Ooty: Queen of hillstations Ooty is known for its beautiful botanical gardens with rows of fragrant flowers, exotic plants and rare flora. There are also many tea gardens adding to the verdant ambience of the countryside.The biggest attraction is the hair-raising mountain train journey, chugging beside deep ravines.
Visit the famous Botanical Gardens, home to over 650 species of plants and trees; go boating and even enjoy a round of fishing on the Ooty Lake; experience one of Ooty’s best vantage points – the Dobabetta Peak.
2h-Conoor Ooty Toy Train
Ooty is ‘Queen of the Hill Stations’, while Coonoor is ‘Princess of the Hill Stations’. Experience a scenic ride on Tamil Nadus’ UNESCO World Heritage Nilgiri Mountain Railways’ ‘Toy Train’ (an ‘X’ Class steam locomotive, made in Switzerland); travel at a maximum speed of 33kph, over a 46kms (28.5m) long track, chugging across plains, world famous tea plantations, pine trees, forest-clad hills; through 16 tunnels, 26 viaducts and tall girder bridges. Try picking flowers through open windows!