5 Enchanting Gardens of Ooty (Udhagamandalam or Ootacamund) (2024)
Ooty is a popular hill station in Tamil Nadu known for its beautiful ambiance, colorful parks, and magnificent views of the surrounding mountains. Ooty (Udhagamandalam or Ootacamund), being a major tourist destination of India, the Tamil Nadu Tourist Development Corporation has, over the years, undertaken many developmental initiatives to increase the beautification of this charming little hill station. These gorgeous gardens are full of miniature statues, colorful blooming flowers, and a vibrant environment. Here are the main enchanting gardens of Ooty that are a must-see when you visit the own.
5 Enchanting Gardens of Ooty (Udhagamandalam or Ootacamund)
1. Ooty Botanical Garden
Located on the lower slopes of the Doddabetta Peak, the Ooty Botanical Garden is a breathtakingly beautiful garden in Udhagamandalam. The garden is spread out over an area of 55 acres and divided into many sections that are regularly trimmed, often into magnificent shapes.
Upon entering the garden, you will be greeted with the sheer abundance of colorful natural beauty. The garden has been a popular tourist attraction for over 160 years, and both local and foreign travelers visit the lawns of the garden to view the astonishing variety of flowers, orchids, and ferns.
Photo by Jeff Peterson Image Source
Another major highlight of this Botanical Garden is the Toda Hill, which is also referred to as the Toda Mund. This hill is an important historical feature as it provides a close insight into the culture and lives of the Todas, which is an ancient tribe of the Nilgiris.
The terraced garden is arranged in six sections as per the plant types and layouts. These sections include:
- Low Garden
- New Garden
- Fountain Terrace
- Italian Garden
- Conservatory
- Nursery
The Lower Garden is made up of the massive green lawn consisting of special grass, a fern house, and many types of unique trees that draw many botanists from around the country. The New Garden section is the latest developed area in the garden. It contains a rose garden with many varieties of hybrid roses, many flowerbeds, naturally-made ponds, and a carpet bed containing various government emblems. The garden not only contains multiple exotic species of flowering plants, but also a crescent-shaped lily pond that contains many other aquatic plants as well.
The Conservatory section of the garden was built in 1912 for the cultivation of different types of perennial and annual flowering plants, while the Nursery section was made on the higher terraces of the garden and consists of eight glasshouses with various species of orchids, cacti, and other potted plants.
The garden is open from 7:00 am to 6:30 pm, and there is an entry ticket for entry to the park. For adults, the ticket price is INR 30, while for kids, it is INR 15.
2. Ooty Rose Garden
The Ooty Rose Garden is another charming garden nestled in the heart of Ooty. It is also known as the Jayalalithaa Rose Garden, the Centenary Rose Park, and the Nootrandu Roja Poonga. This is a famous garden that attracts hundreds of nature lovers. As you enter the Rose Garden, the view of the beautiful greenery all around with the gorgeous and fragrant roses all around is a sight you will always remember. The rose flowers in the garden don’t just add a dash of color, but also makes the four hectares of this garden stand out against the hill slopes.
The Ooty Rose Garden is located on the slopes of the Elk Hills in Ooty and was established in the year 1995 to commemorate the famous Centenary Flower Show of Ooty. The Rose Garden is also well-known as being one of the most famous botanical gardens in all of Tamil Nadu that is maintained by the Horticulture Department of the state.
You can find many varieties of roses in all colors and sizes. This is a popular family picnic spot, and couples also frequent the garden for a romantic getaway from their mundane schedule. The peak flowering season is in the summer months of March to June, and if you visit during this time, you may be lucky to catch the flower show at the Rose Garden. This flower show is the main attraction of Ooty tourism, and during this time, it is said that India has the highest production of beautiful roses. It is possible to buy rose saplings or bouquets for your loved ones at a very nominal cost.
The garden is open from 7:30 am to 6:30 pm, and there is an entry cost – INR 15 for children and INR 30 for adults.
3. Children’s Park
The Children’s Park in Ooty is another popular garden cum park that is blanketed in a lush green carpet of grass all around. The garden has many rides and swings to keep children captivated for hours. There are also various activities for adults, such as rowing, boating, and horse riding.
4. Thread Garden
A popular tourist destination in Ooty, the Thread Garden is a unique garden as it showcases some of the most exquisite and magnificent collection of artificial plants and flowers. The unique feature of these flowers and plants is that they are all made by hands by skillful artists using just bare threads of different colors.
The wonderful Thread Garden is a must-visit place in Ooty to get a glimpse a just how beautiful the handiwork of these artists can be. The mastermind behind the inception of the Thread Garden was Antony Joseph. He worked together with 50 skillful artists for 12 straight years to create the various thread marvels displayed in the garden today. It is estimated that around six crore meters of embroidery thread have been used to create this unique and fabulous attraction. In fact, this is the only garden of its type in the whole world.
An even more astonishing fact is that not a stitch of a needle or any other type of machinery was used to produce these artificial flowers and plants. Stiff cardboard has been used to create the flowers and petals, copper and steel wires have been used for the stem, and a wide variety of colorful threads were used to create the ultimate visual delight. You can find over 150 types of artificial flowers here.
What’s more, at Ooty’s Thread Garden, you not only get to see these beautiful creations in the garden, but you can also purchase and take home one of these unique plants or flowers. The Ooty Thread Garden is open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
5. Lake Park
Ooty’s Lake Park is located next to the Ooty Lake and is a popular hangout spot for many youths. The garden is full of vibrant flowers and a lush green carpet of grass. It is the ideal place for spending leisurely7 evenings and for sunbathing. There are several entertaining games and activities for kids here and many dinosaur statues to keep them busy in exploration.
These beautiful gardens in Ooty provide many activities for both kids and adults, and these places are frequented by people of all age groups. Replete with a variety of exotic flowers and lush greenery, you cannot miss visiting these charming gardens when you are in Ooty.
