Mysore To Ooty - From Cultural City To Green Hill Station

By Author: Rashmiranjan Patil
Total Articles: 261
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Ooty is a scenic hill station situated in the Nilgiri mountain ranges of Tamil Nadu. Situated around 127 km from Mysore, this hill station is much frequented by tourists who travel the distance from Mysore to Ooty to escape the hot summers and experience tranquility and serene beauty.

This 'Queen of Hill Stations' is surrounded by lofty mountain ranges, and dotted with many a scenic waterfall and streams and is enshrouded in lush green tea plantations. A favourite among adventurers is a trek to the Doddabetta Peak, which is the highest peak in the region perched at an altitude of 2286 m above sea level.

Ooty was originally inhabited by Todas and few other tribes before it came under the British rule, after which its name changed from Udhagamandalam to Ootacamund and then to its shortened version Ooty. Ooty has numerous sightseeing attractions on offer, of which the most prominent one is a ride on the toy train of the Nilgiri Mountain Railways, which is almost synonymous with Ooty. Stretching from Coonoor to Udhagamandalam, this Nilgiri toy train ride commences at a small station near Mettupalayam called Kallar ...
... and passes through a scenic route as it climbs up and down several hills. The toy train moves at a rather slow pace and is an ideal way to explore the beauty of this hill station.

The Government Rose Garden situated on the slopes of the Elk Hill has over 20,000 varieties of roses, which is the largest collection of roses in the country and a major attraction among tourists. Botanical Gardens spread across an area of 22 acres is famous all over the country for its comprehensive collection of exotic and indigenous plants, shrubs, medicinal plants, bonsais and many more and is another one of Ooty’s attractions. Ooty Lake is another prominent attraction in the region apart from the Mudumalai National Park.

Mysore to Ooty distance is well connected by roadways and railways. By road, the journey takes around 3 hours and is considered the best option. Some of the major towns covered during the road journey to Ooty are Nanjangud, Gundlupet, Kadasholai and then Ooty. The route is dotted with several popular restaurants that offer good food and a resting place for the tired limbs. Buses from Mysore to Ooty take about 4 hours and is ideal for backpackers. However, families would be more comfortable availing the service of cabs which charge in the range of INR 13 to INR 30 depending upon the type of vehicle. Especially if there are children or seniors involved, cabs provide the required comfort as well as flexibility to make unscheduled stops in between. There are no direct trains from Mysore to Ooty, so train travel is best avoided.