Early in the morning, we were quick to have our breakfast and checked out from our Kodaikanal resort. Today we are heading towards the beautiful hamlet in the Nilgiri Hills, Ooty. The 250 km drive from Kodaikanal was a treat in itself. We drove past lush green tea gardens and reached there in the late afternoon. A popular tourist destination, Ooty, is dotted with numerous resorts, hotels, and guest houses. Being nature lovers, we were looking for shelter away from the bustling main town. Nestled amidst the tea estates and garlic fields and hilly vistas at a distance, the Mount N Mist resort appeared to be a great solace for us. The afternoon was magical with the sun setting over the lush green valley. We retired on our terrace with a cup of Nilgiri tea as the night set in.
Roadside vistas
Morning @Mount N Mist
View from our terrace
Ooty has a lot to offer, enough to consume two full days. We loved the beautifully manicured Botanical garden here. The vast expanse of greenery was instantly soothing our mind and soul. Spread over a gaping 55 acres, the garden offers velvety lawns, many rare and exotic species, ferns, cacti and succulents, and a dazzling spectacle of colorful flowers. If you are traveling in the peak season, this should be the first place you visit to beat the crowd.
The giant cactus
The garden has beautiful landscaping
The vast expanse of lawns
A morning visit will beat the crowd
The next sight that we loved was the Ooty lake. The enormous lake with its pristine blue water is just perfect to spend an hour or two. Sit on the bank or enjoy a boating session, you will definitely love it. If you are a tea lover, a visit to the Tea Factory and Museum is a must. They will take you through the entire system of tea processing and will offer you to taste different flavors of tea as well. Don't worry if you fall in love with the tea. You can, of course, get some for your home. What we loved here the most, however, is the view the place has to offer! There are a lot of other sightseeing options which include St. Stephens Church, Stone House, Doddabetta Peak, dams, Golf course and so on. The Pyakara lake is situated outside the main Ooty town but offers great views and boating opportunities.
An afternoon by the Ooty Lake
View from the Tea Factory
The Pyakara Lake
If you are at Ooty, visiting the spectacular stretches of tea estates at Coonoor is a must. It's a short drive from Ooty and the winding roads will take you to the marvel of the Nilgiri. The settlement is much smaller and quieter and offers a peaceful escape for nature lovers. There's a heritage Nilgiri Mountain Railway that runs here. The Dolphin nose viewpoint offers great views of the cascading waterfalls and breathtaking tea plantations along slopes of the hills. Coonoor will never disappoint you. Several hotels have opened up recently and offer great options for a night's shelter here.
Spectacular tea plantations at Coonoor
If you have an extra day at your disposal, do not miss a picnic by the Emerald Lake. Often overlooked by most visitors, the heart-shaped lake is a hidden gem. A less traveled muddy road took us to the lake which lies around 25 km away from the main town. We drove past the villages and tea estates and after about an hour of struggle could reach our destination. Even during the peak Christmas season, we were the only visitor here. The panorama was absolutely perplexing. The lake is actually a part of the Avalanche dam and offers stupendous views. We spent some time near the lake soaking in the serenity of nature and wished if we could stay there forever. Alas, as the sun progressed with its westbound journey, our driver called it a day. We had a long way to go!
The Avalanche Dam
The spectacular Emerald Lake
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