36 hairpin bends ..
There is a debate whether the Queen of hills is still the Queen. But its often the journey rather than the destination which is special . I leave you with some pictures shot during our ascent across 36 hair pin bends from Masinagudi to Ooty .
I’ve been on this journey of hairpin bends years back and its memories are still fresh in my mind. Yes, the journey is special, rather than the destination.
These nature pictures of wild flowers, terraced fields, waterfalls and mountains are lovely and I’d love to stay overnight in the lodge seen in last but one picture.
Is Ooty vying with Darjeeling for the title of ‘Queen of Hills?’
I dont think either of them are queens anymore 🙂 but yes, the glimpses of life here are so relaxing and lovely ..I wished too that I can linger her awhile
Ah, Ooty brings back some fond childhood memories. We were in Mysore then, and had made many trips to this lovely hill-station, the only one I had seen in those times!
great photos, it really looks beautiful there.
Nice photos of Nature, very different from the conventional European beauties. Thats why India is different 🙂 Ooty is wonderful
Beautiful pictures! But what I loved most was “its often the journey rather than the destination which is special”!
“Navigare necesse est. Vivere non est necesse.”
Have a great weekend!
I love the second and last pic 🙂
Interesting!
Shantanu – Ooty used to be my summer vacation destination every year when I was a kid..dad studied in lovedale and he would never stop raving about the place
Ken – Thanks..Ooty is a very old hill station , as old as the hills themselves
Pijush – Nature surprises us sometimes ..I didnt want to take regulat pictures ..I wanted a perspective which reflects us
GMG – Thanks ..Its a great feeling when you are travelling..taking in the fresh air, looking at life with a new perspective ..life changes at every turn..yes, the jouurney is more exciting than the destination ..its more dynamic .Hope you had a great weekend
Reeta – I love those pics too …thanks for dropping by
I wanna go there. With all hillstations degrading, probably Ooty is still a queen!
The pics just get better 🙂 And driving along those hairpins must have been really scary!?
Priyank – Places around Ooty are..Ooty is just a dirty crowded hill station ..go away from it..even if its just 5 kms
Smita – Ya..at one point it was..we were three cars back to back and we were leading the pack and it was well past twlight when we returned and it was scary when a bus suddenly came from the other direction when we were negotiating a curve..there was no space at all and all our cars were mid size to large ..so was very scary..it was a close call
This a really good Blog… In fact I was researching on good blogs to link to… I’m an ardent traveler myself, but still very young ..Just 22 really..But just looking at your pictures and reading your words assures me that a life of travel is possible..Thank you…hope i come across you some time in my journey through Life… So what do you do for a living apart from traveling so much….And if I may ask so. How old are you?? n since when have you been traveling..You don’t need to answer if you don’t want to..
Lovely pics…..Lot of green, is green your fav color?
Reaper – Welcome to backpakker ad thanks for your long comment ..Im a vagabond – I guess since I was a kid, Ive been travelling – mom used to say I have wheels on my feet 🙂 Well, Ive been in the media, but no junkets for me ..Ad age – oh I used to be 22 once ..but I dont really feel old !
Ajeya – Thanks ..but no, its actually blue , though I like green too
looks like a wonderful place! it’s great that you have places like this nearby. yes, the call of the wild should not be ignored. 🙂
WoW…some beautifully captured & composed shots with lovely lighting & the colours…this place is really beautiful!
a lovely travelogue– and more–some delicate photography b-p
Bluemountainmama – That I agree..Its the only good thing about the place where I live ..I have several options to escape
Kalyan-Thanks..Im glad you liked it .
Mark – Sometimes simplicity is more pictureque than a stunning visual ..I tried not to shoot the most obvious-mountains !Thanks ..
Lovely pictures….., i came back to see you…i am out of station for a short period…sorry
Your pictures brought back childhood memories. I have been to the Ooty area several times as a child. In fact we have relatives in ooty 🙂 But all of my visits have been using the narrow gauge train .. and unfortunately, i was too lil to have a camera back then ..
Your photos are so amazing! What a great getaway!
A very beautiful region!
Hey nice pics, have never been to this part of the country 🙁 hight time i started travelling, till then your travel blog will do 🙂
By the way, please change my name from eternal search to Anjuli on your blogroll, eternal search is depressing and reminds me of my rough patch…
Thanks!
Hey backpackker,
I have been through this route to ooty when I was in college. You pictures brought me those wonderful moment back to me. Thanks 🙂
BEautiful picures. The flowers look lovely. Though I havent been to Ooty, I have visited several hill stations in north, and I love journeying through the hills.
Raghu – welcome back..aam glad that you liked it
Cosmic Joy – I love the train journey too..Ooty has too many childhood memories for me as well
Ashley-Thank you.Ooty or Nilgiris is one of the oldest hill stations of South India .
Sidney- Welcome to backpakker and to South India ..Im glad you liked it
Anjuli – Thanks for your comment. Im happy that my blog is urging people like you to travel
Sivaram – memories are always precious..Thanks fpr dropping by
Sigma -wild flowers are always so pretty ..I simple love them ..There was one hairpin bend which was just full of flowers ..it was simply awesome
The second and the fourth snaps show my favorite spots in Masinagudi. The firs ttime i visited these it was as if i was peeping into a oil canvas painting… lovely post!
I don’t think so….. Darjeeling is way way way more beautiful. You just cannot compare himalayas with western ghats. The journey to Darjeeling is more soothing and extravagent. The flora is different altogether. The coolness of the air and mist makes Darjeeling a more sought after place. Alas! marketing is not good for Darjeeling. As per as i know Ghum is the highest railway station is the world which is in Darjeeling, and one would always remember a visit to ghum. South india is hot as oven, so people here love Ooty, but you cannot compare it with Himalayas. This is like comaparing the smell of fart with the smell of Rose.