20

Places to Visit in Ooty in One Day

The Nilgiri Mountain Railway is one of the best experiences to be had when in Ooty and must be on your list of places to visit in Ooty in one day! Established in the year 1899 by the British, this toy train with wooden carriages and large windows is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The train runs between  Mettupalayam to Udagamandalam in Ooty, on a track which is believed to be the steepest in entire Asia! The route stretches for 46 kilometres and passes several old tunnels, goes over hundreds of bridges and offers spectacular views of the surroundings, from the rocky Nilgiri hills, ravines, tea plantations to the thick forests.

Location: Rajeev Gandhi Circle, Mysore - Ooty Rd, Ooty, Tamil Nadu 643001

Timings: 2:00 PM - 5:35 PM

Price: Starts at Rs. 30 for adults and Rs 15 for children

Do Checkout: Ooty Honeymoon Tour Packages

When looking for places in Ooty to visit in one day, then this international award-winning rose garden must be included in your itinerary.  Established in the year 1995, the garden is one amongst the 35 in the world to have received the honour of getting a ‘Garden of Excellence Award.’

Situated on the slopes of the Elk Hill in Vijayanagaram of Ooty town, the garden is spread across 10 acres of land. Sitting at an altitude of 2,200 metres, it has an ideal climate to support a wide variety of roses. Today, the garden holds one of the largest rose collections in the country with more than 20,000 varieties of roses and 2,800 cultivars. 

Location: Horticulture House, Elk Hill Rd, Bombay Castle, Ooty, Tamil Nadu 643001

Timings: 7:30 AM - 6:30 PM 

Price: Rs. 3o for adults, Rs. 15 for children

Checkout: Ooty Tour Packages From Vijayawada

Ooty lake also known by the name of Boat House is an artificial lake situated in the heart of the hill town. You can easily reach it by walking or by road since it is located at a distance of a mere 1 kilometres from the city’s bus stand. Surrounded by groves of Eucalyptus trees, the lake offers a quaint, resting place to escape the bustle of the city.

On one edge of the lake is a railway line which runs parallel to the shore and if you are lucky, you can spot the train hooting past the waterbody. Boating in the lake is a major attraction amongst city dwellers and tourists alike. When here, you can spend your time paddle boating, row boating or motor boating. It also has a garden, an amusement park and a toy train, which make it the perfect family place to visit in Ooty in one day.

Location: No. 2, North Lake Road, Udagamandalam, Ooty, Tamil Nadu 643001

Timings: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM 

Price: Free entry

Must Checkout: Ooty Tour Packages

The Needle View Hillpoint is one of the most stunning Ooty places to visit in one day if you love going to lesser-explored natural havens. Situated on the Ooty- Mysore route, this hill point offers excellent hiking options through heavily forested trails.

The focal point of the scenery is a cone-shaped rock which makes for a dramatic landscape. You can choose to start the trek as soon as the sun comes up and enjoy a whole day of hiking, bird-watching and picnicking before returning to the base. Since the area is less-frequented and the forest is home to many wild animals, it is advisable to return before it gets too dark. 

Location: Ooty Main Road, NH67, Tamil Nadu 643212

Timings: Daily; 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Price: Free

Checkout: Places To Visit In Ooty In 2 Days

Tiger Hill offers opportunities to view the beautiful peaks and tea gardens of Ooty from an equally beautiful vantage point. Situated at the lower part of the Doddabetta Peak, the point is easily accessible by people of all ages and therefore is a popular spot for picnics and photography.

Right at the top, you will find a natural cave and a reservoir which supplies clean water to the entire hill station. Since it is located at a distance of a mere 6 kilometres from the city centre, you can easily reach it within twenty minutes and do not have to dedicate the whole day to the trek. When here, you can enjoy scenic sunsets and sunrises and stroll around the Tiger Hill Cemetery which has graves dating back to the British era.

Location: Ooty, Tamil Nadu 643002

Timings: Open all-day

Price: Free

Checkout: Ooty Tour Packages From Goa

For all the nature-lovers looking for Ooty places to visit in one day, a trip to the Ooty Botanical Gardens is a must! Spread over 55 acres, these gardens date back to 1848 when they were laid out by the Marquis of Tweedle. Lying in the lower slopes of the Doddabetta National Park, these gardens are divided into different sections and have a terraced layout.

When here, you can witness the expansive spread of around a thousand species of plants, some of them exclusive to the park in the entire country. Some of the highlights of the garden include flowering plants, Lily ponds, flower beds, ferns laid out in Italian fashion, several potted plants and medicinal herbs. Right in the middle of the gardens is a fossilized tree which is believed to be around 20 million years old! 

Location: Vannarapettai, Ooty, Tamil Nadu 643002

Timings: Daily; 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM 

Price: Rs. 30 per adult, Rs. 15 per child

Checkout: Ooty Tour Packages From Bhubaneswar

If you are travelling with young kids to Ooty, then you need to take time out for a trip to Thunder World. This themed amusement park is also known by the name of Dinosaur Park because of the many dinosaur-themed sculptures sprinkled throughout the place.

The park is divided into different segments, namely Jurassic Jungle, the Vortex and the Haunted House. It also has a 5D theatre and a Camera Museum where you can learn more about the history of the device. The pack also has several eateries and snack joints to enjoy fresh food when you get hungry. 

Location: N Lake Rd, Mani Vihar, Kathadimattam, Ooty, Tamil Nadu 643001

Timings: Daily; 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Price: Rs. 10

If a quiet picnic spread with gentle music playing in the background as the sky changes colours in front of you is not your thing, worry not! Adventure camping will offer you all the beauty of a camp but filled with many thrills!

Adventure camping in Ooty offers a day packed with hiking, nature trails, ATV rides and trampolines where you can truly experience the spirit of adventure. It also has a host of fun outdoor sports like badminton, volleyball, frisbee, archery, etc. If you want to unwind after a day packed with sporting activities, you can sit back and have a go at board games or go for bird watching! 

Location: The campsite is 4 km away from Ooty and can be easily reached by road.

Timings: 11:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Price: Rs. 1,350 per person

Also Checkout: Experiential Journeys In Ooty

The rolling hills and lush, green tea gardens make up the majority of Ooty’s scenery and there is no better way to soak in the best of this green haven than by camping at one of the tea gardens. You can choose to hike up to one of the hundreds of trails.

Almost all of them offer stunning views  and you can choose to pitch a tent with prior permission. You can end your day’s hike with a picnic spread followed by a bonfire. These plantations also offer spectacular views of the night sky with undiluted views of the galaxy full of stars. If you could choose only one place to visit in Ooty in one day, then do make the tea gardens your choice. 

Location: Doddabetta, Karrimodakku, Ooty

Timings: 11:00 AM - 11:00 AM 

Price: Rs. 1,800 per person