Queen Of South India - Ooty

I never really thought that I would have a sudden opportunity to visit Ooty and Coonoor. It has been sort of a dream to every middle class child to visit Ooty because it has been a part of our childhood with countless movies based on this land.

Hum Apke Hain Kaun, Kuch Kuch Hota Hain, Maine Pyaar Kiya, Raja Hindustani, Roja, Dil Se, Deewana, a list that goes on. 

What made it more special was that, I was on a vacation with my family after 12 long years. I know, it's shocking!

Let's start from the top. On my parent's first visit to Bangalore, they demanded of going to a hill station and the first name that popped in our minds was OOTY. All credits to my sister who took over the responsibility of the entire trip. Honestly, I didn't feel the excitement at first. Maybe because I've always admired mountains all my life but never been to one before. It was all very new to me - an overnight bus journey, with my family, opening my eyes to a view of Nilgiri ranges and the cold winds. The common interest of my entire family is Winters. The weather was fascinating to all of us, especially me. I've spent my entire time there gawking at the surroundings. I was new to all of this and that woke up the child in me. But the trip wasn't all merry. It was filled with bits of adventure that made it even more special and memorable.

After an overnight sleeper bus ride to Ooty, we finally reached the Ooty bus stand in the morning hours. Our plan was to freshen up and get ready for sightseeing. It was the peak season and the roads were crowded. The transportation fares were starkly hiked. the place was buzzing with people. 

We proceeded to the hotel as it was pre-booked. We took an auto and reached the place but the twist awaits. There was no hotel to be found with such name. We looked around but nothing. We searched for the hotel within a 500m radius, we called the reception, we called the customer care and God knows what not! But everything went in vain. We were exhausted already. Our auto, waiting for our response, created a traffic jam. So, we decided to have breakfast somewhere and discuss on "what to do next?".  Anyway, we had a good breakfast session. Luckily, the receptionist of the hotel which served us food said that there were two rooms available but we need to wait for some time. After waiting for an hour or so, we were told that there were no rooms available, after all. Everyone was angry and restless. My sister and I went on a searching spree and I never imagined that it could be that difficult to find a hotel. What we went through is indescribable. Let's just say that we searched at least 50 hotels and walked around 5 kms just to come across one place that was hidden in a corner of the city. We found it just when we were at the verge of giving up. It was a small hotel which had a homely vibe. The staff members were helpful and friendly. It was our paradise, probably the place was also named Eden Paradise. 

We finally checked in, got freshened up. We got ready for some sightseeing. Although, we ran a little late from our schedule but that's okay. First stop, Cairn Hill Forest. A little far from the town was the hill forest but our adventure wasn't over yet. After paying the fare to the auto rickshaw, equal to a "flight ticket", we couldn't get off at the location because it started pouring outside. We could've waited longer but we were already running late. We had to return back. It made me a little sad because the way to the hill forest was so serene that it increased my expectations. I didn't want to return without seeing what secrets the place had stored within itself. 

It was afternoon already and we were hungry. It was time for Le Cafe - an open air European style cafe situated in the heart of the town. Touchwood, it was the best burger I've ever had. The place gave a Greece like atmosphere and the food, Mamma Mia! 

As we surfed online for our next destination, we came across St. Stephen's Church, which was right beside Le Cafe. The church looked ancient, with a massive beam and old timber seats. I could spend my entire day sitting inside that silent church. That exact moment, my heart was filled with tranquility.  The garden inside the church premises were filled with flowers. White, purple, yellow, red, green, it felt as if the garden was touched by a rainbow. Each petal reflected beauty, unleashing my inner flower child. 

Now we move forward to our last location for the day, The Ooty Boat House. Probably, my least favorite place. That place made me claustrophobic. I understand the term "Peak Season" but this was way out of proportion. The queue for boating was longer than expected. It took us a couple of hours to reach the boat. The boat ride was calming after a long hectic day. We were lucky to catch the sunset while enjoying the boat ride across the Ooty Lake. It was time to head back to our hotel room. The town becomes silent in the evening, so silent that you could hear your own heartbeat. Everyone was tired and wanted to sleep. We were supposed to head for Coonoor the next day but I was not done with Ooty yet. I wanted to explore it a bit more, not any famous place but the lanes of the town. The elevated roads of Ooty which were narrow but had millions of stories stored in them. I kept walking, observing the people around me. The tourists, the locals, the roadside shops, the dark narrow gullies and the different smell in the air. All of it felt weird for a moment. I was not ready to leave the place yet, but I was a traveler and I was supposed to keep the journey going. The thought kept me up all night. All of a sudden it felt gloomy around me. Maybe, it was my sadness overpowering me. Nature can be so overpowering. The memories of that imperfectly perfect day would always be with me. A perfect day with my family.

It doesn't end here. I'll be continuing with the next day that I spent in Coonoor. An even better day to remember, Stay tuned.