is yet to open. The railway station is a very old and well maintained. It's like we are traveling backward in a time machine. Everything looking so antique inside the Station. The chart and the bell and the announcement, We are very excited.

After standing for 1 hour in a queue, luckily we got a ticket to Ooty. That was a real treat, We can't think of anything else better than fulfilling all the major attraction in a tourist spot. People are so excited and in the midst of the crowd, everyone tries to preserve their memories by framing themselves with the Famous Nilgiri Mountain Train.

This mountain railway is one of the three railway tracks listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India – the other two being The Darjeeling Himalayan Express and The Kalka-Shimla Railway. We got our seats. If Someone planning a trip to Ooty, then Toy train is the best way. Whether it’s your debut visit or not, the mountain rail will give you an amazing twin heritage track that steadies on the hillside as the train chugs along the sweeping tea estates, misty mountain tops, bubbling streams and waterfalls to take you back to an era gone by. ” It has 13 Tunnels and 25o Bridges on the way to Ooty.

After so much of Nostalgic Moment, we reached Ooty before sunset. Next Job is to get a Hotel before darkness prevails. It was one of the hardest parts of the unplanned journey to a famous tourist place. All the hotels are booked because of the last weekend of the season. Finally, we have agreed to a little higher price for one room. Unique about the room was, no fan, no skylight because of such a cold weather. 
After taking rest for some time we went out to explore the night life in a mountain city. Ooty main market was quite crowded. The market is full of famous Ooty chocolate and Handicrafts. After having the dinner in a decent hotel we came back to Hotel.

Next day Morning we have vacated the Hotel as we are no intention to stay back another day. After having south Indian famous Idly Sambar we went to Ooty Bus stand. We have taken tourist Bus pass for 70 rupees each. It was convenient and very much available. Buses used to leave by 10:00 in the morning. So we have used the leisure time to see the Horse Race course. There was famous Nilgiri cup tournament at that time. I have seen the horse race for the first time. I always thought only the super rich people can see the match and bet on it. We have spent mostly one hour and saw one match.

Next stop was Doddabeta peak

Doddabeta Peak is the highest peak in the Nilgiri Hills at 2637 Meter above sea level.There is a reserve forest around the peak.  A placid 9-km trail flanked by towering ferns and eucalyptus trees leads to a long telescope. We decided to take Bus from the Coonoor bus stand towards the Doddabetta peak as that was the cheapest and most convenient mode of travel on sloppy ghat roads. This indoor platform has many telescopes that can use in order to enjoy the vast open Highlands of Mysore and Bandipur on the north. you can also see the Lego-like houses between acres of undulating tea plantations. Photos of Doddabeta peak.

Then we have headed towards the Most photographed place in Ooty The Botanical Garden

Botanical Garden is a mixture of a marvelous creation of Man and Nature. It is lying at the foot falls of Doddabeta Hills,  It spread in 55 acres of Land. Established in 1848. It highlights include the glass house, a 20 Million-Year-old fossilized tree and an over a thousand species of exotic flora and fauna.

he presents Botanical Gardens are divided into 6 sections namely Lower Garden, New Garden, Italian Garden, Conservatory, Fountain Terrace, and Nurseries.

Fantastic spot to sit on the grass and relax in the shade. Dotted between the giants one can find the paper bark trees, cork trees, and aptly called monkey puzzle tree, called so because monkeys are not able to ascend the tree trunk.

We have passed and walked along the road and saw some elegant bonsai plant. There are so many people on that day that looks like there is a guard for every bonsai plant. Carried our journey to the lower part of the Garden and discovered Italian Garden. Always wanted to have a look of a foreign manicured garden. Name called so because It has been made by the Italian Prisoners of World War I.

Our Next stop was Rose Garden,

This is one of the best rose gardens in our country with more than 3000 varieties of rose plants vying for attention. Every possible size and hue of roses are grown here. Some plants reach the height of 10 to 12 Ft. It spread across 4 hectares of land on elk hill using terrace hill plantation technique. There are five terraces. We reached the spot called Nila Maadam, from where one can see the entire garden, It was a treat to the eye.

There is only one thing left in the must see places in Ooty and That is Famous Ooty lake.

It spread across 65 acres on land. First it has been planned as an irrigation tank but finally, the lake was dredged out between 1823 to 1825 by damming the mountain streams flowing down Ooty valley. There are two types of boats available. We have taken a Motor boat. It was serene and peaceful. The trip around the lake is fun.

Chat with unknown people is awesome. From one of the local people, I came to know that originally Lake used to spread till the present day market. It used to cover present day race course, bus stand, and mini garden stand.

Marks of a British Hill station. It must be around 700 feet and have a lake nearby, have a path around it, boats in it, fish in it, preferably a boat house where one can get a cup of tea. And Ooty has everything.

We took a bus from Lake to Bus stand and from there we have booked a Tamilnadu state transport bus to Bengaluru. Next day morning we have reached Kempegowda Bus stand, Bangalore. Morning 4:00 AM We got a bus from Majestic Bus stand to our Room.

Most thrilling journey to the Queen of Hills comes to an end. The Hills, The Tea Plantation, The Tea State Tour, The Falls, The Boating in Lake, The Scent of Roses, The nostalgic moment of Train Journey, The Horse Race, The picturesque Doddabetta Peak and Botanical garden are spell bound, a week after journey to the mysterious land I can vividly imagine the places in front of my eyes.

Oh, Mother Nature…