Nature/ Scenic

Doddabetta peak is the highest known peak in the region of Ooty and its altitude stays to be more than 2,623 meters in height. It actually stays in the suburbs of Ooty and is hardly 10 kms from the place.

The areas in and around the banks of the Moyar River, are excellent areas to spot the wild animals and birds. Animals come to drink water and birds generally come for the fish in the river.

Vaigai dam is a giant dam constructed on the river Vaigai and is situated near Andipatti in southern India. The dam has been the life line of the agricultural lands in the neighbourhood and because of it the areas have flourished in leaps and bounds. It provides clean and fresh drinking water to whole of the region of Madurai and Andipatti. Agricultural research institution too has been developed near the dam so as to research on a wide variety of crops including cereals and pulses.

Thiruvidaimarudur is a calm and clean hamlet near Kumbakonam. It is on the banks of River Kaveri and offers picturesque natural settings. The village has religious significance with the famous Mahalinga Swamy Temple. It is one of the Panchakrosha Sthalas.

It is 7 km from Kotagiri and situate above Uyilathi village. The road passes through serenely laid out Badaga habitations.'Enroute' at the Kannerimukku village is found the first European house in the Nilgiris built by collector Sullivan in the year 1819. The two-storeyed house is now in a sad-state or ruins.
Though the water is fully only in the wet months, the site is always worth a visit. It commands towards the north, a spectacular view of the Echoing Valley of Kookal and a vista of exquisite surroundings.

John Sullivan's Bungalow also known as the Pethakal Bungalow, that he built during his stay, has just been renovated and is open to the public. The Nilgiris Documentation Centre and the Nilgiris Museum is housed in the bungalow. Village walks, tastes of the local cuisine and folk life etc. are some of the activities that are organized here. It is located in Kannerimukku, about 10 minutes from the main town on the way to Naragiri village which abounds in tea plantations and beautiful views of the valleys and the mountains.

Kodanad Point, 16 km from Kotagiri, on the easternmost ridges of Nilgiri Hills offers excellent views of the green paddy fields, tea estates, Mysore Plateau and rivers. Elk Falls is another popular attraction. A colonial house nearby, mostly in ruins still catches one's attention and was the first British bungalow to be built in the Nilgiris. On your way to the falls, you can visit the tribal Badaga settlement. The double cascading Catherine Falls is another spectacular attraction.

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Located within Kotagiri town, Longwood forest, a pristine tropical evergreen forest is a secluded refuge for those seeking peace and quiet, it is home to the flying fox (a large arboreal squirrel) that is rarely seen, there is also a resident family of about 20 bison which can be seen grazing in the evenings just outside the forest on Milidhane road.

About 3 km from the town, the road proceeding towards the Badaga village of "Milidhane" branes off to Longwood Shola which is Forest Reserve.

A very primeval tract of wild enclave, the Shola provides a grand opportunity for bird-withers and a perfect rendezevous for serenity - seekers.

It is a conical peak at a height of 5855 feet above MSL and is the most sacred hill on the plateau. According to Hindu Legend Lord Rangaswamy used to live at Karamadai in Coimbatore district on the plains but quarrelled with his wife, came to live alone here. Two-foot prints on the rock not far from Arakadu village below the peak are stated to be the proof for this.