NILGIRI HILLS- THE BLUE MOUNTAINS

NILGIRI HILLS-

THE BLUE MOUNTAINS

The Nilgiri Hills are situated at the junction of the Eastern and Western Ghats (mountain ranges) of the Deccan plateau in south India. Nilgiri means ' Blue Mountains' and the region never fails to charm you with its exotic beauty. There are various mountain peaks in Nilgiri Hills and the highest peak is Doddabetta at a height of 2623 meters. Nilgiri Hill, also known as the Blue Mountains in India, is one of the most ravishingly beautiful hilly terrains in India and supposedly one of the best in the world too. High above the sea level, situated at the junction of the two ghat ranges of the Sahayadri Hills, Nilgiri district provides a fascinating view. They begin from the North East Corner of the State of Kerala, another tea growing state, but the main range lies in the State of Tamil Nadu, close to both Coimbatore and Cochin.The height of the hills in the Blue Mountain range varies between 2,280 and 2,290 metres, the highest peak being Doddabetta at a height of 2,623 metres.
Nilgiris derives its charm from its natural setting. The steep hills and fantastically narrow valleys with numerous rivers and rivulets running in all directions with a few fine waterfalls here and there provide beautiful scenery.

Nilgiri Hills have some of the most fascinating and exotic hill stations and wildlife sanctuaries and parks. The region also offers you some of the best picnic spots of India.
The steep hills and fantastically narrow valleys with numerous rivers and rivulets running in all directions with hanging waterfalls here and there provide beautiful and charming scenery. Being an important tea growing area of India, the Nilgiris also provide you an opportunity to watch beautiful tea gardens on steep hill slopes. The scenic beauty, fresh air, exotic plants and wide varieties of wildlife, a visit to Nilgiri Hills offers you perfect enjoyment conditions.
Nilgiri Hills abound in treks provide you perfect conditions for trekking, full of thrill, excitement and adventure and so region can truly be named as 'trekker's paradise'. Trekking can be a way of seeing and enjoying nature beautifully. Trekking pamphlets are available with the Nilgiri Wildlife and Environment Association (NWLEA) and for further details contact the Tourist Information Office at Ooty. One of the major wildlife attractions in Nilgiri hills is spotting a Nilgiri Tahr (an endangered mountain goat).

The region around Nilgiri Hills is famous for its colorful culture. Every year numerous fairs and festivals are held here. Noted among them are 'Tea and Tourism Festival' and 'Summer Festival'. The Ministry of Tourism, Governments of the Tamil Nadu and the Government of India jointly organize the 'Tea and Tourism Festival' during the months of January-February. Held for 3 days, the festival provides you an opportunity to explore and taste wide varieties of tea available there.
During the summer season you can enjoy the exotic Summer Festival in which all the major hill stations including evergreen Ooty, famous as the ' Queen of Hill Stations' of Nilgiri Participate. During this festival, boat races, flower and fruit shows are specially organized.

Ooty Lake : The lake is a popular hang out spot for the tourists visiting the place. The visitors can also enjoy boating in boats of various shapes and sizes, available at the Boat House.
Botanical Garden - The lush gardens in the picturesque city of Ooty are one of the major tourist attractions in the region. The garden is home to a number of rare species of plants, trees, flowers and shrubs.  Doddabetta Peak : Located at an altitude of 2,623 m, it is the highest point in the Nilgiri Hills. The site, situated 10 km from Ooty, offers breathtaking views of the hills and the surrounding areas. Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary : The Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary is situated where the Nilgiri Hills meet the Eastern Ghats. It is one of the best wildlife sanctuaries in India with a rich flora ad fauna. including a number of rare species of animals and birds.

 Coonoor is the second largest hill station in the Nilgiris, surrounded by tea plantations. It stands at an altitude of 1839 metres. It is essentially a small tea garden town where the weather is pleasantly cool through the year. It falls on the toy-train line between Mettupalayam (28 km) and OotyKotagiri : Kotagiri is a pristine little town, situated about 16 km from Ooty. Situated at an altitude of 1,950 mts, it was developed as a summer retreat for the British during the colonial days.

            Prof. John Kurakar