Ooty our current obsession when it comes to hill stations in South India is a marvellous destination for those obsessed with their natural surroundings. It’s so beautiful that once upon a time it was a hotspot for vacationing royals and the colonial rulers to escape from the summer heat. It’s a lot more developed from the times of the British rulers, but it still retains its natural charm and elegance. Though the mountains now are dotted more and more with dwellings that resemble doll houses from a distance, numerous resorts, hotels and home stays that offer great vacation experiences for those who are inclined to visit Ooty, it still is surrounded by verdant greenery. It seems that Mother Nature has been exceptionally partial when she created this charming hill station. And with this article we are going to how you can join her and become one with Mother Nature when you’re in Ooty.

Ooty has the kind of climate and the surroundings which is envy-worthy; you can go sightseeing all day long and not be affected in the least. Surrounded on all sides by hills, lakes and dense forests it’s a veritable paradise and has a lot to offer for the nature lover. And then for hard core nature enthusiasts, you can even skip the hotels, resorts or homestays and go camp in the wilderness; there are several environment-friendly jungle lodges and stays which offer you a wilder experience while staying closer to nature.

So here are a few things you can do:

First let’s look at the places you can stay in to enjoy this natural paradise to the fullest.

Safari Land Resort

This is one place where you can stay in the middle of the jungle in a tree-house or at the main resort campus with all the modern amenities that you would need at the same time. By the way, this resort is also eco-friendly to boot. Nature is your best friend here with the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary being your next door neighbour.

Kurumba Village Resort

This classy resort with a beautiful Jacuzzi, spa and an enchanting pool which is located next to the Ghat Road between Ooty and Mettuppalayam, is surrounded by trees and green slopes. It’s totally fairytale like and entirely beautiful with stunning views of the mountains. Relaxing here after a hard day of exploring Ooty is like coming home to paradise.

Destiny the Farm Resort

A famed resort in the Avalanche valley, this is right out of a Hollywood movie set. If nature is what you want this where you need to head. There’s a beautiful lake too, Avalanche Lake is right in your backyard and to add some more Hollywood fairy dust they have horses too. You can’t get any more closer to nature than it this place which seems to be an all rounder with cultivated farm land, stables with exotic stallions, lake with trout, cows and the Nilgiri Biosphere right at the edge and to icing on the cupcake, no internet!

Now that your place to sleep is covered, you have all the time in the world, or rather the time left of your vacation to explore the surrounding hills. Here are a few things you can do:

1. • Ooty Lake and Boat club – Yes this is one of the crowded areas in the commercial part of town, but it is one of the signature landmarks in Ooty and a sin to miss this. A good hour of boating on this vast lake will leave you completely calm, de-stressed and worry free.

1. • Botanical Gardens – Another of Ooty’s signature landmarks and definitely an unforgettable experience. And it makes for a good walk too in the morning. Enjoy the morning breeze with the scent of more than 25,000 varieties of flowers assailing your olfactory senses.

1. • The Toda Hamlets - The Todas who were the original occupants of Ooty before it came under the rule of the East India Company still live in Ooty. You really have to check out their living areas, they live in cute huts that are really unique; they live in windowless inverted U-shaped huts with an entrance so tiny that you have to stoop really low to enter, it almost resembles an enormous tortoise! 

1. • Pykara Dam and reservoir – Boating in the pristine waters of a reservoir surrounded by lush forests of the Mukurthi National Park is got be a special kind of pleasure. A really picturesque place about 22 kms away from the town of Ooty and quite a popular place for picnicking tourists, you might even see wild elephants on the banks on the opposite side. Pykara Falls that is a mere 2Km away shouldn’t be skipped if you’re the really adventurous type with an unbeatable love of nature and photography.

1. • Wenlock Downs - Stop for an hour or two to enjoy a picnic on this grassy, green meadow that is about 16kms from Ooty town and it’s on your way to Pykara Dam. It’s perfect for nature and photography enthusiasts.

1. • Kamaraj Sagar / Sandynalla Reservoir & Pine Forest - Another sightseeing opportunity for the nature lover on the way to Pykara Dam which also happens to be a famous picnic spot & shooting location in Ooty that is a mere 8km from the town. This beautiful place is home to several species of birds. You can even rent and ride a horse and explore the place colonial style!

1. • Emerald Lake - 17 Kms from Ooty and 27 Kms from Coonoor is a wonderful and peaceful place in the Nilgiris that sits amidst dense forests, Emerald Lake. With breathtaking views of the slopes of Nilgiris, there’s nothing more you’d need than a blanket on the ground and a camera in your hand to sit and enjoy the scene before you. One of the most scenic places in Ooty and also a popular sightseeing attraction, the lake is part of the Silent Valley National Park situated on the way to Avalanche village. 

1. • Avalanche Lake / Sanctuary - A trip to avalanche sanctuary is a must when in Ooty. At a distance of 23 Kms from Ooty & 33 Kms from Coonoor and about 5 Kms from the Emerald Lake, Avalanche is a small beautiful village which got stuck with the name because an avalanche struck the area in 1823. Even though it got stuck with its unfortunate name, this scenic place offers magnificent views of the Avalanche valley and the dam. A nature lover's paradise, this place is also famous for trout fishing and arrangements can be made for hiring fishing rods and other necessary equipments, if you’re interested in catching yourself some fish. A visit to the trout farm that is nearby is worthy if you’re into pisciculture.Private vehicles are not allowed into the Sanctuary and visitors have to take the Forest Department’s mini bus for a 2 hours ride into the Sanctuary, covering the Lake, Bhavani Temple and the Hydro power plant. The bus starts from the Forest Department check-post which is about 3 km before the Avalanche Lake, The buses ply between 9 AM to 3 PM (2 hours ride) at specific intervals. Spend a few hours here and go back refreshed.

1. • Doddabetta Peak - Doddabetta (which translates to Big Mountain), the highest point in the Nilgiri Mountains and the second highest peak in South India standing at an altitude of 2623 meters (after Anamudi near Munnar, which is 2695 meters) also happens to be the junction of the Western and Eastern Ghats. See the town of Ooty spread before you like a picture out a fairytale and then enjoy a bird’s eye view of the whole district and even beyond from the Telescope House run by T.T.D.C!

1. • Glen Morgan Tea Estate - There’s no better pleasure than sipping some fresh brewed chai sitting right in front of the plantation where it came from. Sit back and watch the plains of Mysore and the famous Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary spread out as you take a delicate sip of tea at Glen Morgan Tea Estate.

1. • Bandipur National Park and Mudhumalai Wildlife Reserve - What self respecting nature lover doesn’t want some pictures of animals roaming wild and free in their habitat and some hair rising tales of encounters with some wild animal or the other. Well, here’s your chance to do so. Go on the wildlife safari in either or both of these national parks and spend some time getting to know the jungle and its occupants. And if that still doesn’t get you your adrenaline fix, you can always stay a night at their jungle lodges and sleep among the wild animals.

Everything you do in Ooty, whether it’s commercial or not will involve some form of greenery or the other. So you can say, it’s very easy to become one with nature in this enchanting paradise surrounded by hills. Ooty can easily spin a wonderful web of magic around your soul, you just have to let it.