Environs of Ootacamund

The Ghat Roads of the Blue Mountains lead to the junction in Ootacamund town, famously known as the Charring Cross.The Coonoor Ghat Road NH 67  and the Kotagiri Ghat Road SH67 from Coimbatore  ,the SH 67 commencing  from Theppakadu through  Madhumalia and Masinasudi  and culmunating at  Ooty via  the Sigur Ghat  and the Gudular Ghat connecting Gundulpet - Bandipur-Madhumalia - Gudular -Ooty on NH 67 converse at Charring Cross. It is not of recent times that all roads lead to Charring Cross junction, but since times immemorial, first a melanoxylon tree stood at the junction and then in 1898 in recognition  to the efforts of Governor of Ooty, a fountain was constructed which today is known as the Adams  Fountain. It is a beautifully craved out fountain and we were awed with the sight especially during the evenings when the lighting adds to the magical awe.  At this famous landmark of Ootacamund, is a junction of all main  roads of the town. So in case you lose  your way in Ooty, the best way to get back in track is hit for Charring Cross

The Charring Cross is the epicenter of the town of Ottacamund, a tourist delight, a place to stand and watch hundreds of people on the move. It is a kaleidoscopic maze of people from different backgrounds of what tourism brings together. We watch families with their young ones enjoying their holiday, honeymooners a common sight strolling hand in hand down  the commercial road blessed with happiness, a shoppers delight to step in to buy the local products oil, tea,coffee, spices and the famous home made chocolates the diners in wait for their turn to dine in the restaurants, smartly dressed  young boys and girls from the famed boarding schools of Ootacamumd on an outing  filling themselves at the  confectionery shops, the regular walkers walking down commercial street nostalgic about their bygone days.The shops are decorated for the occasion well  handled by smart salesmen Each shop has a unique selling proposition and have been developed over the years and contribution from generations. Indeed the Charring Cross is a place from where one should begin exploring Ootacamund.

A short walk from  Charring Cross is the Government Botanical garden developed on the lower slope of Doddabeta at a height of 2500 m above MSL with temperate climate and adequate rainfall. It is a century old, developed in 1848, which today is a must visit destination of Ootacamund. It is one of the most beautiful and well maintained garden of the country. It all began with the Englishmen  desire to have an abundant supply of vegetables at reasonable cost. A vegetable garden was developed at a subscription of Rs 3/- per month among the European residents. The idea of vegetable cultivation did not last long  and the European settlers  planned a public garden between the area of the present Raj Bhavan and Hebron  School, William Graham Mclvor from the Royal Botanic Garden,Kew, England was appointed as the horticulturalist. The  upper portion was a forest and lower portion  a swamp. In ten years time a beautiful terraced layout garden of 22 acres consisting of thousand species of exotic and indigenous plants,shrubs,ferns,trees,herbs,bonsai was developed. It also has a fossil of a tree 20 million years old, Presently It is maintained by the Horticulture Department, Government of Tamilnadu.The garden is divided into various section namely Lower garden which is the entrance, New garden, Italian garden, Conservatory, Nurseries and the Fern House. The annual flower show is held every year in the month of May when one can sight the finest display of flowers.

Just behind the main bus station and near the Railway station of Ottacamund lies the  Ooty lake.This artificial lake  was developed by John Sullivan,The Governor of Ootacamund  in the year 1824 primarily aimed as a catchment area of the water flowing from the numerous streams of Ooty It is a irregular L  shaped,  about two kilometer in length  covering an area of 65 acres. The artificial  lake was utilised for fishing purposes till the year 1973. The Government of  Tamil Nadu Tourism Department  took over the lake and developed it into a tourist place. Today it provides the tourists with boating facilities. All types of boats are available and the tourist  take back the memories of the surrounds of the lake. It has a grove of eucalyptus trees and the railway line running along one of the shore. Summer boat races and boat pageantry are organised annually.

It was by default that one day after taking our guest for a boat ride in the Ooty lake on the North Lake Road just opposite the Boat house we came across The Thread Garden. The display of flowers, plants, lawns was awesome and our curiosity was at the zenith when we were told that the breathtaking display was fabricated entirely from thread, canvas and wire.  The four dimensional hand wound embroidery without any assistance from machine or needle is a creation by Mr Anthony Joseph and his band of workers who have toiled for the last twelve years.  A mind blogging 60 million meter of thread had been consumed to develop this innovative aesthetic creation of natural color spectrum of 150 species of plants around the world, It is must see destination of Ooty. Thousands  of tourists visit the Thread Garden all round the year and take back pleasant memories back home. Do collect a thread flower vase on the way out of the thread garden as a token of remembrance.

To commemorate the centenary  of the Flower show in 1995, a Rose Garden was developed in the Elk Hills of Ootacamumd a short distance from Charring Cross. The flowers were arranged in five curving terrace covering four hectares. Ooty has an unique tropical mountain climate with low temperature variation, equitable rainfall distribution which culminate into long flowering season. Even in winter the flowers bloom. The Rose Garden is one of the finest In our country has produced. Presently there are 20000 varieties of roses assembled from different sources of all round the world. The garden is maintained by the Tamil Nadu Horticulturist Department  with  2800 cultivators working at the Rose garden. A observation platform Nila Madam has been constructed from where the tourist can view the whole Rose garden. Have you ever seen a black rose or a green rose. Do visit the Rose garden of Ottacamund, It will fill one with pride because the garden was not developed by Horticulturist from Kew, England but our own countrymen, Kudos to The Tamil Nadu Horticulturist Department for developing a beautiful garden which is being visited by thousands round the year.

Just on the way out of Ooty, a kilometer or two from Charring Cross on the road to Coonoor Ghat Road is a Ottacamund's Wax World museum. It may not be a class of Madame Tussande Wax Musuem of London & Hong Kong but ample efforts have been made to develop a wax museum in this town of Queen of Hiils which houses look alike  mostly of Indian personalities. 

There are many more places to explore in Ootacamund, some of them are the Stone House built by John Sulivan, the Governor of Ootacamund in the year 1822, the Toda huts situated above the  Government Botanical Garden, the St Stephens Church, the Fern Hill Palace, a ride in the Otacamund Mountain Railways from Ooty to Connoor, the races at the Ooty race course, a visit to the famed clubs of Ooty or just move around Ootacamund till one is ready to leave with lot of positive energy, great thoughts, rejuvenated and feeling of well being and carry home the memories of the Queen of Hills Ootacamund.