OOTY! One of the most famous tourist attractions of India is also commonly referred to as the Queen of Hills. Known for its traditional and colonial–style buildings, Ooty is naturally engulfed with gardens, forests, lakes and dams, museums, and historical buildings. Located near the highest peak in Nilgiris, Ooty is also called the ‘Switzerland of India’. “… It resembles Switzerland, more than any other country of Europe…”, writes John Sullivan on his very first visit to Ooty. Most visited for its tea and coffee plantations; For an architect who wants to go back in time and wander through British architecture from the colonial period, these are the 15 places to visit on Ooty!
Toda Huts | Places to visit in Ooty
Ooty, a famous hill station on almost every traveler’s ‘Must visit’ list, was a sleepy small village inhabited by the local Dravidian ethnic group known as Toda People. They existed in Tamil Nadu before the 18th century and British colonization. The Toda people lived in small settlements called Mund. These are half-barrel-shaped, small huts located on slopes of the pasture (a place where the domestic buffalos were).
The huts are called Dogles or Toda Huts. These are small, oval-shaped huts with sliding doors. The doors are so tiny that one has to crawl to enter the hut, specifically designed this way to protect themselves from wild animals. The huts are generally 10ft tall, 18ft long, and 9ft wide and the doors are just 3ft wide and 3ft in height. The walls of the huts are made of loose stones. The roof consists of bamboo canes and rattan, woven closely together and parallel to each other. It is then covered with dried grass, making it a thatched roof. The front of the hut is decorated with local Toda art forms.
Stone House
Located on the premises of the Government Arts College near Churchill Road, the stone house is the first bungalow constructed in Ooty. When John Sullivan – the first collector of Ooty- visited the place, he was awed by the natural beauty and decided to extend his stay for a while. And thus, the construction of the first house in Ooty began.
The stone house is also known as “Kal Bangala” by the native tribes (Kal meaning stones). The house was built in complete European style in the early 19th century. The stone house is one of the important historical monuments in Ooty since the construction of roads and other houses/ structures started after the house was built.
The stone house sits on an acre land parcel, initially owned by Toda tribes but was then bought by John Sullivan. The house is made completely out of stone masonry from the 1800s. The house sits in the center of the land surrounded by a front and backyard lush lawns. A muddy pathway leads the guest into the house. Originally built in stone, the stone house was later supported with brick and cement masonry for the addition of rooms and supporting the existing walls.
The Nilgiri Library | Places to visit in Ooty
“The walls of books around, dense with the past form a kind of insulation against the present world and its disasters” – Ross McDonalds. With a history of over 153 years, Nilgiri library is one of the heritage sites of Ooty. The library is located on commissioner road and is surrounded by trees in all directions. This library that did not get its approval during the colonial days is a residential bungalow turned into a library. It currently houses more than 40,000 books dating from the 1600s. The library is designed in Victorian style with glimpses of Gothic architecture.
The reading room has huge glass windows allowing the perfect amount of natural sunlight. The reading room’s flooring and the ceiling are made with teakwood, while the exterior is made with white and terracotta grab. The building was completed in 1869 following the motto: ‘Abeunt Studia In Mores’ translates to ‘Studies pass into Habits’
St. Stephen’s Church
Located on the road to Mysore, St. Stephens church is one of the oldest churches in Ooty. Built around the 19th century, this church is the main tourist attraction of Ooty. The foundation of the church was laid by the Governor of Madras, Stephen Lushington, for the British people.
St. Stephen’s church was designed by Ar. J. J. Underwood. Made out of timber, this church (even after 200 years) shows no signs of any damage. The timber used for the main beams and the other structural elements was acquired from Tipu Sultan’s Palace in Srirangapatna (After he lost in a war with the British).
Along with timber, the church is also articulated with stained glass windows – showing images of Christ’s crucifixion and Mother Mary holding baby Jesus. The church is most visited for the western wall where the paintings from “His Last Supper” are depicted.
Arranmore Palace | Places to visit in Ooty
Built by the Maharaja of Jodhpur, Arranmore palace is located near the Northern banks of Ooty. This palace is also known as ‘Tamizhagam’ and is currently used as the government guest house. The palace showcases crafts and style displays. It consists of a ballroom that is paneled with Rosewood. During the colonial days, the house served as the summer capital of Madras and was often visited by British officials. The house was also used for the state assembly functioning during 1959.
Ootacamund Club
Originated in 1841 by Captain Douglas (along with seven other officials) is located on Club Road, Ooty. When the British decided to extend their stay in this picturesque land, they needed a common meeting ground which became the base idea for the origin of this club. The buildings inside the club were initially built in 1833 and it served as a hotel till 1836.
The members-only club, which still follows a dress code currently consists of 22 residential chambers, A Ballroom, a Formal dining room, Bar and a few indoor games rooms.
The ballroom being the main attraction of the club represents its British past with old pictures, hunting pictures, and lithographs hanging on the walls. Adorned with typical British parquet flooring, rosewood furniture, brass fittings, and British grandeur; this place is something a traveling architect must visit.
Highfield Tea Factory
If you are a tea lover, this is probably the first place you should visit in Ooty. Filled with the aroma of fresh tea, the tea factory is the most visited place in Ooty. The factory is famous for its tea gardens and beautiful lush green views. The tea factory not only allows you to buy different flavors of tea but also takes you through the process of making tea. From the tea plantations to how the recipes for the masala tea are mixed.
Located from 2kms of the Upper Coonoor, the tea factory is surrounded by greenery and is visited by tourists from across the world. You can explore the in-house tea shop and purchase the tea mixes, along with sandal packs, tree oils, chocolates, and other balms.
Fernhills Royal Palace | Places to visit in Ooty
Spread across 50 acres of a land parcel, the Fernhills Palace was originally built in 1844 as the residence of Quondam king of Mysore. This palace which resembles a Swiss Chalet used to be a stamping ground for the British. This palace which is located against the Nilgiri Hills and is surrounded by tea gardens all around was used as a gateway to the hot south Indian summers.
The main focus of the Fernhills palace is the Burmese teak ballroom. The ballroom has high vaulted ceilings with a lobby that depicts artifacts and handmade paintings of previous rulers. The palace, along with being a summer retreat also served as the earliest club hotel during the British raj.
Government House/ Raj Bhavan
The government house or commonly known as Raj Bhavan is, as the name suggests, the summer residence for the Governor of Tamil Nadu. The house is located on a ridge on the Western slopes of Doddabetta and was built in 1877 by the Duke of Buckingham. The house is the center of attraction for tourists who want to learn more about old-world heritage architecture. Built around 87 acres of land parcel, the house consists of a Banquet Hall, A Ballroom, Drawing and reception rooms, 17 Guest rooms, and office rooms.
The house follows cream-colored architecture. And is adorned with manicured lawns. The banquet hall of the Raj Bhavan was renovated in 1988 to restore the damaged embossed canvas and has not shown any kind of damage ever since.
Along with the actual structure itself, the house is also mostly visited for its garden area. That includes 9 acres of garden, 4 rosaries, 2 lily ponds, a vegetable garden, a nursery, a sunken garden, and 2 greenhouses.
St. Thomas Church | Places to visit in Ooty
Located near Fernhill, Ooty, St. Thomas church is one of the oldest churches in Ooty. It was built in 1870 and overlooks the beautiful lake. Along with the mesmerizing views, the church is also often visited for its graveyard. Since the graveyard was a shooting site for the Oscar-winning movie ‘A passage to India’.
The church includes a memorial of St. Thomas. The grave is topped by a pillar and is the tallest structure in town. The church also houses the grave of William Patrick Adam, the former governor of Madras which is crowned by a cross. The entire church is made in British-style architecture followed by Gothic architecture and can accommodate 300 people.
Droog Fort
At a distance of 15kms from Nilgiris lies the prominent historical site of Droog fort. Although the fort has been ruined completely and only one wall remains of the overall structure; the fort is still crowded by many travelers for the scenic beauty it offers. It was used as a military outpost by the Tipu Sultan for its location during the 18th century. The fort is above 1918m from sea level and is accessible by trekking.
The fort is also called ‘Pakasuran Malai’ by the locals as Bakasura used to live here (according to Indian Mythology). The fort is usually visited by travelers, birdwatchers, and animal lovers for the stunning views, and for sighting exotic birds and animals.
Elk Hill Murugan Temple
Located on top of Elk Hill, one has to trek to reach the beautiful Murugan temple. Dedicated to Lord Murugan, the temple is surrounded by dense forest and is loved by visitors. It is one of the most visited tourist attractions of Ooty and is known for the Giant 40ft tall gold statue of Lord Murugan. The statue along with being so tall is also famous because it replicates the statue of Murugan in Batu caves, Malaysia, and is kept outside the temple.
The temple premises also include statues of other lords like lord Ganesha, Lord Shiva, Goddess Shakthi, Nava Kanika, Navagraha, etc. The tourists after visiting the temple are greeted with beautiful views of the town landscape and get a panoramic view of the lush green surrounding the place.
Kandal Cross Shrine | Places to visit in Ooty
Kandal Cross Shrine is also known as Calvary of south India. The shrine was founded by the French priest Paul Crayssac in 1933 and is located 9080ft above sea level.
It is said that the memorial is connected with the crucifixion of Jesus. The shrine has a small relic (Made of dark-colored wood) from the original cross bared by Christ during his crucifixion and is encased in a glass case not put on display for the visitors. This Roman catholic shrine acquired the wooden memorial from a Roman museum where the parts of the holy cross collected from Jerusalem are preserved. And hence, the Kandal Cross Shrine is also called ‘Jerusalem of East’.
Annamalai Temple
Located on the outskirts of Ooty at a distance of 20kms away, this temple might not be as famous as the Murugan Temple on Elk Hill but is equally mesmerizing. The temple is dedicated to lord Murugan and is the 7th hill house for the lord.
The temple was founded by Guru Krishnandaji and the story of how the temple was built is what makes it so unique. It is said that Guru Krishnandaji got Darshan from lord Murugan during his 3-year penance and thus he started collecting and arranging stones to develop a temple. Seeing him, the local villagers started helping him and that’s how the marvelous temple was brought to life.
The temple is famous for ‘Anna-dana’, a monthly ritual where deities feed the visitors that visit during Nakshatra or Karthigai and 100s of people participate in this ritual.
Surrounded by greenery and with views of hills and valleys, this temple sure knows how to take one’s breath away. The temple also has an observatory at the top for visitors to enjoy the scenic beauty.
Nilgiri Mountain Railway line | Places to visit in Ooty
Although last on the list but one of the most thrilling experiences, the Nilgiri mountain railway is most favored by travelers. The railway was built by the British in 1908 and is currently operated by the southern railway. While on the train, one gets to view the stunning beauty of nature from Ooty to Mettupalayam via Coonoor.
The train works on a steam engine and is a 1000mm long track. This 46km long journey takes you through Nilgiri Hills, Tunnels, valleys, and beautiful views of townhouses, dense forests, lush grasslands, diverse species of birds, and so on.
This line along with Darjeeling Himalayan Railway and the Kalka Shimla railway was designated as a “Single World Heritage” by UNESCO in 2005.
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