Just a few random pictures from a trip to Ooty/ Udhagamandalam in South India last year. Within the Nilgiris ( Blue mountains) lies one of India’s largest protected biospheres which spans three states and it includes the indigenous tribes (Todas, Badagas and Karumbas are the well known ones) who live here.
I am sure Ooty doesn’t fall directly into the zoned biosphere but there is so much construction and tourist traffic ( guilty ) that it is likely to have a negative impact on resources if plans for the future don’t anticipate this. Conoor has become the new hotspot for second homes so I hope the bio diversity and the great natural heritage does not fall prey to the needs of heating, air conditioning, SUVs and malls.
But the hills are beautiful and green and the air is so clean and inviting that you can’t blame people for wanting to move here.
Sometimes the best views of the mountains are from the valley and plains below. Driving up to Ooty from Coimbatore. This was just as we were begining the climb, possibly Mettuplayam
The Ootacamund / Udhamangalam Club is a members only club which makes you feel you are stepping back in time. It was established in 1842 for British tea planters who didn’t bother much about biodiversity or the locals in those days and converted much of the land into tea estates. A great place to stay with amazingly well tended gardens and flowers in bloom .
Nothing heats like a log fire when it is chilly and raining outside . It can get very cold here but then I am from Mumbai so I find the hills cold at all times .
Beautiful hydrangeas, alstroemerias and flowers in bloom in the club gardens . My little annexe cottage was away from the main club as it was a busy time when I visited.
Views of Wellington about ten kilometers from Ooty – a very quiet and pretty cantonment town great if you know someone from the armed forces to really experience Wellington life.
Tea plantations en route to Bembetty village – there is a lot more prosperity in villages here than I see in the villages of Maharashtra
Sims Park Conoor is known for its ornamental flowers, roses, landscaped flower beds – I think they have over a thousand varieties and some stunning old trees. The flowers are incredible but a little too landscaped and ordered – would have loved to have seen them in a wilder, more natural array The trees have so many stories to share – do read all the descriptions and history on the labels .
All Saint’s Church Conoor is an Anglican church ( Church of South India ) on the Kotagiri road. It was shut when I arrived there as they were still following Covid protocols. Built in 1851 and very well maintained … at least from the outside .
As I said I can never get enough of old trees.
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