A SHORT GUIDE TO QUEEN OF HILLS, OOTY
credits – Chaitanya Rayampally on unsplash Udagamandalam also known as Ooty or Ootacamund is a breathtaking town situated in Nilgiri Hills. The town is a famous tourist place because of the picturesque beauty and amazing activities that it provides. The place is full of magical gifts that nature has given to the town, beautiful lakes, forests, and greenery surround the whole town. The ethereal vast meadows that Ooty provides have been a perfect location for film shooting for directors, one of the famous movie “Kuch Kuch Hota hai” was shot here in this beautiful place. Because of its vast landscape, Ooty also gives us the amazing opportunity to try out some rare sports that can be only seen on television like, hang gliding, Golf, of course how one can miss the opportunity to play golf in this beautiful town? Moving onto the glory of this town that is farming. The town produces “English vegetables and fruits” which are basically peaches, plums, strawberries, cabbage, and cauliflower, etc. not to forget the infamous Tea farming of the town. Concluding all of it, the magical town of joy awaits your presence. Plan a trip to this beautiful place after all who would want to miss out on this amazing opportunity to explore this exhilarating town. Read more about the travel experience at Ooty in the blog written by Sowmya!! How to reach Being a famous destination itself, Ooty is also surrounded by some of the famous tourist places like Chennai and Coimbatore which are 550kms and 90kms respectively. The beautiful hill station is mostly traveled by road. You can enjoy the scenic beauty as you travel by the road that this town provides. By flight: The closest International Airport is Coimbatore International Airport, approximately two and a half hour drive to Ooty. Coimbatore Airport is connected to some of the cities like Delhi, Kozhikode, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, and Hyderabad. Some other airports that are closest to Ooty are The Chennai International Airport, Cochin International Airport, and the Bangalore International Airport. By railway: The beautiful town has its own Railway Station, ‘Ooty Railway Station.’ It is connected to the many cities of Tamil Nadu. The Ooty railway line is set up on the New Delhi- Coimbatore railway line and is connected with the cities like New Delhi, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Chennai, Kochi, Mysore, Lucknow, Chennai, Kanyakumari, Puri, Ahmedabad, and Jaipur. By road: Ooty is well connected with roadways to many cities that are not very far away from Ooty, you can drive or take public transport and enjoy the scenic beauty as you enter Ooty. Best time to visit Ooty During Summers: The temperature in Ooty during summers stay between 20 degrees to 25 degrees, the best time to explore the queen of hills and indulge in many outdoor activities and visiting famous tourist points, summers in Ooty can also be the best time if you want to camp out for a few days and want to do stargazing as the clear sky in summers just adds up to the beauty of this little paradise. During monsoon: If you can handle heavy rain and don’t get sick easily then monsoon in Ooty during your visit can be your one of the most unforgettable trip to Ooty. The fresh greenery when the rain stops and the addicting scent of tea fields fills up the place, everything just seems more and more beautiful, the sky after the rain stops looks as if it’s been created again. The beauty during monsoon is worth everything. During winters: If you love the chill weather, then winters in Ooty await you. The chill weather in the small paradise is perfect for sightseeing and enjoying the wildlife in their natural habitat. The temperature can also go below 5 degrees, make sure to pack warm woolen clothes. Enjoy the hot snacks and beauty of Ooty in winters. Places to stay in Ooty : From cheap to expensive, however, the way you want your stay to be, Ooty has everything. From top 5 star luxurious hotels to cheap homestays and hotels under INR1000 Ooty provides you with everything. Ooty has a different type of stay for you available, there are hotels, homestays, hostels, and many more. The cheapest hotel starting with INR990 and luxurious ones starts with INR12000. Plan your stay according to your will. Read more about the travel experience from Ooty in the blog written by Abhishek and Neha. Places to visit in Ooty The whole Town Ooty is filled with all sorts of different activities and famous sights and lakes for you to visit, there are many places in Ooty worth your time, here we are only listing some of the places that Ooty is famous for and the places that you should definitely visit. 1. Government Botanical Garden credits – nilgiris.nic.in The Government Botanical Garden in Ooty has been laid out in 1848 and still standing strong. It is one of the most popular tourists place in Ooty. The vast Garden containing many different varieties of many different types of plants, trees, and flowers will take your heart away. The Garden is divided into six different sections which are Lower Garden, New Garden, Italian Garden, Conservatory, Fountain Terrace, and Nurseries. Visit the part that you have an interest in, get to know about the history and varieties of that particular section. If you are a nature lover then this place will feel like home to you, this is one of the beautiful gifts that nature has given us. Ps – Rose Garden is also one of the most famous gardens make sure to visit that as well! 2. Nilgiri Mountain Railway credits – travelandynews.com Nilgiri Mountain Railway is that one activity that you absolutely can not miss out on while you’re still in Ooty, the railway is one track railway line that was built by Britishers to get away from all the heat of
10 WATER SPORTS IN GOA, YOU SHOULD TRY BEFORE TURNING 30.
The one place that comes to everyone’s mind while thinking about a trip in the summers, is Goa. The beautiful scenery of the seaside and the refreshing feeling of being so close to nature. The limitless water, and an opportunity to explore that water. Goa might be the smallest state but the significance it holds is surely big. After all, there’s a reason why Goa is called ‘Queen of beaches.’ Amazing thrilling water activities are held there as an opportunity to live the best of your youth. While we have activities like exploring the water with Yachts and Cruises, but for an adventure lover what can be better than high-level adrenaline activities that thrill you up to your toes. Here are some high-level adrenaline activities for you to enjoy at the peak of your youth. 1. Parasailing Parasailing is one of the most thrilling and famous water sports in Goa. The beautiful view of the ocean from up above is ethereal. You will be flying on a parasail harness which is fastened to the speedboat with a 30-40m long rope. And as the speedboat moves with great speed you will be moving up more to the sky. With the beautiful view of nothing but blue water beneath you and the fascinating view of nothing but the blue sky above you, you will feel like you’re inside a painting. Truly, this is once in a lifetime experience that you can not afford to miss at all. Where you can try? You can experience e thrill at Dona Paula, Anjuna, Calangute, Colva, Candolim, Vagator Beach. Cost – The cost per person is INR 850 for 1-2 minutes Best time to parasail– The best time to try parasailing in goa is the sunrise and sunsets of winters and summers. 2. Scuba Diving credits : hallie heeg @ unsplash The first thing everyone suggests after planning a trip to goa is, of course, Scuba Diving, and it is definitely worth the hype. Because of the magnificent view of the underwater world and the joy and thrill, it gives you. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to see SpongeBob but you can definitely see how marine life is doing. It’s definitely worth trying. After all, a trip to Goa is incomplete without trying scuba diving. Where you can try? For once in a lifetime experience try it in Majorda and Grande Island. Cost– The cost might differ according to the season and off-season. Off-season cost is around INR1500 while on season cost might go up INR3500 Best time to scuba dive– The season for scuba diving is from November to February. 3. Windsurfing credits : brett jordan @ unsplash Windsurfing is the magical combination of surfing and sailing. It’s the perfect example of “wherever the wind takes me.” All you need is the equipment that is, the board, and have fun. The thrill of this activity lies in handling the board and riding the water. This is one of the most thrilling activities, if you’re an adventure lover and haven’t tried this, what are you waiting for? Where you can Try? Dona Paula Beach, Bogmalo Beach, Vagator Beach, Calangute, Colva, Palolem, Miramar, Baga Beach. Cost –INR 400-600 per person. Best time to windsurf- January to March, If you’re an expert then in the afternoon when winds are strong. If you’re a beginner then in the morning when the wind is calm and soothing. 4. White water rafting credits : tom fisk @ pexels Even though Rishikesh is known for white water rafting, Goa isn’t left behind either. You can give it a go enjoy yourself fully. White water rafting is underrated in Goa Because of other activities but I’m telling you that’s not the truth. The thrill this sport gives has its own charm and you’ll be swayed away with it. The white water rafting is usually 10 km long, and it is bursting with areas where the flow is fast and current strong. Don’t think twice and go for the white water rafting. Where you can try? The popular places to try white water rafting in Goa are the Tilari River and Mandovi River. Cost – INR1500 onwards per person. Best time for white water rafting– The season for White water Rafting is From June to September 5. Jet skiing credits : Steve Donoghue @ unsplash The list of high-level adrenaline water sports is incomplete without adding the infamous Jet skiing. Short training and you are ready to zoom your way into the waters. The exhilarating experience and the instant serotonin boost, this is exactly that activity that you have been looking for. Try this once and you’ll understand what’s all the hype about. Remember all the movies where actors are shown Jet skiing and how much fun they are having? Yeah, the reality is just the same. You will feel like you’re in your own movie cutting through waters and going off with a show. Where you can try? Famous places for Jet skiing are Calangute, Candolim, Majorda, and Miramar Beach, Goa. Cost – INR500 per person. Best time to Jet ski– October to March 6. Water skiing credits : pixabay @ pexels Water skiing is one of the most thrilling activity where you feel the adrenaline pumping through your heart to your veins. It’s the type of activity where you’ll be yelling with joy and happiness. Water skiing is the type of water sport in which an individual will be getting pulled behind a boat with a cable, as the boat races you’ll be water skiing your way behind the boat. Truly, a water sport to try before you die. Where you can try? Some of the beaches that are famous for this activity are Baga beach and Calangute beach. Some other beaches where you can try this are Candolim Beach, Arossim Beach, Utorda Beach, and Mobor Beach. Cost – INR1949 per person. Best time to water ski – October to
