All of us are aware of Ooty & must have also visited the
popular hill station but there are some spots in the outskirts of the city
which one must visit. On our first marriage anniversary i.e., 6th
May ‘13, we took a vehicle & made a road trip which was amazing to Ooty
& the nearby destination. Bangalore to Ooty is 268 kms & May month is
peak season so flocked with tourist & room rents surges double. (‘loot mar
season’). Best part is clear skies & ideal time for sightseeing. We planned
for complete three days trip.
Day 1: Start early at 5 am from Bangalore enjoying the cool
breeze. Bandipur & Mudumalai National parks are two destinations where one
could spot animals by jungle safari, we were lucky to see wild elephants, herd
of deer, four-horned
antelope, grey langur & Peacock (but no tigers L). By noon we reach our luxury
hotel with welcoming staff & awesome ambience. We panned the day for inside city tour &
market analysis. Though rain surprised us but could let our spirits down, I
continued with photoshoot.
Day 2: With morning breakfast of bread-omelet, we planned for Conoor
after visiting Doda betta peak (it is the second highest mountain in the Nilgiri Hills, just the roads are
pathetic). Conoor is a small place, surrounded by tea plantations & one
could enjoy the toy-train ride too. Popular spots are Dolphin nose view point, Lady
Canning seat, Lambs rock (lambs dhoond te reh jaoge), Sims park, law’s falls
& Catherine falls. By the end of the day we were back in our hotel with
some chocolate & tea powder shopping. 
Day 3: Way out of
the city there are two options one is the drive beyond
Masinagudi entailing 35 hairpin bends, it used to be an elephant corridor &
the other is scenic view & some more tourist spots. Hindustan photo films, Kamraj Sagar Lake,
Kamraj sagar dam (few kms from the lake), Wenlock downs (Shooting medu), tree
park, Pykkara falls & dam are the spots which are in the outskirts but
still populated with tourist.
We missed Emarald lake & Avalanche lake
due to bad road conditions & safety issues.
I have been to Ooty earlier too but this time
it was special & exhilarating. Bangaloreans need a break from this pollution & concrete.
