Imagine living out your childhood fantasies of small, dear English cottages, a crackling fire-place to keep you warm in chilly nights, lush green lawns with summer blooms peeping out from the grass, lady-birds, butterflies, fresh mountain air,blue skies, and Pine Forests! What better way to refresh and rejuvenate the senses, than plan a quick getaway to the Hills in the summer months, and return with a complexion and buoyancy which is the envy of many?
Ootacamund or Ooty (now Udhagamandalam) is one of the many British-era hill-stations, which still has an old world charm about it. The weather didn’t seem very promising in the beginning, and most tourists sported glum looks. Who wants rain, wind and chill as companions on a dream holiday anyway? However, the Queen of the Hills didn’t disappoint her subjects for long. Twenty four hours later, the clouds started lifting, and with it lifted the hopes and spirits of many a tourist, trekker, back-packer and photographer. Armed with our cameras, my family valiantly covered the main must-see sights of the quaint hill station: the Botanical Gardens, the Bee Museum, the Ooty Lake, Doddabetta Peak, and a drive to the picturesque, verdant valley of Coonoor, known for it’s tea estates and herbal medicinal remedies.
We were delighted to see that the Ooty Botanical Gardens, aged around 150 years, is still well maintained and bears a regal look. I sat on a stump of an old Pine Tree, and got myself photographed, while the rest of the family were busy spotting photogenic sights, plants and sights. We were luckier than most: by the time we’d completed our round, a steady drizzle, which threatened to progress into something more serious, had started.
Ooty is famous for it’s bakeries and chocolates: again a legacy of its British Raj Days. We scanned most of the shops selling confectioneries, and many calories later, were in a position to compare the quality of chocolates sold at the different shops. Of course, one should not forget to mention the country-famous Ooty vegetables, known for it’s flavour and freshness. The soil of this lush green hill station, is so fertile, that even die-hard non vegetarians will start munching on garden fresh sweet carrots, and juicy fruits.
Up a little further, lies the scenic Coonoor- known for it’s tea estates, which are a sight for sore eyes. Row after row of tea hedges line the hill sides neatly, and many tea shops urge you to taste the vast variety of tea that is sold here. I found myself sipping on; herbal tea, masala tea, chocolate tea, plain tea, and mixed blend teas. Somehow, the ambience of the place adds so much extra flavour to every sip! I couldn’t help but buy a few sample packets for home. We were shown many famous film-shooting spots here and to our delight, were able to recall the names of the related Hindi movies.
The fresh air of Ooty and Coonoor have an instant calming, soothing, and almost balm-like quality, that soothes the senses. The greenery and fresh mountain air is just what the doctor recommended in his prescription. I’m sure, that one visit to this pristine hill station can add energy and zest to the most weary, angry, hopeless, or lost soul.
Do visit Doddabetta; the highest point in the Nilgiris. It stands around 8500 m above sea level, and the best part is, that there is no climbing involved here; one can just drive up easily and soak in the atmosphere over a cup of steaming tea or coffee. There is an old telescope tower here, and for those who care, can view the major areas that lie on the hills below.
The Savoy Hotel, now known as the Taj Savoy, is an excellent place to re-live the days of the British Raj, when many a Lord and Lady came up to this fine place called Ootacamund, and made it their summer getaway. Like it’s northern counter-parts in the Himalayas, (like Mussoorie, Simla, and Darjeeling,) Ooty still carries an air of regality, grace and poise. Famous residential schools like Lawrence School and Good Shepherd, who have a good deal of history going around them, are still much sought-after by parents who are affluent and desirous of giving their children the best of school-life, with an atmosphere to match.
For those with a flair for adventure, don’t miss out on the famous Bandipur and Mudumalai National Wildlife and Game Sanctuary: these lie on the way to Ooty,and should not be missed. There are efficient forest staff, offering the best amenities for the avid traveller and wild-life and nature enthusiast.
One trip is not enough for me: I dream of a little holiday home up in the hills of Ooty, where I shall spend a dream of a retired life…..one day!!!
