For most people / tourists, Ooty means Charring Cross, Botanical Garden, Pykara, Toy Train and tea gardens of Coonoor. For some seasoned travelers it may also mean Fernhill Palace, Wellington and Lovedale.
But, the undiscovered and pristine part of these Nilgiris is the biosphere reserve, better known as the rea around Red Hills with as many as 8 aquamarine lakes hidden amidst the mist of Western Ghats. Lakes like Emerald, Avalanche and Upper Bhavani provide you an experience of the hill station when the Britishers hadn’t yet discovered the place it is today and how beautiful unspoilt nature can be.
These lakes are within a 35 km drive from the Ooty railway station. The roads are lovely, traffic light and scenery exquisite. One could stop here and there for tea and snacks. It is a nice day trip from Ooty.
This region has lesser places to stay, and needs to be booked in advance. Two places – (1) Destiny Farm Stay & (2) Red Hill Nature Resort – stand out as the ones with the best experience.
Go check this out, before commercialization picks up like a plague.
