Festivals and Places of Interest in Niligiris

From Left to Right My brother,grandma and me :)) (when i was 14 yrs)
At Ooty Botanical gardens

The summer usually commences with few traditional festivals that take place in Ooty.I remember visiting Ooty annually for the flower show each year.Our visits included the flower show,rose garden,Horse race at the race course and the dog show. My grandpa used to take me and my brother traditionally every year till i was in high school.The first flower show was organised in the year 1896.The flower show is conducted at the Government Botanical Garden during the third week of May every year.Elaborate arrangements are made to conduct the flower show.The flower show attracts large number of tourists from all over India.Flower show is held for two days. The floral decorations, Indian and Japanese flower arrangements, vegetable carving, flower rangoli, bonsai etc., are the few attractions during the show days. There is also a rose show conducted at the centenary rose park, Ooty.I have a photograph clicked with my grandma in the Rose garden when i was in high school,see how all of you like it ! The dog show was my most favorite , i used to be fascinated by the puppies when i was young.Good old days! Apart from this the fruit show is also conducted every year.Nilgiris is highly noted for its Horticultural wealth especially temperate fruits like apple,plums, peaches, pears, persimmon and citrus.There are a lot of places to see in Ooty.I have visited the Botanical gardens of Ooty,Centenary rose park and doddabetta.Doddabetta is the highest peak in Tamil Nadu.It is at the junction of the Eastern and Western ghats.

Conoor is a place near Ooty.I visited Conoor with my friend Anita to visit my collegemate's Reshma and Uma.We visited Sim's park and Dolphin's nose(which is a view point).Conoor is famous for it's tea plantations and trade.

Apart from Ooty and Conoor,i got to visit Kotagiri twice.The first visit was during my college days,and we just bypassed Kotagiri onour way to Catherine falls which is 8 kilometers away.We stopped at a place quite far from the falls and trekked our way

Photo courtesy:http://www.nilgiris.tn.gov.in/

Catherine falls

through Catherine falls.Our college had arranged the trek in collaboration with Youth Hostels Association of India (YHAI).It was one of my memorable tour.I got to see more of Kotagiri during my last trip to India, Dec 2008-Mar 2009 when i visited Kotagiri with my in laws.It was a memorable trip.

Tribes of Niligiris

Photo courtesy:http://www.nilgiris.tn.gov.in

Hut of the Todas(Left) The traditional Toda(Right)

The "Todas"also know as Tudas / Tudavans / Todar are one of the primitive tribal groups in Tamil Nadu,India.The name "Todas" is derived from the "Tud tree",which is a sacred tree for the Todas.The Todas language dialect is an independent language which has influence of Tamil and Malayalam.The Todas live in a unique hut that is barrel shaped.

Photo courtesy:http://www.nilgiris.tn.gov.in
Kothas perforing their traditional dance

The "Kothas",live in Kothagiri.They are the artisans who are good in carpentry,metal works and pottery.Unlike the Todas the Kothas have excelled in education and are employed in many Government and private sectors.

The "Kurumbas" who are another sector in the tribes are traditional food gatherers as per occupation.They collect honey and produce.Due to their nature of work the Kurumbas stay in temporary houses called "Gudlu"

Photo courtesy:http://www.nilgiris.tn.gov.in
The Kurumbas and Irulas performing the tribal dance

The "Irulas" stay in parts of Kothagiri and Conoor.Earlier the Irulas were engaged in collecting few forest produce and took care of cattle.

The "Mullukurumbas" belong to Gudalur and they are one of the most primitive tribes as they still use bow and arrow for hunting.

The "Paniyas"(or workers) are inhabitants of Gudalur.They are considered to be one of the most backward tribes.The Paniyas were the sect of tribes who were bonded laborers earlier.Now most of them help in agriculture.

The "Kattunaikans" are another group of tribes who belong to Gudulur.

Niligiris District

Photo courtesy:http://www.nilgiris.tn.gov.in
The Niligiris District

The Niligiris district comprises of Panthalur,Gudalur,Udhagamandalam,Kothagiri,Conoor and Kundah.The Niligiris is very dear to me as i have memories of visiting Ooty, annually when i was a child.I remember tourisng Ooty with my parents,grandparents and my brother.As i am a dog lover i used to visit Ooty annually for the dog shows combied with the annual flower show in Ooty.I had a brief visit to Conoor as my friend who lives there hosted me a visit there with her family.It was a memorable visit during my college days.
Ooty is the most famous in the Niligiris.Ooty is also known as Udhagamandalam is the "Queen of hill stations" and the capital of Nilgiris district.Nilgiris - "Blue Mountains"used to be a summer getaway for the Britishers during the colonial days.Ooty is situated at an altitude of 2,240 meters above sea level.Ooty was discovered by the Britishers in the year 1819,the roads connecting Coimbatore(Mettupalayam) to Ooty was laid by Mr. John Sullivan(the then Collector of Coimbatore),Mr. S.R.Lushington(the then Governor) and few others.The inhabitants of Ooty speak the native Badaga language.Apart from Badaga,languages like Tamil, Kannada, Hindi, Malayalam and English are also spoken.The toy train that starts from Mettupalayam to Conoor is a unique expience to view the tea estates and greenery of the Niligiri mountains.Ooty has numerous tea estates that eventually made it famous.The annual "Tea and Tourism festival" attracts large crowds.

Photo courtesy:http://www.nilgiris.com
Toy train

The localites in the Niligiris celebrate the thaipoosam in Elk Hill Murugan Temple (February), Bookkapuram Mariamman Annual Festival (February), Ooty Mariamman Temple Festival (April) and the Coonoor Mariamman Temple Festival (April).Apart from that the boat races and boat Pageantry in Ooty (May),flower show in Ooty (May) and fruit show in Coonoor (May) are visited by both national and the international tourists.