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Nestling
in a valley on the crest of the hoary Nilgiri
Hills, at an average height of 7500 feet
(2200 above m.s.l), Ooty or Ootacamund or Udhagamandalan
or Udhagai, as it has been officialised now, still retains
much of her fabled charm despite the ravages of development.
Once the darling of the Englishmen, Maharajas and upper
classes, the premier hill station has become a favourite
of the masses drawing round the year thousands of visitors
of shall shades ranging from the hurried "conducted"
tourists eager to have personal darshan of the place
they see day after day in the the silver screen to the
leisurely naturalists and wild enthusiasts.
One
of the oldest Municipalities and headquarters of the
taluk of the same and the district, the township of
Ooty is girdled by an amphitheatre of hills stretching
over a distance of about 3 kms in a North-Westerly direction
with the Botanical Gardens at the one end and the Ooty
lake at other.
Climate
The unique climate of Ooty, hailed as one of the best
in the world by Englishmen, can be agreeable or otherwise
depending on whether the visitor is from a hill country
or from the plains. The weather conditions are comparatively
extreme in Ooty. The mansoon is harsher than in the
rest of the district; the winter more severe and the
summer hotter.
The
safer period to visit during the summer season (March
to May) when the bulk of the visitors throng the hill
station. The days are warm and fall in the night temperature
is tolerable. September is the second season when there
is a welcome rspite from the receeding South West monsoon
and the impending North East monsoon. However, if one
is a crowd-hater and can put up protect himself from
the cold, winter(November to March) can be enjoyable
period to visit Ooty though there may not be much greenery
around.
Approach:
Ooty
can be easily and comfortably approached by road and
rail.
Road:
By reoad, from the east, one can reach Oooty from Coimbatore
(89 kms) through Mettupalayam and Coonoor. From the
North the road from Mysore to Ooty (160 kms) passes
through the Mudumalai sanctuary and the foothill town
of Gudalur. Detours can be made in either route. The
different roads and the diversions leading to Ooty are
equally enjoyable in their own ways. Lofty mountains,
dense forest, sprawling grasslands and miles and miles
of tea gardens greet the passengers on most routes.
Transport:
The bus service between Coimbatore and Ooty is plentiful
yet crowded on most days. A helpful queue sysytem for
securing tickets is ensured by the transport authorities.
Buses
from Mysore are less frequent but adequate, Ooty is
now connected by direct bus service to places like Madras,Trichy
Kanyakumari, Pondicherry etc.
During
summer months (March - May ) the frequency of the bus
services are further raised. Also reservation is available
during this period.
Rail:
By rail broad gauge service is available upto Mettupalyam
at the foothills from where the unique mountain railway
take a limited number upto Ooty through Coonoor.
(Departure
timings are 7.00 A.M , 10 A.M respectively).
Local
Transport:
Taxis, tourist cabs, autorickshaws are availbale in
plenty. There are no standard rates except tourist cabs.
Bargaining, hard ones at taht, can help. Town buses
are also availbale to all important places. Conducted
sight seeing tours are arranged by private operators
and government tourism development corporation.
Accommodation:
There has been a mushroom growth of hotels and lodges
in Ooty in recent years. Both Indian and Western style
accomadation and food are available. Prior booking is
advisable, especially during the summer months. It is
also possible to get paying guest accomadations through
brokers haunting the bus stand/railway station.
Entertainment:
Unlike other hill stations Ooty offers a blend of city
entertainments and natural recreation. The famous walks
of Ooty are preferred less these days because of increase
in volume of traffic within the town. However, one can
go a little away from the town to places like the Golf
Links, Wenlock downs and Cairn Hill, where there were
several enjoyable walks.
From
April to June the annual on-course horse racing goes
on twice a week which can be witnessed from outside.
Leading clubs offer a variety of pastime from cards
to golf. The Gymkhana club conducts a golg tournament
every year. The star hotels provide their own entertainments.
The
DOG show conducted by the south India Kennel is keenly
attended by dog lovers from far and near.
SEVEN
THEATRES show Tamil, Hindi and Malayalam movies.
ASSEMBLY
rooms, the only theatre to be owned by the Government
under a trust, shows English movies. It has completed
104 years (really).
For
book lovers, the Higginbothams have two fully stacked
shops, one near the collector's office and the other
in the Super Market buildings in Charing Cross. The
Districe Central Library, also near the collector's
office, is comparatively well provided for. However,
if one can gain entry into the nearby 130 year old NILGIRI
LIBRARY one can treat himself to its rare collection
of books and periodicals and its colonial flavour. Temperary
membership facilities are in vogue.
During
May Government organises a Summer Festival under which
daily shows of plays, light mmusic, dances etc.. are
put up Anna Stadium or Breek's ground near Charing Cross.
The ANNUAL FLOWE SHOW which generally bring the curtain
down on the Summer Festival is held at Botanical Gardens
for two or three days usually in third weekend of May.
With over a lakh congregating on either day within and
outside the Gardens, it is, naturally, carnival time
at Ooty.
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