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Sunday, January 19, 2020

Upper Bhavani Lake, Ooty, Nilgiris

Upper Bhavani Lake, Ooty, Nilgiris
Upper Bhavani Lake is situated near Ooty Hill Station in Nilgiris District of Tamil Nadu. This is a beautiful blue-green lake perched inside the deep forest of Nilgiri. This is one of the last few places in country, still protected well from the insensible common tourist and is a must visit for anyone who admires nature in its raw beauty. It is actually the backwater of Upper Bhavani Dam. The route is replete with sholas trees and the entire area is a wildlife habitat.




Tourists can go for trekking from Bangithapal through Sispara to the Silent Valley. For trekking in this region, it is necessary to get permission from the forest department. There is a huge dam on this lake, which is the major source of water for the nearby regions. The entire region of Upper Bhavani, which gets over 5000 mm of annual rainfall, is dominated by the sholas and wattle plantations. This place is the perfect location for hiking, and trekking.




With the reservoir in the backdrop, there is TNEB guest house in Upper Bhavani for overnight stays. Tourists should get TNEB permission for staying in their guest house. There are 2 suites, charge is 500 rupees per room. a Cook is available for cooking with the available rations. Foods will be provided at extra cost. Visitors should note that as the lake is situated in the Nilgiri Biosphere reserve, prior permission is needed from the forest office in Ooty.




Private vehicles are not allowed into the Sanctuary and visitors have to take Forest Department mini bus for a 2 hours ride into the Sanctuary, covering Lake, Bhavani Temple and Hydro power plant. The bus starts from Forest Department Check Post 3 Kms before the Avalanche Lake. The buses are run between 9 AM to 3 PM (2 hours ride) at specific intervals. It is advised to take the 9 AM bus to have better chances of wildlife sighting. Jeeps are also available for a group of 8 people.




Upper Bhavani Lake is located at about 24 Kms from Avalanche Lake, 30 Kms from Emerald Lake, 54 Kms from Ooty, 55 Kms from Ooty Bus Stand, 56 Kms from Ooty Railway Station, 62 Kms from Coonoor, 79 Kms from Kotagiri, 87 Kms from Mettupalayam Railway Station, 114 Kms from Coimbatore and 125 Kms from Coimbatore Airport.




Location