Holidaying @ Ooty

Come next day morning, we took the first trip on the "Ooty Heritage Train" - our co-passengers were a group of Japanese scientists  visiting India. What a delightful company they were - a straight lift from "Big Bang Theory" I should add :-D. Just ensure you book your tickets in advance in one of the first class coaches(the remaining coaches would be literally overflowing with tourists) you are set for a quaint one hour ride......

The view from the train.....


That done, we drove down towards Lovedale to visit a tea garden and a few Victorian era churches - no crowds accosting us here and for a moment we were transferred to another world.

The Stained Glasses in these churches are centuries old.....


A hearty lunch later, we stepped into the botanical garden - The first few pit-stops were full of hooting college kids, honeymoon couples and huge families! We moved along  ignoring them. The air by then was cold and crisp after a afternoon shower. Walking together in that high altitude - with hardly any soul for company - amidst tall pine trees for company, we soon hit upon the the Toda tribe settlement(Do take a moment and read up about them). Todas are the indigenous tribes of Ooty.....

Place of Worship of Todas

Maybe the secret behind a good holiday lies in meeting people on the way, exploring places outa way and not really bothering about the "to do" checklist that a tourist book will recommend! Indeed Oooty was a pleasant, refreshing break....

Linking this to AtoZ challenge . H is for Holidaying @ Ooty

N thus comes to an end our weekend getaway to Ooty. So where should we head next people :-D

25 comments:

  1. Ooty :( :( I so want to go!!! Nice pictures!!

    ~S(t)ri
    Participant|AtoZ Challenge 2014
    Smile, it makes (y)our day!

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  2. What lovely photographs, Meena! I really like to go in those old churches with beautiful stained glass windows...there was one near my university library where I studied, I would often go there just to be with my thoughts underneath all that filtered light. Glad that your last minute Ooty trip did become so magical after all :)

    Beauty Interprets, Expresses, Manifests the Eternal

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  3. Completely agree with your last statement. That is my kind of holiday, chucking the must-see list and going with the flow....lovely post Meens. Made me want to take a road trip...love the photos...brings out the richness of the place.

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  4. I liked the train ride so much when I was in Ooty...Truly the pictures you show remind be how beautiful the place is..
    Random Thoughts Naba

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  5. The pictures you shared are so amazingly beautiful. Loved that Toda's place of worship, looks so cute! Do they have houses also like that?

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  6. Gorgeous pictures :D I have the exact picture as your second one. Clicked when I went to Ooty.

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  7. You are absolutely right......small surprises in the journey count more than having a planned holiday... pictures really speak about the beauty of Ooty....

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  8. Even that place of worship is so cute na :) :)
    I love Ooty and would love to go there all over again!

    Ishithaa

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  9. I have never been to Ooty. Maybe I should plan a trip with the family soon! Excellent pics, Meena :)

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  10. I have travelled by this train and seen the beauty of Ooty.Your post brought back lovely memories.

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  11. Interesting! Thanks.

    Beth
    http://bethlapinsatozblog.wordpress.com/

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  12. Ha ha Big Bang theory .. so funny:-) I want to go on that train... Just see that wonderful scenery ... It looks awesome . in your great pictures.. Enjoyed it, Meena, so much:-)

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  13. lovely greeeen post. I adore Ooty n have been there a few times but never on tha train, its to and from Mettupalyam ?

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  14. last december we had planned a trip to ooty but it got cancelled coz of some reasons :-( i so want to go der!! planning again nw :-D

    http://swathishenoy.blogspot.com/
    a-z participant

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  15. You know my feelings on Ooty and Conoor, don't you? So glad you had a good time.

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  16. Ooty needs to be visited! And your photographer is very smart :D clicks awesome stuff!

    Richa

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  17. Amazing pics. Wow.. I ve visited the place about five times and still can't get enough :)
    Shalzzz|Loving Life
    Check out my latest at Tale of Two Tomatoes

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  18. Great pictures, this looks like a lovely day spent:)

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  19. GREAT pictures! Love them. Thanks for stopping by my blog the other day!

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  20. Loved seeing your awesome pictures! The scenery is gorgeous. ♥

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  21. Those pictures are stunning! I would love to see those stained glass windows. So lovely. :)

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  22. lovely pics... fell in love, would love to holiday here sometime in my life !

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  23. Place of worship..... how beautiful if you could live there. ..

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  24. lovely lovely!!
    That train ride is a fab experience!! :)

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