Doddabetta Peak, Ooty,
Nilgiris
Doddabetta Peak is located in picturesque Nilgiris Hills near Ooty
Town in Ooty Taluk of Nilgiris District of Tamilnadu. The
name Doddabetta literally means ’Big Mountain' in the Badugu
Language, which is so in reality. It is situated at the junction of
Western and Eastern Ghats and offer beautiful vistas of Nilgiri Hills range.
The Peak
Doddabetta is the highest peak
in the Nilgiri Mountains at 2,637 metres
(8,650 feet). It is the fourth highest peak in South
India next to Anamudi,
Meesapulimala
and Mannamalai. The peaks Hecuba (2375 m), Kattadadu (2418 m) and Kulkudi (2439
m) are the three closely linked summits in the west of the Doddabetta range
near to Udhagamandalam.
There is a reserved forest area
around the peak. It is a popular tourist attraction with road access to the
summit. One can have a
magnificent panoramic view of landscape and the whole of the
District and even beyond through the Telescope House run by
T.T.D.C., which is an added attraction. The Sunset is
spectacular from this view point.
Flora
The area surrounding Doddabetta
is mostly forested. Sholas cover the hollows of its slopes.
Slightly stunted, rhododendron trees, in the midst of thick
coarse grass, flowering sub-alpine shrubs and herbs are common, even very near
the peak.
Telescope House
There is an observatory at the
top of Doddabetta with two telescopes available for the public. It was opened
on 18 June 1983 and is run by the Tamil Nadu Tourism
Development Corporation (TTDC). The average number of viewers
in 2001-2002 was 3500 per day in season and 700 per day in the off season.
Connectivity
Doddabetta Peak is
located at about 10 Kms from Ooty Bus Stand, 11 Kms from Ooty, 10 Kms from Ooty
Railway Station, 25 Kms from Coonoor, 27 Kms from Kotagiri, 56 Kms from Mettupalayam
Railway Station and 95 Kms from Coimbatore Airport. Doddabetta Peak is situated on
the Ooty-Kotagiri Road. Private Taxis are
available from Ooty, Kotagiri and Coonoor to reach this place.
Location
