Udhagamandalam (Ooty)"Queen of hill stations"


Rose Garden - OodyUdhagamandalam (Ooty), the capital of Nilgiri district, is popularly known as the "Queen of hill stations' among the tourist circuits. It is situated at a distance of 105 km away from Coimbatore. The height of the hills in the Nilgiri range varies between 2280 and 2290 metres, the highest peak being Doddabetta at a height of 2623 metres.

The Tea
The establishment of numerous tea estates made Ooty famous. Lofty mountains, dense forest, sprawling grasslands and miles and miles of tea gardens greet the passengers on most routes. The annual Tea and Tourism Festival attracts crowds in huge numbers. Visit Ooty during this festival, when tea lovers from all over the world converge. An occasion not to be missed!

Prime Attractions of Udagamandalam

Botanical Garden

Botanical gardens are a major tourist attraction for those who visit Ooty, one of the most popular hill stations of India. They sprawl over 50-acres and lie on the lower slopes of Dodabetta peak, which is the highest point in Ooty.
Government Museum - Ooty
The Government Museum At Ooty The government museum, Mysore Road, Ooty has items of tribal objects, district's ecological details and representative sculptural arts and crafts of Tamil Nadu. It was set up in 1989, with a view to provide education benefits to the residing and visiting population of Nilgiris district. Tourist Information Admission: Free Timings: 10.00 am to 1.00 pm and 2.00 pm to 5.00 pm Closed On: Fridays, Second Saturdays and National Holidays Ooty The nearest airport is at Coimbatore (100-km). Ooty on the narrow gauge railway is connected to Mettupalayam, which is directly connected to Coimbatore and Chennai on the broad gauge. There are regular bus services connecting Ooty to Coimbatore, Trichy, Bangalore, Madurai, Kanyakumari, Mysore, Calicut, Tirupati etc.

Hills and Views
Udhagamandalam (Ooty), the capital of Nilgiri district, is popularly known as the "Queen of hill stations" among the tourist circuits. It is situated at a distance of 105 kilometres from Coimbatore

Kalhatty Falls
The Kalhatty falls are located on the Kalhatty slopes at about 13-km from Udhagamandalam on the Udhagamandalam - Mysore Kalhatty ghat road. Also known as the "Kalahasti Falls", the water here cascades down a height of 122m.

Kandal Cross Shrine
Kandal cross, a Roman Catholic Shrine considered, as the Jerusalem of the East is located in Udhagamandalam in Tamil Nadu. The Nilgiri Catholics consider it as the "Calvary of Tamil Nadu".
Mini Garden and Rose Garden

The Rose Garden is situated about 3 to 4-km away from Charring Cross. Mini garden is also situated on the way to the boathouse where the children amusement park is housed.

Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park
The Mudumalai wildlife sanctuary is located where the Nilgiri Hills, the offshoot of the Western Ghats meet the Eastern Ghats. The Mysore - Ooty highway runs through the sanctuary, following the course of the Mayyar River, which separates Mudumalai from Bandipur.
Ooty Lake
The beautiful Ooty Lake is a favourite haunt of tourists. It was constructed in the year 1825, through the initiatives of Mr. John Sullivan, the then Collector of Coimbatore. This lake was built in order to provide an irrigation tank to the people.
Summer Festival
There is several beautiful hill stations in Tamil Nadu. With the Summer Festivals, the hills are even hospitable to welcome the visitors. The summer festival is held in the 'Queen of Hill Stations',
Tea and Tourism Festival
Akin to the nectar of the Gods is the Camellia Sinensia, which is a bush that gives fragrant amber ambrosia-a refresher and stimulizer. In other words, TEA.

Fairs & Festivals - Udhagamandalam
Summer Festivals

A summer festival is held each year during the month of May in the Botanical Gardens, which is an added attraction for tourists. The Flower Show is the pride of the festival. Cultural programmes are organised for those interested in traditional classical arts. Adventure spots like trekking also form part of the festival.

How To Get There - Udhagamandalam

By Rail
Ooty is on the narrow gauge railway, connected to Mettupalayam (47 km), which is directly connected to Coimbatore and Chennai. The famous toy train connects Ooty with Mettupalayam and Coonoor.
By Road
A good network of roads and national highways connect Ooty with all major towns and cities. There are regular bus services to and from Coimbatore, Trichy, Bangalore, Madurai, Kanyakumari, Mysore, Palghat, Calicut, Tirupati and other important destinations in South India. Ooty is also well connected with major cities of Kerala and Karnataka.
Local Transport
Taxis, tourist cabs, auto rickshaws are available in plenty. There are no standard rates except tourist cabs. Town buses are also available to all important places. Conducted sight seeing tours are arranged by the private operators and the Government Tourism Development Corporation.
By Air
Coimbatore, 105 km from Ooty, is the nearest airport.

Goa -"Pearl of the Orient"

Variously known as "Pearl of the Orient" and a "Tourist Paradise", the state of Goa is located on the western coast of India in the coastal belt known as Konkan.

The magnificent scenic beauty and the architectural splendours of its temples, churches and old houses have made Goa a firm favourite with travellers around the world.

But then, Goa is much more than just beaches and sea. It has a soul which goes deep into unique history, rich culture and some of the prettiest natural scenery that India has to offer.

Much of the real Goa is in its interiors, both inside its buildings and in the hinterland away from the coastal area.

Legends from Hindu mythology credit Lord Parshuram, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu with the creation of Goa.

Over the centuries various dynasties have ruled Goa. Rashtrakutas, Kadambas, Silaharas, Chalukyas, Bahamani Muslims and most famously the Portuguese have been rulers of Goa.

Goa was liberated by the Indian Army from Portuguese colonisation on December 19, 1961 and became an Union Territory along with the enclaves of Daman and Diu. On May 30, 1987 Goa was conferred statehood and became the 25th state of the Indian Republic.

Having been the meeting point of races, religions and cultures of East and West over the centuries, Goa has a multi-hued and distinctive lifestyle quite different from the rest of India. Hindu and Catholic communities make up almost the entire population with minority representation of Muslims and other religions.

All the communities have mutual respect towards one another and their secular outlook has given Goa a long and an unbroken tradition of religious harmony. The warm and tolerant nature of the Goans allows them to celebrate and enjoy the festivals of various religions such as Ganesh Chaturthi, Diwali, Christmas, Easter and Id with equal enthusiasm.

The state of Maharashtra borders Goa on the north, the state of Karnataka on the south and east. The vast expanse of the Arabian Sea on the west forms the magnificent coastline for which Goa is justly famous.

Terekhol (Tiracol), Mandovi, Zuari, Chapora, Sal and Talpona are the main rivers which weave their way throughout the state forming the inland waterways adding beauty and romance to the land besides being used to transport Goa's main export commodity of Iron and Manganese ore to Mormugao Harbour. Along the way to the coast these waterways form estuaries, creeks and bays breaking the sandy, palm-fringed coastline behind which lie the fishing villages among the coconut groves.

Panaji (Panjim) is the state capital located on the banks of the Mandovi river and Vasco, Margao, Mapusa and Ponda are the other major towns. Goa is serviced by an international/national airport located at Dabolim near Vasco. An intra-state and inter-state bus network also plays an important role in getting locals and visitors alike in and around Goa.

The vast green expanse of the Sahyadri mountain range ensures that Goa has an abundance of water. The sea and rivers abound in seafood - prawns, mackerels, sardines, crabs and lobsters are the most popular with the locals and the visitors.

Along with English which is widely spoken all over Goa, Konkani and Marathi are the state languages. The national language Hindi is also well understood in most areas around the state.

Goan cuisine is a blend of different influences the Goans had to endure during the centuries. The staple food in Goa is fish and rice, both among the Hindus and the Catholics. Unlike the Christian food the Hindu Goan food is not strongly influenced by the Portuguese cuisine.

Since the arrival of the Hippies in the sixties, Goa has been a major destination on the itinerary of international and domestic tourists.

The tourist season in Goa begins in late September and carries on through early March. The weather in these months is usually dry and pleasantly cool.

Then the weather gets fairly hot around May and by end of June, Goa receives the full blast of the Indian monsoon with sudden downpours and tropical thunderstorms. However it is also during the monsoon that Goa is probably at its most beautiful, with greenery sprouting all around.

Besides the natural beauty, the fabulous beaches and sunshine, travellers to Goa love the laid-back, peaceful, warm and friendly nature of the Goan people. After all, more than anywhere else on planet earth, this is a place where people really know how to relax.

Nelliyampathy, Palakkad.



Location: About 52 km from Palakkad town and about 9 km from Nenmara.
Altitude: 467 m to 1572 m above sea level.
Attractions: Aerial view of the mountain pass, waterfalls, dense forests and tea gardens, trekking etc.

A geographic paradise, Nelliyampathy on the high ranges of the Western Ghats, offers a stunning view of the Sholayar Pass lying deep down in a 20 mile stretch of velvet green. Certain hills especially Seethakundu of Nelliyampathy cease abrubtly to form cliffs overlooking the panoramic valley below. These ranges of the Ghats at an altitude of 467 m to 1572 m above sea level and the pass have a dominant influence on the climate of the region.

It is through this mountain pass that the monsoon clouds formed over the Arabian Sea after shedding rain in Kerala, move to the neighbouring State of Tamilnadu.

To reach Nelliyampathy one has to negotiate at least 10 hair-pin curves on the Ghat road, through the breath-taking evergreen forests of the Sahya Ranges (Western Ghats). From these hills can be seen the calm, tranquil Pothundi Reservoir in the valley down below. Pothundi is built across Meenchadyppuzha and Padippuzha the tributaries of the Ayalar river (a sub tributary of Bharathappuzha).

The rich greenery of the forests hugging these hills is frequently punctuated by small and big waterfalls. Among these, the one at Seethakundu, the 1000 metre waterfall is a major attraction.

Nelliyampathy, spread over 82 sq km, has the highest peak at Nellikotta which is also called Padagiri. The hills dipped in the pristine beauty of nature are sprinkled with picturesque tea, coffee, cardamom, vegetable and orange plantations.

The hills of Nelliyampathy are a delight to adventure lovers and trekkers. The Community Hall at Kaikatty serves as an ideal camping place for trekkers. The temperature at these ranges vary from 15 degree celsius in December to 30 degree celsius in April. The lovely climate and green magic of the hills provide an exhilarating and unforgettable experience.

Getting there:
Nearest railway station: Palakkad, about 5 km from Palakkad town.
Nearest airports:Coimbatore (in the neighbouring state of Tamilnadu) about 55 km from Palakkad; Cochin International Airport, about 120 km.

Thirty years ago, Kovalam was a hippy idyll: a picture perfect tropical beach; a traditional fishing village providing fresh fish, fruits and toddy (coconut beer). Today this tiny beach is the focus of a multi-million dollar business, drawing thousands of tourists for a week dose of ozone, UV and a refreshing Indian Experience. Kovalam was brought to the public eye by the Maharaja of Travancore. Over the past three decades, the place has been well developed, and now figures prominently on the world tourism map. Kovalam is just 16 kms away from Trivandrum.Today Kovalam beach is known as the "Paradise of the South".

Its scenic beauty and serenity is supplemented by the availability of excellent accommodation . There are a lot of restaurants which provide western style food as well as Indian, which is delicious. The grilled seafood items such as lobster, king prawns and kalamari are got fresh from the sea at Kovalam. Ayurvedic massage parlours, yoga centers and water sport facilities, makes Kovalam a popular haven for tourists from all over the globe.


"Kovalam" means a grove of coconut trees and true to its name the village offers an endless sight of coconut trees. The crescent-shaped beach has three parts. The southern most beach, and the most popular, is light house beach. It offers an amazing sight of Vizhinjam mosque. The northern Samudra is a laidback one and time seems stands still here. The middle, hawah, in the early day, is a beehive of activities with fishermen setting out for sea. With a high rock promontory and a calm bay of blue waters, this beach paradise creates a unique aquarelle on moonlit nights.


It is warm and clean filled with the coconut trees and the white sandbed as the seabreeze gently plays with the waves. Swimming and bathing are very refreshing and exhilirating in the waves. One can walk into the sea for about 100 metres without loosing ground. This cove is also the safest place for swimming. At many coastal places there are beautiful patches of coral reefs. The underwater views, which are visible during snorkeling, are really marvellous.


Azure water and favorable climate make Kovalam a favorite year-round spot for swimming. Sea here is pacific and shallow where you can take a dip in the saline waters. The clean white sandy beach will arouse a temptation irresistible: to lie idle on the sands and tan your body.You could get into any of the Ayurvedic massage centre and indulge in a rejuvenating herbal, body-toning massage and holistic therapies.


Highly commercialised and very crowded through most of the year, Kovalam manages, against all odds, to retain much of the charm which made it a popular beach in the first place. Surfing and swimming are among the other water sports possible in Kovalam beach.Many people from different countries and cultures, interminlge with each other and get together in this paradise of the South and spend their leisure time joyfully.

So, spend your leisure time in Kovalam as joyful as ever making every wave cast a lasting impression.

Kumarakom - Serene beauty of Backwaters

Tucked away at the southern tip of peninsular India, sandwiched between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea, is a piece of tropical paradise called Kerala. The National Geographic Traveler has listed it among the top ten must see destinations on earth. Kerala, as the cliché goes, is God's own country; and Kumarakom is its sanctum sanctorum.

Seemingly afloat on the placid waters of the Vembanad Lake, Kumarakom is a quaint little hamlet of tiny islands about 85 kilometers from Cochin International Airport.
Relish nature’s glory on wings with the world-famous sanctuary at Kumarakom.Taste a touch of rustic Kerala village life with the R-Block and Kainagiri, small islands on the Vembanad Lake. Witness farming of a different kind, farming below water level. Dip your toes in the warmth of the sand stretches of Pathiramanal.

Take a pensive moment before the Buddha statue dating back to 300BC at Karumadikuttom or at the equally ancient St. Kuriakose Church. Savourstrokes of brilliant traditional architecture at the famous temples of Ambalappuzha or partake in the crafting of Kerala’s renowned ‘Snake Boats’ at Chempakkulam. Or just be Fascinated with women expertly fishing with their mere bare hands. And the million other fascinations that Kerala is known for around the world.


God of Small Things

Arundhati Roy's The God of Small Things is set in Ayemenem or Aymanam village, which adjoins Kumarakom. The explosive success of this novel has given some added touristic impetus to this area. The Taj Garden Retreat hotel complex is centered around a building that is called "History House" in the novel; it was built by British missionary Alfred George Baker, whom the locals called "Kari Saipu" (possibly an elided form of "Baker Sahib"), as in the novel. Four generations of Bakers lived in the house until 1962, speaking Malayalam, and even wearing the mundu. The Baker Memorial School, Kottayam, was started by a daughter of this family in 1925. The Baker family's house is in ruins in the novel, as it was in reality before was developed into a hotel and has been restored by the Taj group. The Ayemenem house, where Arundhati Roy spent part of her childhood (like the twins in the story), can also be visited in the village, which can be reached by boat along the Meenachil river that figures prominently in the story.