5 DAYS TRIP FROM COIMBATORE | BEST OF MYSORE, OOTY & COONOOR

About Chamundi Hill Temple

At a distance of 8 km from Mysore Zoo & 13 km from Mysore Railway Station, Chamundi Hill Temple is a Hindu temple located in Mysore. It is one of the major places of pilgrimage in Karnataka, and among the must-visit places as part of Mysore tour packages.

Mythology

The Chamundi Temple is dedicated to Goddess Chamundeswari, an incarnation of Goddess Parvathi who took this form to destroy Mahishasura. Regarded as one of the best places to visit in Mysore, the temple is also known as Krouncha Pitham and is one among the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas representing the hair of Sati Devi.

History of Chamundi Temple

Perched at an altitude of 1065 m, the Chamundi Hill Temple was believed to be built in the 12th century by the Rulers of the Hoysala Dynasty while the temple tower was probably built .....

About Mysore Palace

At a distance of 2.5 km from the Mysore Railway Station & 2 km from KSRTC Bus Station, the Mysore Palace was the official residence of the former royal family of Mysore, and also housed the durbar. It is one of the largest palaces in India, and among the best tourist places to visit in Mysore.

History of Mysore Palace

Mysore Palace is the venue for the famous Mysore Dasara and it is often used to promote Mysore Tourism. It is one of the top attractions you must include in Mysore Packages. The Mysore Palace was built-in 1912 after a fire burnt down the old wooden palace. It was built by Maharaja Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV and was further expanded by his son Maharaja Jayachamaraja Wadiyar. The palace was designed by British architect Henry Irwin.

Architecture of Mysore Palace

The architectural style of the palace is commonly described .....

At a distance of about 500 meters from Mysore Railway Station & 2.5 Kms from KSRTC Bus Station, Railway Museum is situated adjacent to the railway station on Krishnaraja Sagar Road. This Museum was established in 1979 by Indian Railways and it was the earliest railway museums set up in India. A visit to Railway Museum is one of the top things to do in Mysore.

The museum houses a great collection of different models of trains ran by India Railways throughout the history. This collection consists of engines running on narrow gauge, meter gauge and broad gauge tracks, inspection coaches, engines from different periods, a cart running with steam, etc. There is also a private train with two coaches used by Maharaja of Mysore exhibited in Sri Ranga Pavilion which has a Maharani's saloon carriage dating back to 1899. The Pavilion also houses several artifacts used during the initial days like different models of .....

At a distance of 2.5 km from Mysore Railway Station & 1 km from KSRTC Bus Station, St. Philomena's Church is a Catholic Church built in honor of St. Philomena in the Diocese of Mysore, India. This is one of the top places to visit in Mysore. Designed by the Reverend Rene Feuge, it was constructed in 1956 in a Neo Gothic style and its architecture was inspired by the Cologne Cathedral in Germany.

The church is dedicated to 3rd century saint Philomena who was the daughter of the monarch of a small state in Greece. Her parents were childless for several years. They prayed Jesus to bless them with a child and the next year Philomena was born to them. Even in her childhood Philomena showed signs of piety. When Philomena was 13 years old her father took her to Rome to obtain the favour of Emperor Diocletian. The Emperor was enthralled by her beauty and wanted to marry her. But she refused and vowed to give herself .....

About Brindavan Gardens

At a distance of 16 km from Srirangapatna, & 19 km from Mysore, Brindavan Gardens is a famous & beautiful garden laid out below the Krishnaraja Sagar Dam in Karnataka. This is one of the best tourist places to visit in Mysore, and among the must-include places in Srirangapatna Tour Packages.

History of Brindavan Gardens

Sir Mirza Ismail, the then Diwan of Mysore wanted to beautify the area around KRS Dam. Therefore, the construction of Brindavan Garden was started in the year 1927 by the Department of Horticulture and was completed in 1932. The designs of Brindavan Gardens have been inspired by the breathtaking Shalimar Bagh of Kashmir which was created in the ancient Mughal Style. Now, the garden is maintained by the Cauvery Irrigation Department, Government of Karnataka. The garden was .....

At a distance of 3 km from Mysore Railway Station, the Mysore Zoo is a zoological park situated in Mysore. Also known as Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens, it is one of the oldest zoo parks in South India, and among the must include places in Mysore packages.

The Mysore Zoo was established in the year 1892 by Sri Chamarajendra Wodeyar and designed by German Landscaper and Horticulturist Mr. GH. Krumbeigal. It is one of the best Mysore tourist places, and often used to promote Mysore Tourism along with Mysore Palace.

The zoo was originally 10 acres and has expanded to over 250 acres currently. Mysore Zoo provides shelter to a large number of animal species. The Zoo is famous for breeding some very rare animals in captivity. It has a fine collection of animals like lions, tigers, hyenas, deer, elephants, rhinos, king cobras, and birds. The highlights .....

At a distance of 7 Kms from Mysore Railway Station & 4 Kms from Mysore Zoo, Lalitha Mahal Palace is located close to Chamundi Hill Road. This is the second largest palace in Mysore after The Mysore Palace. It is one of the top Mysore tourist places and among the best palaces in Mysore. Built in 1921 by Maharaja Krishna Raja Wodeyar Bahaddur IV, this palace initially housed royal guests. It was designed by EW Fritchley from Mumbai in European & Indian styles.

The palace is beautifully designed and it is one of the most attractive palaces in South India. The lobby and corridors of the palace have beautiful paintings of Mysore rulers and historical events of Mysore kingdom, like The siege of Srirangapatna Fort, Tipus Sons, etc. The staircase of the palace is wonderfully designed. The most attractive part of the palace is the restaurant block. The curved .....

At a distance of 5 Kms from Mysore Railway Station & 2.2 Kms from Mysore Zoo, the Regional Museum of Natural History, located on the banks of Karanji Lake, is one of the best Mysore tourist places.

The museum exhibits plants, animals and geology of the southern region of India. The galleries of the museum are presented under the divisions of Man and the Environment, Ecology, Life through the Ages, Biological Diversity, and Conservation for Development. The galleries emphasize the conservation of nature and natural resources while depicting ecological interrelationship among plants and animals.

Visually challenged students can feel the exhibits of animals on the premises. The museum provides an extracurricular activity for schools and promotes environmental awareness. They also arrange film shows on topics related to natural history.

The lobby of the museum has beautiful art work of Elephants .....

At a distance of 5 Kms from Mysore Railway Station & 2 Kms from Mysore Zoo, Karanji Lake is located at the bottom of the Chamundi Hill Road and behind Mysore Zoo. Karanji Lake (also called as Fountain Lake) is maintained by the Zoological department of Mysore and a huge fountain is installed inside the lake. It is spread over 90 acres and is home to more than 90 species of resident and migratory birds.

This lake also has India's largest and first walkthrough aviary and a butterfly garden. The butterfly park has been created on a small island within the Karanji Lake. About 45 species of butterflies have been identified here.

Karanji Lake has boating facilities on all days except Tuesdays. Boating on the lake is a favorite activity with row boats and pedal boats.

Timings: 8.30 AM to 5.30 PM, Closed on Tuesdays

Entry Fee: Rs. 10 for Adults, Rs. 5 for Children, Rs. 10 for .....

About Ooty Lake

At a distance of 1 km from Ooty Bus Station & Railway Station, Ooty Lake is an artificial lake situated in the beautiful hill station of Ooty. It is one of the top attractions you must include in Ooty packages.

Ooty Lake is surrounded by Eucalyptus trees and greenery all around and is a great place to experience the beauty of this hill station. One can also spot numerous streams coming out through the hills. This is a perfect place to capture some postcard pictures. The lake is filled with beautiful water birds with the exotic Nilgiri mountain ranges in the background.

History of Ooty Lake

Ooty Lake was built by John Sullivan in 1824 AD, the then Collector of Coimbatore. Covers an area of 65 acres with an average depth of 40 feet, the lake is fed by the mountain streams in the Ooty valley. The lake was originally intended to be used for fishing with ferries being used to travel across the lake. It is .....

About Botanical Gardens

At a distance of 3 km from Ooty Bus Station & Railway Station and 4 km from Ooty Lake, Ooty Botanical Garden is a beautiful garden situated on the foothills of Dodabetta Peak in Ooty. Maintained by Tamil Nadu Horticulture Department, it is one of the best botanical gardens in India, and among the top places to visit in Ooty.

History of Botanical Gardens

The Botanical Gardens in Udhagamandalam was laid out in 1847 AD. It was designed by the architect William Graham McIvor under the supervision of George Hay, the then Governor of Madras. The original purpose of the Botanical Gardens was to promote and study the various flora in and around Nilgiris. Now, it is open to the public as a park that can be enjoyed by visitors as part of Ooty Packages.

Layout of Botanical Gardens

The Gardens spreads over an area of 22 hectares with more than 650 species of flowers and trees. The Garden has a terraced layout and is divided into .....

At a distance of 4 km from Doddabetta Peak and 5 km from Ooty Bus Station & Ooty Railway Station, Tea Factory & Museum is situated on Doddabetta Road in Ooty. Amidst the blue hills of Nilgiris, it is one of the popular tea factories in Tamilnadu and among the must visit Ooty Tourist Places.

Perched at an altitude of 1839 m, the Ooty Tea Factory is spread across nearly an acre; all covered with the emerald green tea plants. Visitors can see the entire processing method right from the freshly plucked green leaves to its packaging at the factory. It also houses the Tea Museum where visitors can learn about the origin of different kinds of tea leaves that are used across the globe along with the history of tea in India and its evolution in the Nilgiris. The Doddabetta tea factory in Ooty also offers beautiful views of the valley, and the towering mountain peaks surrounding it.

The Ooty Tea Factory features a small shop where free tea is offered to all visitors. This hot cup of .....

About Doddabetta Peak

At a distance of 9 km from Ooty, Doddabetta is a mountain peak situated on the Ooty - Kotagiri Road in the Nilgiris district of Tamilnadu. Literally means Big Mountain, Doddabetta is the highest point in the Nilgiri Mountains and one of the popular places to visit in Ooty.

Situated at an altitude of 2623 m at the junction of the Western and Eastern Ghats, Doddabetta is regarded as one of the highest peaks in South India. The area surrounding Doddabetta is mostly forested. Sholas cover the hollows of its slopes. Tall rhododendron trees, flowering sub-alpine shrubs, and herbs are common, even very near the peak. One can have a magnificent panoramic view of the landscape, beautiful valley, plains of Coimbatore, and the flat highlands of Mysore from the peak as part of your Ooty trip.

Telescope House at Doddabetta Peak

The Tamil Nadu Tourism .....

At a distance of 4 km from Ooty and 12.5 km from Coonoor, Ketti Valley View Point is a popular vantage point situated on Ooty - Coonoor Road in Nilgiris district of Tamilnadu. It is one the most beautiful sightseeing places in Ooty and also one of the top places to experince Ooty Tourism.

As the name suggests, the view point provides a panoramic view of the Ketti Valley, the largest valley in the Nilgiris, and its beautiful surroundings. Ketti Valley is home to several tribes, such as Todas and Badagas. There are over 14 villages in this valley that belong to the tribes of Badagas. These tribal people are experts in cultivating fresh vegetables and fruits in the valley.

Also known as Switzerland of Nilgiris, the Ketti Valley is a heaven for nature lovers and photographers. The view of Ketti from the viewpoint is majestic and often compared .....

At a distance of 4 km from Coonoor Railway Station, Sim's Park is well-maintained garden located in the beautiful hill station of Coonoor, Tamil Nadu. It is one of the most popular Coonoor tourist places.

An unusual park-cum-botanical garden, Sim's Park was developed around the natural contours of the land by JD Sims and Major Murray in the year of 1874. Spread over 30 acres of land, the park was started as a pleasure resort for the residents and visitors, and later developed into garden.

Sim's Park has wonderful landscaped gardens & walkways lined up with beautiful flowers spread across and variety of flower plants collected from different parts of the country. There is a lake situated inside the park that offers boating facility as well.

This park has more than 1000 species of 255 genera belonging to 85 families widely covering different group of plants. Also there are some naturally occurring .....

At a distance of 8 km from Coonoor Railway Station, Lamb's Rock is a spectacular vantage point situated at Burliar village near Coonoor, Tamilnadu. It is one of the popular viewpoints near Ooty, and among the must include places in Coonoor trip.

Lamb's Rock is a sheer precipice of jagged rock that drops down several hundred feet to bury itself in the luxuriant jungle below. The place got its name after Captain Lamb who attempted to open a path to this place. Counted as one of the best Coonoor places to visit, the Lamb's Rock offers some fascinating views of the surrounding valleys, which are hard to miss.

Lamb's Rock is a place where you can enjoy the cool breeze amid lush greenery and tranquillity. One can witness a panoramic view of Coonoor town, the tea estates, lush greenery, thick forests covered by clouds, and the plains of Coimbatorefrom this point. This place demands .....

At a distance of 12 km from Coonoor Railway Station, Dolphin's Nose is a wonderful viewpoint situated in the picturesque hill station of Coonoor. It is one of the popular viewpoints near Ooty, and among the must-visit places in Coonoor tour packages.

Located at an altitude of 1,500, Dolphin's Nose point is set amidst the rolling hills of the Nilgiris. The tip of the peak of this enormous rock resembles the nose of a dolphin hence the name Dolphin's Nose.It is one of the most visited tourist places in Coonoor.

It is an enormous rock formation that is completely unique. There are gigantic ravines found on both sides of the place and there is a view of inspiring Catherine Falls, another famous attraction which is located a relatively short distance away opposite of the Dolphin's Nose. This place demands moderate-level trekking.

Timings: 9 AM .....

At a distance of 8 km from Ooty Bus Station, Tea Park is a park situated near Doddabetta in Ooty. It is one of the popular gardens in Ooty, and among the must-visit places as part of Ooty tour packages.

The Tea Park at Doddabetta was developed by the Department of Horticulture and Plantation Crops to increase the awareness of the process of tea making amongst the tourists, and also to promote TEA as a healthy drink. This Tea Park also serves to de-congest the tourist traffic during the peak period as people may visit it after visiting Doddabetta and then go towards Kotagiri.

Tea trekking path inside the Tea garden with a display of tea history and its origin, entry to China, India, and to the Nilgiris by providing display materials engraved in granite stones at regular intervals with musical arrangements on the path. There are two gazebos- one at the top view the entire tea garden and the other near Kotagiri road end to view the Karnataka state sceneries as well as the mountain .....

At a distance of 9 km from Ooty Bus Station, Kamraj Sagar Dam, also known as the Sandynalla Reservoir, is a very quiet and scenic dam situated on the slopes of the Wenlock Downs in Ooty. It is one of the top Ooty tourist places and also a must include in every Ooty Tour Packages.

The dam, built on the Kamrajar Lake, is spread over 400 acres and is situated on the way to Wenlock Downs & Pykara. The dam is a monsoon fed water body and measures about 6 km in length. The dam and the serene location make it a heavenly place and a favorite haunt for the nature lovers. It is also a popular destination with honeymoon couples because of its picturesque natural beauty. It is a popular shooting location in Ooty.

There are several walking trails around the lake and visitors can also explore several tourist places in the area through these .....

At a distance of 16 km from Ooty, Wenlock Downs is a vast expanse of grassy meadow located on the way to Pykara in Ooty, Tamilnadu. It is one of the most scenic places in Ooty and also one of the best Ooty tourist places. Along with Ooty Lake, this place is most commonly represented for Ooty Tourism.

Wenlock Downs is a spectacular meadow named after Sir Arthur Lawley's sibling Beilby Lawley, third Baron Wenlock. The downs spread majestically across 20,000 acres of rolling lands that seems to be stretching endlessly. The entire place is covered with Shola forest. More popularly known as the Shooting Point, Wenlock Downs has two popular movie filming points known as Sixth Mile and Ninth Mile named so because of they are located at 6 miles and 9 miles away from Ooty.

The extensive grassland of .....

About Pykara Dam

At a distance of 22 km from Ooty, Pykara Lake is a placid lake situated on Ooty - Mysore road in Tamilnadu. The dam amidst dense forest is a beautiful destination offering breathtaking scenery. It is one of the best places to visit in Ooty and an ideal place to experience a beautiful boat ride.

Situated amidst a lush green shola forest, Pykara Lake is formed as a result of the construction of the Pykara Dam over the Pykara River, the largest river in the Nilgiris district. The Pykara Lake formed by the dam is a blessed lake for the Todas, the local tribe of Nilgiris. The dam also has a powerhouse which is one of the oldest power plants in South India and is generating about 60 megawatts of electricity. It was declared a heritage plant in 1997, triggering the establishment of more hydroelectric power stations in the state.A few hundred meters north of the lake, the river tumbles down the rocks .....

About Pykara Falls

At a distance of 2 km from Pykara Lake and 23 km from Ooty Bus Stand, Pykara Falls is a majestic waterfall located in Ooty, Tamil Nadu. Situated on the Ooty - Mysore road, this is one of the best waterfalls near Bangalore, and among the most popular Ooty places to visit. Pykara Falls is formed by the Pykara River and is situated downstream of the Pykara Dam.

Height of Pykara Falls

The Pykara Waterfall drops down into two sections with a height of 55 m and 61 m through multiple layers on the rocky bed providing a unique beauty to the stream. The waterfall amidst the dense forest is a treat to watch. There are barricades along with the waterfall viewpoint for the safety of the tourists. It is one of the must-visit places for honeymoon couples and nature lovers as part of their Ooty tour. The surroundings .....