KKB Events & Entertainment: November 2013

About Ooty :

History

Front of Ootacamund Club, 1905.

Ooty, which is situated deep within the Nilgiri hills, is also known as The Blue Mountains. It is unknown whether this name arises from the blue smoky haze given off by the eucalyptus trees that cover the area or from the kurunji flower, which blooms every twelve years giving the slopes a bluish tinge. Nilgiris in general was ruled by Ganga kings and later by Hoysala kings, particularly Vishnuvardhana who captured Wynad and Nilgiri area during the 11th century Tippu Sultan was the first to extend his border by constructing a hideout cave like structure.

Climate

Ooty features a subtropical highland climate (Cwb) under Köppen climate classification. Despite its location in the tropics, in stark contrast with most of South India, Ooty generally features pleasantly mild conditions throughout the year. However, nighttime in the months of January and February is typically chilly. Generally, the town appears to be eternally stuck in the spring season. Temperatures are relatively consistent throughout the year; with average high temperatures ranging from about 17–20 °C (63–68 °F) and average low temperatures between approximately 5–12 °C (41–54 °F). The highest temperature ever recorded in Ooty was 25 °C (77 °F), which by South Asian standards is uncharacteristically low for an all-time record high temperature. The lowest temperature was −2 °C (28 °F). The city sees on average about 1,250 mm (49 in) of precipitation annually, with a marked drier season from December through March.

Climate data for Ooty (Udagamandalam)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	25 (77)	24 (75)	22 (72)	20 (68)	20 (68)	21 (70)	21 (70)	22 (72)	21 (70)	25 (77)
Average high °C (°F)	20.3 (68.5)	20.9 (69.6)	22.2 (72)	22.6 (72.7)	22 (72)	18.3 (64.9)	16.9 (62.4)	17.4 (63.3)	18.5 (65.3)	18.8 (65.8)	18.7 (65.7)	19.7 (67.5)	19.69 (67.47)
Daily mean °C (°F)	12.4 (54.3)	13.6 (56.5)	15.2 (59.4)	16.3 (61.3)	16.6 (61.9)	14.8 (58.6)	14.1 (57.4)	14.4 (57.9)	14.4 (57.9)	14.6 (58.3)	13.7 (56.7)	12.9 (55.2)	14.42 (57.95)
Average low °C (°F)	5.6 (42.1)	6.5 (43.7)	8.8 (47.8)	10.7 (51.3)	11.4 (52.5)	10.2 (50.4)	11 (52)	10.9 (51.6)	10.4 (50.7)	10.1 (50.2)	8.6 (47.5)	6.7 (44.1)	9.24 (48.66)
Record low °C (°F)	−2 (28)	2 (36)	5 (41)	8 (46)	9 (48)	8 (46)	9 (48)	8 (46)	7 (45)	6 (43)	3 (37)	0 (32)	−2 (28)
Precipitation mm (inches)	20.5 (0.807)	10.2 (0.402)	25.8 (1.016)	75.4 (2.969)	147.5 (5.807)	136.7 (5.382)	181.1 (7.13)	123.7 (4.87)	134.9 (5.311)	189.2 (7.449)	139.9 (5.508)	52.8 (2.079)	1,237.7 (48.73)
Avg. rainy days	1	1	2	5	8	8	10	9	9	11	7	4	75
Mean daily sunshine hours	8	8	8	8	7	4	4	4	5	5	6	7	6.2

Demography

Panoramic view of Ooty

Rail

Air

Ooty does not have a civilian airport and is not connected by air. The nearest airport is Coimbatore International Airport, at a distance of about 60 miles (96 km). Steps are being undertaken to start a helicopter shuttle service from the nearest airport to Ooty for fixed wing aircraft which is in Coimbatore. It will initially be serviced by a Bell 407 marketed and run by J.B. Aviation with the aircraft leased from the air service provider Pawan Hans.

Tourist and historical landmarks

The Government Botanical Garden

Fernhills palace

Ooty Lake

Toda Hut

Horse riding is an important tourist revenue earner

Located in the Blue Mountains of the Western Ghats, Ooty draws a large number of tourists every year. Lofty mountains, great lakes, dense forests, sprawling grasslands, miles of tea gardens and eucalyptus trees greet the visitors in route to Ooty. The hill station itself is a land of picturesque picnic spots. It used to be popular summer and weekend getaway for the British during the colonial days, later it was made into a summer administrative town. It is situated at an altitude of 2,240 meters (7,350 ft.) above sea level.

Rose Garden:
Ooty Botanical Gardens

Ooty Lake
Stone House
Toda huts
Ooty Mountain Railway
St. Stephen's Church
Wax World, Ooty
Tribal Museum
Deer Park

Tourist spots around Ooty

Ooty is situated in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Many of the forested areas and water bodies are off-limits to most visitors to protect this fragile ecosystem. Some areas of the Biosphere Reserve have been earmarked for tourism development, and steps are being undertaken to open these areas to visitors whilst conserving the area. Much of Ooty has already been damaged by rampant commercialization as a result of tourism. Some of the most prominent tourist spots around Ooty are as follows:

Road Inside Mukurthi National Park

Doddabetta

Pykara

Pine forest

Parsons Valley Reservoir,Ooty

Wenlock Downs:

Kamaraj Sagar Dam

Porthumund Dam at sunset.Ooty

Mudumalai National Park,

Mukurthi National Park

Needle hill viewpoint is situated between Coodalore and Pykara.

Frog Hill Viewpoint It got it's name as hill looks like a frog sitting on slopes of mountains.This view can be found while from Pykara to Coodalore.

Parsons Valley Reservoir: This is the primary water source for the town and is mainly in a reserved forest and is thus largely off-limits to visitors.

Emerald Lake near Ooty

Emerald Lake: This lake is near the town of the same name. There is a viewpoint near the dam. The rest of the area is mainly in a reserved forest and is largely off-limits to visitors.

Avalanche Lake: Adjacent to Emerald Lake, this picturesque lake is mainly situated in a reserved forest and is largely off-limits to visitors

Porthimund Lake: This is mostly in a reserved forest and is largely off-limits to visitors. Shooting of the blockbuster Tamil movie Roja was done here.