Doddabetta Peak, Ooty, Nilgiris

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.

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Cairn Hill Eco Tourism Site, Ooty, Nilgiris

Cairn Hill Eco Tourism Site, Ooty, Nilgiris

Cairn Hill Eco Tourism Site is a Reserved Forest, situated near Ooty Hill Station in Ooty Taluk in Nilgiris District of Tamilnadu. It extends over an area of 167.775 Ha. It has one of the oldest Cyprus Plantation in the Nilgiris (Planted in 1868). This Hill derived its name from a cairn (or piled stone circle – a pre- historic burial site of the tribal’s) found at the highest point of the reserve. It is one of the first Reserved Forest on the Upper Plateau formed in late 1860’s.

The natural landscape of this place with a trek trail around a small hillock in the center has attracted many people to have a peaceful and calm spending time, out there. This is one of the few surviving original walks as enjoyed by the Britishers. Cairn Hill is a part of the South Range of Nilgiris South Forest Division. The site is surrounded by agricultural fields and settlements. It is one of the oldest converted forests in the Upper Nilgiris Plateau.

A few small patches of sholas still thrive amid the old plantations of Pinus sp., Cyperus sp. and Wattle Acacia mearnsii. Despite its small size, it is a promising area for the conservation of endangered and Western Ghats endemic bird species. A very small patch of shola is left in Cairn Hill that supports bird species of conservation interest. Plantations, mainly Wattle and Cyperus form the principal habitat type in Cairn Hill, replacing a significantly higher proportion of the indigenous vegetation.

Over a hundred years old, the Cyperus plantation stands tall, surrounded on all sides by Wattle, at the top of the hill. Owing to the creation of bare patches in the forest, shrub vegetation characteristic of forest edges now dominates this area. Rhododendron nilagiricum, endemic to the Nilgiris, is very common. The grassland in and around this site has disappeared during the 20^th century. This eco centre has an interpretation centre and an orchidarium.

Wildlife seen here are Gaur, Sambar Deer, Leopard, Nilgiri Langur, Barking Deer, Porcupine. This site is also good for watching some interesting Birds. It is also home to a number of Western Ghats endemics such as the Nilgiri Laughing thrush Garrulax cachinnans, Nilgiri Flycatcher Eumyias albicaudata, White-bellied Short wing Brachypteryx major, Small Sunbird Nectarinia minima, Nilgiri Wood-Pigeon and Columba elphinstonii. Besides, a number of restricted range and biome related species are recorded from this site.

Cairn Hill Eco Tourism Site is located at about 4 Kms from Ooty, 3 Kms from Ooty Bus Stand, 3 Kms from Ooty Railway Station, 21 Kms from Coonoor, 33 Kms from Kotagiri, 52 Kms from Mettupalayam Railway Station, 85 Kms from Coimbatore and 89 Kms from Coimbatore Airport. Cairn Hill is situated along the road leading towards Nanjanad, Avalanche, and Manjoor. This site lies undisturbed from sound and pollution about 300 meters away from the main road.

Location

Cauliflower Shola, Ooty, Nilgiris

Cauliflower Shola, Ooty, Nilgiris

Cauliflower Shola are the Shola forest patch, situated on Avalanche Lake to Upper Bhavani Dam route. It is situated in Ooty Taluk in Nilgiris District of Tamil Nadu. This shola forest looks like cauliflower canopy. The trees resemble just like Broccoli and Cauliflower. Sholas are the local name for patches of stunted tropical montane forest found in valleys amid rolling grassland in the higher montane regions of South India. These patches of shola forest are found mainly in the valleys and are usually separated from one another by undulating montane grassland.

The shola and grassland together form the shola-grassland complex or mosaic. The word 'Shola' is probably derived from the Tamil language word Solai meaning grove. The shola-forest and grassland complex has been described as a climatic climax vegetation with forest regeneration and expansion restricted by climatic conditions such as frost or soil characteristics while others have suggested that it may have anthropogenic origins in the burning and removal of forests by early herders and shifting agriculturists.

Connectivity

Cauliflower Shola is located at about 26 Kms from Ooty, 26 Kms from Ooty Bus Stand, 27 Kms from Ooty Railway Station, 44 Kms from Coonoor, 56 Kms from Kotagiri, 76 Kms from Mettupalayam Railway Station, 106 Kms from Coimbatore and 119 Kms from Coimbatore Airport. Visitors should note that as the Cauliflower Shola 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 Lakes, Dams, Bhavani Temple and Hydro Power Plants.

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. It is therefore best to arrive early and get the tickets, especially during peak season and holidays.

Location