Places to visit in Ooty – Exploring the Queen of Hill Stations in India

Ooty or Udhagamandalam, popular as the Queen of hills, is situated in Tamil Nadu. Often referred to as India’s Switzerland, there are many places to visit in Ooty. Blessed with a good climate, flora, and fauna, and of course splendid tea and coffee estates, it is a must-visit hill station in India. 

How to reach Ooty?

Located in the Nilgiris district, it is well connected to most cities by airways and roadways. From Mumbai, we boarded a flight to Coimbatore, which is the nearest airport around 100 Km from Ooty. From there, either you can travel by cab or a much more affordable option i.e., bus. Regular buses ply from Mysore, Bengaluru, Coimbatore, Madurai, and other southern cities to Ooty hill station.

After exploring the Isha Yoga Center Coimbatore, the next day we booked a taxi via MakeMyTrip, which cost around Rs. 2.5k up to Ooty. The drive was enchanting for the most part until the hairpin bends started. It takes a little over three hours to cover the odd 100 km journey. If you are someone who dislikes traveling in the hills, it is best to have a light breakfast before you start.

Best Places to Visit in Ooty

There are many places to visit in Ooty. We had just two days to explore the hill station. Therefore, on day one, we explored the local sightseeing places in Ooty. On day two, we explored the Pykaara sightseeing places. If you have more time, you can plan to visit the Conoor sightseeing places too. 

Day 1 – Local Ooty sightseeing

We started with the highest peak in Ooty.

Dodabetta Peak, Ooty

“Dodda” means ‘big’ and “Betta” means ‘mountain’ in Kanada. It is the second-highest peak in South India. It lies at the junction of the western and eastern ghats. The height of the peak is 8640 ft. There is a telescope house here that lets you view the entire ghats. On the day we visited the peak, it was raining, and the fog engulfed the mountains. So, unfortunately, we could not see much of a view. Although, we enjoyed shopping and indulging in different snack items at this place. One of the best places to visit in Ooty.

Tea Factory, Ooty

This is a commercial place where you will be first given a tour of the history of tea. How people started drinking tea as a hot beverage. The tour includes a finer process on how tea leaves are processed, and the different stages they go through to reach us in the packed form. At the end of the tour, they serve hot tea, which was good. Here, you can purchase different flavors of tea. Also, there are innumerable other items they sell at this tea factory, from chocolates to spices and cosmetic products, lips balms, sandalwood creams, etc. Beware of overindulging, as they do not let you exit the factory unless you pass their multiple shops. 

Government Botanical Garden, Udhagamandalam

The Botanical Garden was an absolute delight. I love flowers and this place is like heaven for flower lovers. Entry ticket to this garden is Rs. 50.  Remember, not to touch or pluck flowers. Just enjoy the beauty with your eyes and capture it with your camera. Botanical garden is a must visit place in Ooty.

Ooty Boat House – UNESCO World Heritage

A well-maintained tourist place, you can enjoy boating in the picturesque lake from morning 9.30 am to 6 pm. Here, there are a lot of activities for kids. Must visit place in Ooty.

Day 2 Places to Visit in Ooty – Pykara Sight-seeing

Pine Tree Forests Ooty

This is my favorite top place to visit in Ooty. The tall and magnificent pine trees paint the most spectacular canvas that a human eye can see. We started quite early and reached this spot while it was raining and the trees were engulfed in fog. Surreal is the word that I can use to describe this place. One of the places where I felt calm and at peace. Just sitting amidst these trees and walking through them was like magic. I can still close my eyes and cherish being in the pine tree forests of Ooty. A must-visit place to soothe your soul.

Wenlockdowns Nature Trail

The next spot, at walking distance from Pine tree forests, is the Wenlockdowns Nature Trail. A small mountain that when reached on the top paints a spectacular view.

Pykara Waterfalls

Pykara Waterfalls is another wonderful picnic spot to cherish. You have to walk quite a few kilometers to reach the scenic waterfalls. But the nature trail is worth every step. Beautiful and untouched, this was the second highlight of our visit to Ooty, after Pine tree forests.

Pykara Lake / Boat Club

You can enjoy the boating experience here as well. The cost is quite something. But the view is mesmerizing. One of the top places to visit in Ooty.

Rose Garden, Ooty

If you have time, visit the Rose Garden at the end of your Pykara tour. The sheer number of roses in this garden is overwhelming. If I must pick between the two gardens, I would vote for Botanical Garden as one of the best places to visit in Ooty.

Tibetan Market, Ooty

Next to Botanical Gardens, do not miss visiting the Tibetan Market of Ooty. Best place to buy winter wear at a reasonable cost.

If you search for the best places to visit in Ooty, you will find many. These were the places that we explored during our four-day trip to Ooty in November 2022.

What is Ooty famous for?

Tea. Do not forget to buy chocolate tea and other such unique flavors of tea. Toy Train in Ooty is also famous for its scenic route. Do have some time to explore the toy train Ooty route.

Are 2 days enough for Ooty?

Well, I think have at least three days in hand. It is a romantic place, do not believe it, innumerable Bollywood movies have been shot here. So, you don’t want to touch and go. Just to soak in the vibe you need a minimum of three to four days.

What is the best time to visit Ooty?

Ooty weather is pleasant throughout the year. So, you can visit this hill station all year round. The peak season is however between October and June.

If you have any more queries on places to visit in Ooty or Ooty resorts, do ask in the comments.

Thank you for reading the blog.