Excursions:
Botanical Gardens
If you are on a sightseeing tour to Ooty, you might want to visit the Government Botanical gardens, which were laid out in 1847.
Ooty Lake
If you love the outdoors, Ooty lake is a must see for you. It was built in 1825 and is about 2.5 km long. Visitors to this lake can go for boating on the lake or enjoy their favorite outdoor activity of fishing.
Dodabetta Peak
The Dodabetta Peak stands at an altitude of 2,623 meters. It is the highest point in the district, making it possibly the best vantage point around Ooty.
Lamb's Rock
Lamb's Rock is another vantage point that is ideal for taking pictures and is a wonderful picnic spot. It is merely 9kms.
Kodanadu's View Point
Kodanadu is about 16kms from Kotagiri, and is situated on the eastern edge of the Nilgiri range. It is a great vantage point that offers a breathtaking view of the Moyar river and the tea estates. There is a watchtower here that offers a view of the Rangasamy peak.
Madumalai Wildlife Sanctuary
The Madumalai Wildlife Sanctuary is located at a distance of 67kms from Ooty. If you are in town for a couple of days, then a visit to the Wildlife sanctuary would be a great way to spend a day.
Kotagiri
East of Ooty, is a little village of kotagiri, which is about 28km from the popular hill station. Kotagiri is the oldest one of the three hill stations in the Nilgiris. It is not as popular as the other two, Ooty and Coonoor, yet it is said that it probably has the most pleasant weather among the three of them.
Kalhatty Waterfalls
The beautiful Kolhatty waterfalls are about 100 feet in height and are located on the kalhatty slopes. The falls are about 13kms from the city, so anyone on a tour of Ooty can easily check out the falls and the beautiful area surrounding it.
Sim's park
The Sim's Park is spread over an area of 12 hectares and is situated in Upper Coonoor. The park it is believed has more than 1000 plant species, including many flowering plants, pines, ferns and shrubs.
Dolphin's Nose
If the name is not amusing enough for you, you can come down to this very Dolphin's nose and have a good time, enjoying games and an outdoor picnic. The Dolphin's nose is a great vantage point that offers a panoramic view of the surrounding areas. If it is clear day, you can even see the Catherine falls from here.
Mukurthi
About 36 km from Ooty is Mukurthi. Here you can take a look at the imposing Mukurthi peak. According to the Todas, the indigenous people of this locale, the souls of the dead move on to the next world from this very sacred place. It is an interesting place for the skeptics as the flora and fauna of this place bears a striking resemblance to that found in Himalayan region.