Botanical Garden Ooty is an absolute paradise for nature lovers. It spans over fifty-five acres and has a wide variety of plants. The Horticultural Department of Tamil Nadu maintains the garden and it is divided into five sections.
You can enjoy a leisurely walk in the garden, see the beautiful flowers, and relax on the manicured lawns.
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Botanical Garden Ooty: A Paradise of Love
The Botanical Garden Ooty houses thousands of indigenous flora making it a must-visit destination to appreciate the beauty of nature.
One of the main highlights of the garden is the Toda hill which gives an insight into the culture and lives of Todas. Another significant attraction of the botanical garden Ooty is the Fossil Tree Trunk which is believed to be around twenty million years old.
Botanical Garden Ooty has a conservatory where various flowering plants have been divided into different groups including Cineraria, Balsam, Cyclamen, Schizanthus, Calceolaria, Gloxinia, Tuberous begonia, etc.
Every year in May, you can attend a flower show at the Ooty Botanical Garden where various rare plant species and flowers are exhibited. The flower show is held for two days during which the show is inaugurated on the first day and prizes are distributed on the second day.
You can book the Online bus tickets for the Ooty at the lowest price and free cancellation features with zingbus.
Botanical Garden Ooty Open Closing Timings
You can visit the Ooty Botanical Gardens throughout the week from 7:00 am to 6:30 pm. But if you’re visiting on special occasions like Holi or Diwali you’re advised to contact the botanical garden Ooty officials to know about the Ooty Botanical Gardens timings.
Botanical Garden Ooty Entry Fees
Botanical Garden Entry Fees is Rs 30 per person for adults and Rs 15 per person for children. If you will be using a video camera inside the garden you will have to pay Rs 100 extra along with the Ooty Botanical Garden ticket price.
Hotels Near Botanical Garden Ooty
You’ll find both budget-friendly and premium hotels near Botanical Garden Ooty catering to various budgets and preferences. From cozy guesthouses to luxurious resorts, there’s a wide range of accommodation choices for every traveler.
Most of the hotels offer amenities like delectable dining options, comfortable rooms, and recreational facilities ensuring an enjoyable and relaxing experience for guests. Some hotels also offer guided tours and various activities.
With modern amenities, warm hospitality, and top-notch services these hotels are the perfect base for you to rejuvenate, unwind, and have a comfortable stay experience.
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History of Botanical Garden Ooty
The British Government established the government botanical gardens Ooty in 1848 making it one of the oldest botanical gardens in India.
It initially served as a pleasure garden for the families of the British officials. Later, the botanical garden Ooty was expanded so that it could serve as a hub for cultivating and introducing diverse species of plants, including the ones with economic importance.
Well-maintained lush green lawns, rare plant species (such as the cork tree which is the only of its kind in India, the monkey puzzle tree, and the paper bark tree), a fossilized tree that is around twenty million years old, an Italian-style garden that borders a clear pool, fern house with a wide variety of orchids and ferns and, a vast variety of flowering bushes are the highlights of this garden.
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Flower Show at Ooty Botanical Garden
The annual flower show is held in May at the Ooty Botanical Garden. It is a vibrant celebration of botanical diversity and nature’s beauty.
This eagerly anticipated event is attended by many visitors each year giving them a chance to enjoy a splendid display of flowers, innovative garden designs, and rare plant species.
The flower show spans two days with the first day dedicated to the inauguration of the ceremony and the second day dedicated to the prize distribution ceremony, where the most outstanding exhibitors are rewarded by the jury members.
As you wander through the botanical garden Ooty during the flower show you’ll be rewarded with a visual feast as the entire garden gets transformed into a kaleidoscope of fragrances and colors.
Every corner of the garden is adorned by floral arrangements, from meticulously crafted Japanese and Indian decorations to mesmerizing flower rangolis creating a magical ambiance.
More than 250 exhibitors participate in the flower show, including various voluntary agencies and government departments. Visitors are treated to a breathtaking display of cut flowers, potted plants, temperate and tropical vegetables, and fruits during this festival.
The main highlight of this show is the garden competition. Before the flower show, jury members assess each garden based on factors such as overall aesthetic appeal, maintenance, and design.
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Things To Do at Ooty Botanical Garden
Let’s take a look at a few of the interesting things that you can enjoy at the Ooty Botanical Garden.
Wander Through the Botanical Garden Ooty
Stroll through the distinct sections of the Ooty Botanical Garden and stay in awe as you see the diverse variety of flowers and lush green plants.
At the Lower Lawn, you’ll be able to see the fern house that houses a twenty-million-year-old fossilized tree trunk. As you wander through the New Garden you will find a wide collection of roses and a pond that houses several species of aquatic plants.
You can head to the Italian Garden that was laid out by Italian prisoners of war and features Italian-style garden patterns. See a wide collection of perennials and annuals in the conservatory area that was built in 1912.
Layout of Ooty Botanical Garden
Botanical Garden Ooty is divided into five different sections. Let’s take a look at each of these distinct sections.
Lower Garden
The Lower Garden offers a serene retreat, with Kikuyu grass stretching alongside the Raj Bhavan road. In this section of the garden, you can see a captivating collection of one hundred and twenty-seven species of ferns, enhancing the beauty of the landscape.
The main highlight of this section is the carpet-bed design reminiscent of the Indian Union’s map.
It has been curated with a unique assortment of different kinds of plants. Another highlight of this garden is the fossil trunk which is believed to be around 20 million years old.
You can admire here a diverse variety of trees such as Hymenosporum flavum, Cryptomeria japonica, Cedrus deodara, Cordyline australis, Quercus griffithii, Eucalyptus maculate, and Cryptomeria japonica. The Lower Garden is a magical paradise for nature lovers.
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New Garden
The New Garden is a beautiful section of the Ooty Botanical Garden that exudes the perfect blend of lush greenery and floral beauty making it a must-visit site for visitors.
One of the main highlights of this garden section is the rose garden where you can see a fascinating display of Floribunda, hybrid roses and Polyanthas rose varieties. As you wander through this garden section you will be treated to a kaleidoscope of fragrances and colors.
The carpet bed emblems of the Government of India and the Government of Tamil add to the beauty of the garden. You can see here intricate floral designs crafted with an assortment of vibrant plants.
The garden section also boasts a wide variety of trees, including Pieris ovalifolia, Taxodium mucronatum, Juniperus virginiana, Pinus wallichiana, Eucalyptus eugenoides, Photinia lindleyana, Ginkgo biloba, Pinus canariensis, Cupressus lawsoniana, and Araucaria cunninghamii.
These beautiful trees provide shelter and shade and enhance the surroundings’ beauty. There is also a pond situated within this garden area adorned with various aquatic plants. You can relax by the edge of the pond and admire the beauty of the surroundings.
Italian Garden
The Italian Garden was laid out after World War I by Italian prisoners. This section of the garden reflects the artistic flair and skilled craftsmanship of its creators.
The charm of this garden lies in its beautifully arranged floral displays, featuring a breathtaking array of flowers like balsam, begonia, asters, ageratum, petunia, pansy, zinnia, phlox, cosmos, and perennial favorites like larkspur, dahlia, salvia, and delphinium. These flowers are beautifully arranged in traditional Italian fashion.
It also houses a crescent-shaped lake that is dotted with lotus flowers and many other aquatic plants. You can stroll along the garden’s pathways, admire the beautiful blooms, and soak in the enchanting garden’s tranquil ambiance.
The Italian Garden exudes the perfect blend of natural beauty and historical significance. It is a cherished gem inviting visitors to experience the nature’s allure.
The Conservatory
The Conservatory is another important section of the Ooty Botanical Garden that serves as a recreational hub and educational hub, offering visitors the chance to appreciate a wide variety of flowering plants.
This public-accessible garden section plays an important role in classifying flowering plants into various groups, providing important insights into their botanical classifications and characteristics.
Inside the Conservatory you can marvel at a diverse array of flowering plants, such as Cineraria, Balsam, Cyclamen, Schizanthus, Calceolaria, Gloxinia, Tuberous begonia, Chrysanthemum, Primulas, Coleus, Geranium, Tydea, and Achemenes.
Each species has been meticulously displayed ensuring their beauty making it the perfect place for botanical enthusiasts.
You can walk through through the aisles, learning about the different plant species and admiring the beautiful blooms. The Conservatory provides an immersive experience to the visitors.
The Nurseries
The Nurseries are located around three hundred feet above the lower lawns and are mainly used for the cultivation and breeding of exotic plants.
This section houses a series of terraces and glass houses, meticulously designed to offer ideal conditions for the propagation and growth of a wide range of plant species.
Some of the plants that are mainly cultivated here include cacti, succulents, begonias, ferns, bulbous plants, and orchids. Within the glass houses of this garden section, specialized environments have been created to mimic these plants’ natural habitat, ensuring their vitality and health.
There are terraces within this garden section dedicated to the cultivation of plants for seed production, cut flowers, and trial purposes. Here, you can see the different stages of plant development and growth, from flowering to propagation.
The Nurseries help in the conservation of plants, serving as a repository for endangered and rare plant species. Through careful propagation and cultivation, they contribute to the vulnerable plant species protection and the preservation of botanical diversity.
You can learn here about the habitats and unique characteristics of the exotic plants.
How to Reach Botanical Garden Ooty?
By Air
Coimbatore is the nearest airport to Ooty. Ooty is just a two-hour drive away from the Coimbatore airport. Once you have arrived at Ooty, you can hire an auto-rickshaw, private cabs, or any other public transport to reach Botanical Garden Ooty.
By Road
Ooty has a good connection by roadways to its neighboring cities. You can hire a private car or bus to reach Ooty from your desired destination and enjoy the breathtaking natural views on the way.
From Ooty, you can hire cabs, auto-rickshaws, and public transport to reach Botanical Garden Ooty.
You can book the Online bus tickets for the Ooty at the lowest price and free cancellation features with zingbus.
Have a hassle-free Tour of Ooty with zingbus
With Zingbus, your ideal travel partner, you can have an enjoyable and seamless tour of Ooty. At Zingbus, we offer timely transportation services so you can rest assured that your journey to Ooty will commence on time as scheduled.
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We understand that emergencies can occur at any time and your plans can change unexpectedly.
The best thing about Zingbus is that you can avail of our free cancellation services if you want to cancel your booking. Whether it’s an unforeseen circumstance or a last-minute change in your travel plan, you can cancel your bookings in a hassle-free way and get a full refund.
So what are you waiting for? Book Ooty bus tickets Online from our website to have the best travel experience and a memorable journey.
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