The ‘Queen of Hill Stations’ is blessed with abundant natural beauty and picturesque views of the valleys, making it the perfect destination for relaxing weekend getaways. Head to these secret tourist spots in Ooty for a memorable experience. By Smrithi Suresh
Secret Tourist Spots In Ooty
1. Masinagudi
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Masinagudi, situated at a distance of 30 km from Ooty, is a perfect weekend destination for nature enthusiasts. Nestled amid deep green forests and beautiful waterfalls, this place provides the best wildlife safaris. Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, a nearby tourist location offers eco-tourism activities too. Here, you can flex your wildlife photography skills or go on an elephant ride. A long stretch of smooth curvy roads from Masinagudi will take you to the breezy and pristine Moyar River. Also, a boat ride in the Pykara Reservoir will give you a complete view of the town. You can bask in the sun while enjoying the view of Pykara Falls.
Distance from Ooty: 30 km
2. Avalanche Lake
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Surrounded by hills and lush green mountains, Avalanche Lake is one of the hidden gems near Ooty. It is bordered by a variety of beautiful flora and has a tranquil atmosphere. You can trek your way to the lakefront and indulge in some good-old fishing. You can even camp or pitch a tent to observe nature and gaze at the dense Shola forests, which envelops the lake by the sides. Forest safari is also organised here for tourists. In about six-kilometres from Avalanche Lake, you can visit the Emerald Lake too. The clear sky and deep blue water, and the tea estates and breezy climate will serve as a treat to your senses.
Distance from Ooty: 21 km
3. Wenlock Downs
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A meadow of grass and well-paved pathways define the Wenlock Downs, which is about 14 km from Ooty. The entire location is covered with forests of Shola and qualifies as a great place to take a peaceful stroll in. Wenlock Downs has two prominent film shooting points named — Sixth Mile and Ninth Mile, where you can click amazing pictures for your Instagram feed. The endless stretch of grassland and the breathtaking view of Pykara Lake from Wenlock Downs is supremely scenic. You can also opt for horse riding or arrange a picnic down here.
Distance from Ooty: 14 km
4. Doddabetta
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Doddabetta has an exquisite landscape; it is a scenic mountain peak near Ooty. If you are a fan of trekking, you can trek while soaking in the soul-stirring views. A telescope house is situated on top of the peak where you can catch a birds-eye-view of Bandipur National Park and Chamundi Hills in Karnataka. You can sit and enjoy the countryside’s relaxing ambience while witnessing the magical sunrise and sunset. Bird watching is also popular among tourists here.
Distance from Ooty: 9 km
5. Lovedale
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Once a colonised town, Lovedale is the ultimate getaway to the history of Ooty. It retains the influence of British cottages, mansions, and age-old churches. Trekking trails to Doddabetta is very popular here. The pleasant climate and scenery make Lovedale an ideal choice for a quick weekend getaway. You can take a ride in the toy train belonging to the Nilgiris Mountain Railway to reach other stations like Coonoor and Wellington. A visit to the famed Lawrence School and the Church of Ascension will surprise you with its beauty.
Distance from Ooty: 7.2 km
6. Dolphin’s Nose
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The Catherine Falls is one of the most famous attractions of Ooty and is expectedly visited by many. Set in a breathtaking landscape covered with lush greenery, the view of the falls becomes infinitely exhilarating from the vantage point of Dolphin’s Nose.
Named after its peculiar shape, the rocky outcrop offers a 180-degree, unobstructed vista of the streams that combine to form the River Bhavani streaming down in the valley. Reaching the spot, which is 12 kilometres from the Coonoor bus stand — maybe exhausting for some, but all effort will be paid off the moment they reach Dolphin’s Nose.
Distance from Ooty: 30 km
7. Kalhatty Waterfalls
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Trekking can be therapeutic for some and exhilarating for others. The journey to the waterfall starts some three kilometres from Kalhatty village, via a dense canopy of forests of the Western Ghats.
The Kalhatty Waterfalls conjures a vision to behold. While it charms visitors with its appearance alone, the sounds the water makes, accompanied by the rustling of trees, seems like melodies. Situated on the Sigur Ghat road, visitors will have to cross a British-built bridge.
Distance from Ooty: 13 km
8. Needle Rock View Point
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One of the most stunning and lesser-known tourist spots in Ooty, the Needle Rock View Point is not your typical sunset-sunrise spot. This place is where the clouds graze the peaks of the Nilgiri mountains.
Located on the route to Mysore, the viewpoint is one of the lesser-known places for many visiting Ooty for the first time. This comes as a boon for those who would want to experience a calm, 360-degree view of the mountains, away from the city bustle.
Owing to its conical shape, the point is also called Soochimalai and Oosi Malai by locals, where oosi means “needle” and malai means “mountain”.
Distance from Ooty: 40.5 km
9. Parsons Valley
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Parson’s Valley is a reserve forest area, which is why the place is one of the few untouched secret tourist spots in Ooty. Thus, visitors will need clearance from the forest department. The lucky ones permitted to visit Parson’s Valley will be treated with an enchanting vista of forested land.
Tigers and panthers prowl in the undisturbed jungles, which appear like forts of pines and rhododendrons.
The Parsons Valley Dam located in the area serves as a lifeline for Ooty, as it is the primary source of water for the people living in many villages and towns.
The dam has also been of interest to filmmakers. A scene from the critically and commercially acclaimed 1992-movie Roja was shot here.
Distance from Ooty: 14.6 km
10. Tea Museum
The Tea Factory & Museum #Ooty
This is CTC manufacturing unit. Tea lovers do you know the full form of CTC? 🙂(We hiked up almost a km from the museum on a back lane to get to this place ?? thanks to Google n our misplaced sense of adventure… Back n feet are sore!) pic.twitter.com/GNK8abJGxx
— Joga-Maya ? (@jogakhichudi) January 16, 2020
This place is not only for tea lovers but also for intrepid travellers who enjoy the culture of places they visit.
Moreover, Ooty is known for its tea estates, and the tea museum in Dodabetta is where the significance of tea to the economy of the region can be understood. It is one of the few secret tourist spots in Ooty with a unique historical importance and is an offbeat destination for those who come to the Nilgiri Mountains.
There are tea plantations all around the place and a tea factory, which showcases the production of tea.
Distance from Ooty: 5.5 km
