Overview
Ooty
Ooty, officially known as Udhagamandalam (also known as Ootacamund abbreviated as Udhagai), is a town and a municipality in the Nilgiris district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located 86 km (53 mi) north west of Coimbatore and is the headquarters of the Nilgiris district. Located in the Nilgiri Hills, it is known as the "Queen of Hill Stations" and is a popular tourist destination.
Originally occupied by the Toda people, the area came under the rule of the East India Company in the 18th century. It later served as the summer capital of the Madras Presidency. The economy is based on hospitality industry serving tourism and agriculture. The town is connected to the plains by the Nilgiri ghat roads and Nilgiri Mountain Railway.
History: The earliest reference to Nilgiri hills is found in the Tamil Sangam epic Silappathikaram from the 5th or 6th century CE. The region was a land occupied by various tribes such as Badagas, Todas, Kotas, Irulas and Kurumbas. The region was ruled by the three tamil kingdoms of Cheras, Cholas and Pandyas during various times. The Todas are referenced in a record belonging to Hoysala king Vishnuvardhana and his general Punisa, dated 1117 CE. It was also ruled by various dynasties like Pallavas, Satavahanas, Gangas, Kadambas, Rashtrakutas, Hoysalas and the Vijayanagara empire. Tipu Sultan captured Nilgiris in the eighteenth century and the region came into possession of British in 1799. It became part of Coimbatore district of the Madras Presidency.
In 1818, J. C. Whish and N. W. Kindersley, assistants to John Sullivan, then collector of Coimbatore district, visited Kotagiri near Rengaswamy peak. Sullivan established his residence there and reported to the Board of Revenue on 31st July 1819. He also started work on a road from Sirumugai which was completed in May 1823 and extended up to Coonoor between 1830–32. In August 1868, the Nilgiris was separated from the Coimbatore district and James Wilkinson Breeks was appointed its commissioner. On 1 February 1882, Nilgiris was made a district and Richard Wellesley Barlow who was the then commissioner became the first collector of Nilgiris. The region serves as the summer capital of the Madras Presidency and was visited by British officials as a summer retreat. Soldiers were sent to the nearby Wellington to recuperate. After Indian Independence, the town developed into a popular hill resort and Wellington became the home of the Defence Services Staff College of the Indian Army.
Kodaikanal
Kodaikanal is a town and hill station in Dindigul district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is situated at an altitude of 2,225 m (7,300 ft) in the Palani hills of the Western Ghats. Kodaikanal was established in 1845 to serve as a refuge from the high temperatures and tropical diseases during the summer in the plains. It is a popular tourist destination and is referred to as the "Princess of Hill stations" with much of the local economy is based on the hospitality industry serving tourism. As per the 2011 census, the city had a population of 36,501.
History: The earliest references to Kodaikanal and the Palani hills are found in Tamil Sangam literature. Tamil composition Kuṟuntokai, the second book of the anthology Ettuthokai, mentions the mountainous geographic region (thinai) of Kurinji. The region is associated with Hindu god Murugan and is described as a forest with lakes, waterfalls and trees like teak, bamboo and sandalwood.[4] The name of the region, Kurinji, derives from the name of the famous flower Kurinji found only in the hills and the occupants of the region were tribal people whose prime occupations were hunting, honey harvesting and millet cultivation.[5][6] The hills were populated by the Palaiyar tribal people.
Geography: The town sits on a plateau above the southern escarpment of the upper Palani Hills at 2,225 metres (7,300 ft), between the Parappar and Gundar valleys. These hills form the eastward spur of the Western Ghats on the western side of South India. It has an irregular basin as its heartland, the center of which is now Kodaikanal Lake. The lake is a man-made lake of circumference 5 kilometres (3.1 mi), formed by blocking three water streams in 1863. North of the town, high hills slope down into the villages and on the east, the hill slopes less abruptly into the lower Palani. A precipitous escarpment facing the Cumbum valley is on the south with a plateau leading to Manjampatti Valley in the Anamalai Hills in the west. There are many streams and waterfalls.
Trip Outline
Coimbatore to Ooty: Approx 2 hr 56 min (85.2 km) via NH181 and Nagapattinam - Coimbatore - Gundlupet Hwy
Ooty to Kodaikanal: Approx 6 hr 53 min (250.2 km) via Palani-Kodaikanal Rd
Kodaikanal to Coimbatore: Approx 4 hr 31 min (174.7 km) via Palani-Kodaikanal Rd
Itineraries
Day 1
Coimbatore to Ooty
After arrival meets our representative at the airport and proceed to Ooty, on arrival check in to the hotel, and after fresh up proceed to visit local sightseeing in Ooty like Botanical Gardens where you can find very rare species of flowers, shrubs, and trees. Enjoy visiting serene places such as Lotus Pond, Kodanad View Point. Enjoy cascading waterfalls such as Kalhatty waterfalls, Catherine waterfalls, then return back to the hotel and overnight stay at Ooty.
Day 2
Ooty - Coonoor - Ooty
After breakfast, you can spend a full day visiting different attractions in Ooty and Coonoor, Ooty is also known as the " Queen of the Blue Mountains" because it offers a spectacular view of Doddabetta Peak. Later, drive to Coonoor and visit the Dolphins Nose Point and Sims Park, and evening return back to the hotel and Overnight stay at Ooty.
Day 3
Ooty local and stay at Kodaikanal
After breakfast check out from the hotel and visit the remaining sightseeing and then proceed to Kodaikanal, on arrival check in to the hotel after fresh up proceed to visit and overnight stay at Kodaikanal.
Day 4
Kodaikanal local and stay
After breakfast proceeds to visit local sightseeing in Kodaikanal like Kodai-Palani Trek, Dolphin's Nose, Bryant Park, Trekking, Silent Valley View, Silver Cascade Falls, Kodaikanal Solar Observatory, Subrahmanya Temple (Kartikeya Temple) after that return back to the hotel and night stay at Kodaikanal.
Day 5
Kodaikanal to Coimbatore drop
After breakfast check out from the hotel and proceed to Coimbatore, on arrival visit some sightseeing places, and then drop at Coimbatore before 10:00 pm. Tour ends with sweet and great memories with Grabur Holidays Pvt Ltd.
Trip Includes
- Accommodation in hotel for 04 nights.
- Breakfast complimentary.
- All taxes of hotels and vehicles.
- All sightseeing and transfer by Dzire AC/ similar.
- Toll, Parking, Driver Allowance, Fuel Charges.
Trip Excludes
- Monument Entrance fee at places.
- Personal expenses like shopping and Laundry.
- Travel Insurance.
- GST 05% extra on the total amount.
- Lunch & Dinner at all places.
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