Ooty Family Friendly 2-Day Itinerary in May 2023

  1. Day 1: Botanical Garden
    15 mins (3.6 km) from Ooty Bus Stand

    Spread over 55 acres, the Ooty Botanical Garden is a nature lover's paradise. Showcasing a wide range of rare trees, shrubs and flowers, these gardens feature a variety of orchids, a fossil tree, a monkey puzzle tree, and a 20 million year old fossilized tree trunk.

  2. Day 1: Ooty Lake
    20 mins (3.8 km) from Botanical Garden

    Ooty Lake is an artificial lake surrounded by lush greenery and eucalyptus trees. Apart from its scenic beauty, the lake also offers boating on paddle boats and rowing boats. You can also indulge in some fun activities like horse riding and mini train rides around the lake.

  3. Day 1: Thread Garden
    10 mins (2.7 km) from Ooty Lake

    The Thread Garden is a unique attraction that showcases a vast collection of hand-crafted flowers, plants, and trees made from finely threaded cloth material. The flowers and plants resemble real ones and are crafted with great attention to detail. You can buy souvenirs made from the same thread art in the gift shop.

  4. Day 2: Avalanche Lake
    2.5 hrs (68.4 km) from Thread Garden

    Avalanche Lake is a mesmerizing location around 30kms from Ooty town. It's a popular picnic spot with its serene atmosphere and spectacular natural backdrop. It also offers trekking and hiking opportunities for adventure enthusiasts.

  5. Day 2: Dolphin's Nose
    1 hr (25.6 km) from Avalanche Lake

    The Dolphin's Nose viewpoint is a popular hilltop spot offering panoramic views of the surrounding hills, tea gardens, and the deep valley. The dolphin's nose shape of the hill gives the viewpoint its unique name! It's a great spot to capture some Instagram-worthy shots.

Time and Cost Estimates

  • Botanical Garden (1-2 hours, INR 30 per person)
  • Ooty Lake (1-2 hours, INR 10 per person entry fee, INR 400 for paddle boat ride for 30 mins)
  • Thread Garden (30 mins-1 hour, INR 20 per person)
  • Avalanche Lake (3-4 hours, INR 1500-2000 for a jeep ride from Ooty)
  • Dolphin's Nose (1 hour, no entry fee)
  • Total Estimated Costs: INR 1560-2060

Useful Tips

If you have more time, you can include a visit to the Doddabetta Peak, which is the highest peak in the Nilgiri Mountains and offers breathtaking views. For families with children, the Sims Park can be a nice addition. If you have less time, you can skip the Thread Garden and visit other nearby attractions like the Government Rose Garden or the Pykara Falls.

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