I and my husband spent an extended weekend at the beautiful hill station of Ooty very recently (middle of November). We took a KSRTC bus from Bangalore which left Bangalore at 10 a.m. and took 8 hours to reach Ooty. Our hearts were filled with joy as the bus winded through the Nilgiris overlooking lush greenery and majestic mountains on all sides.  As soon as we got down from the bus, we were greeted by cold, fresh mountain breeze that immediately lifted our spirits. We had opted to stay at the Hotel Grand Sapphire, which had arranged to pick us up from the bus stand. After resting for the rest of the evening, we set out for Coonoor (17 kms From Ooty) the next morning. We took the heritage toy train to Coonoor. The 1 hour train ride was wonderful and we loved looking over at the luscious green valleys and expanses of tea gardens all around.   At Coonoor, we visited the Dolphin’s nose (a mountain peak shaped like the nose of a dolphin) and Lamb’s Rock (named after a researcher who slipped off the rock and died while conducting research). The mountains were half covered with clouds and fog and looked heavenly. While you are there, check out the monkeys which always sit in a group of 5 or 6, all in a tight embrace, to beat the cold. There are a few good restaurants in Coonoor as well. We drove back to Ooty in the evening. We spent the rest of the evening walking along the winding paths of Ooty and lounging in the hotel lawn.   Next morning, after breakfast, we walked across to the Botanical Gardens (1 km from the hotel). It’s a beautifully maintained garden which boasts of beautiful flowers and rare plants. It is a great place to walk around, relax and laze on the soft green grass. From there, we took an auto to Ooty Lake (3 km from Botanical Gardens). Before entering the Lake, we had lunch at a Chinese restaurant. We had a wonderful time boating at the calm waters of the lake. We had opted for a two-seater paddle boat. You can also choose a four seater paddle boat or a row boat as per the number of people in your group and choice. We were charged Rs.80 for half an hour of boat ride. While boating, look out for the deer park on one side and the fog covered mountains at the horizon. Besides boating, we took a ride around the park in a Mini Train. You can also ride a horse here. While you are there, check out Haunted House and Mirror Maze, as they are great sources of entertainment. We walked back to the hotel in the evening.  While in Ooty, you will find homemade chocolate shops whichever direction you look. They are mouth-watering and come in a wide range of varieties. Also, gorge on fudge and pastries. Also, you can shop for aromatic oils, honey, woolens and special tea leaves.  Ooty is good for visiting any time of the year. December to February would be very cold. October and November are very pleasant with occasional rains. It has a large number of resorts, luxury hotels as well as budget hotels. Ooty is well connected to all southern cities through road and rail. Ooty does not have an airport.  Travelogue by: Anwesha (Kolkata)   … [Read more...]