Nilgiris - The Coldest Summer Getaway for Bangaloreans

Once upon a time, in other cities of India people used to envy our city of Bengaluru for its charismatic and ever soothing weather. Not so hot and humid summers, cool but not chilled winters and wet but romantic monsoon. This is how the seasons used to present themselves to the people of Bangalore. But those are past.To escape these pains we have to remain confined within the artificial environment of our home or office.

Monday to Friday you are forced to sit on your reclining office chair and stare in front of the computer, well-guarded from the sun’s menace and then go home and again sit on your couch in front of your grand LED-TVs within the comforts of your home. But why do you have to do this on the weekends, even when God has gifted the Bangaloreans with some fantastic hillside locations in the Nilgiris. You can go on a trip to tried-and-tested ‘the queen of hills’ Ooty & Coonoor. The innumerable valleys and lakes of Red hills, acres and acres of plantation in Kotagiri and the high peaks of Avalanche hills, the Nilgiris has so much to offer that you will be spoilt for choice.  The best thing about Nilgiris is that it lies between 1500 to 2600 above msl, making it the highest and the coldest hill stations in comparison to the likes of Coorg, Wayanad & Chikamagalur. Bunk the coziness of your home, get out and experience how to it feels when the natural cool breeze strikes against your face and send you in trance.

Udhagamandalam,Ootacamund or Ooty, the queen of the hill stations is the first name that pops out when we think about the Nilgiris. Even though we have to been to this place gazillion times and it has changed from a weekend hideout to a money raking commercial tourist center; the place still has its charm and manages to burst your stress, the moment we step upon this serene world. The Rose and Botanical Gardens, the lake, the famous Nilgiris Mountain Railway aka the toy-train and its steam chugging locomotives, ‘The queen’ has lots to offer that you can ask for.

Coonoor, the second most popular hill station in the Nilgiris, is also conferred with lavishly staged or spectacular display of natural beauty. Coonoor is the most commonly visited place for bird watchers for the place is full of beautiful and rare birds including black woodpecker, parakeets, barbets, mynas, cuckoos, Malabar trogon, Malabar gray hornbill, crested hawk eagle, and crested serpent eagle. Though secondary in importance to Ooty, Coonoor offers a more secluded retreat, away from the crowds that throng Ooty. Blessed with a milder climate, Coonoor also offers some of the finest hiking and trekking in South India, which will enable you to be closest to the rolling mountains and lush green foliage of this hill resort.

Kotagiri - A jungle trail that takes you to a small stream or passing the lush green tea estates and a magnificent Mayo River, a viewpoint providing some of the most spectacular and ‘instagram’ moments that you don't even think exists, a 4 km trek up to the sacred Rangasamy Pillar or splashing waters and having the moment of the life under Catherine and Elk Falls, Kotagiri will make you go weak at the knees and leave you yearning for more. Doddabetta, the zenith of Nilgiris is just 22 km away from Kotagiri.

Avalanche and Red Hills - Situated very close to each other, Avalanche and Red Hills serves up as an alternate destination for ever crowded Ooty and are only 28 kms away from it.The place serves out a ranges of valleys and lakes on the platter to entice your adventure hunger. Be it trout fishing in the Avalanche Lake, BBQ near the Emerald Lake or a trek in the green and serene Red Hills, the place has no dearth of options for the people bitten by the travel bug.

So if a romantic holiday tucked away in the hills amidst cool-n-fresh air and verdant Nature is what you are looking for this summer, Nilgiris is your best bet. 

You can also checkout our handpicked choicest accommodations in Nilgiris: Experience Nilgiris