The Nilgiri Diaries- The Call of The Blue Mountains

 



Safarnama

Jise safar-e-ishq hua ho use safar se mohabbat kyun hai, yeh puchte ho? Jo manzil bina hi rah chal pada hai, janaab unhe ghar dikha rahe ho?

Mohabbat jiski waadiyan, samundar,aasman ho, use chaar diwalon mein kaid kar rahe ho?

For those who aren't aware of Urdu,  "for the one who has fallen in love,  why do you ask, 'why did you fall in love'?" He who's love are valleys, hills, the waves and vast blue sky, why do you try and imprison him in 4 walls?


Nestled in the Bosom of the Nilgiri Mountain Ranges lie the three neighboring hamlets. The erstwhile summer home of the Madras Regiment of the British Raj, Ootacamund or Ooty is home to some bloodcurdling horror stories of the lady in white, to the delicious homemade chocolates to the famed Nilgiri teas and coffees to epic Neogothic Cathedrals and Churches to cheap yet amazing woollens.  Join me as I explore the history and culture of these three hamlets. 


Day 1-

My day began with an early morning bus in Bangalore. As if flying, we drove through the picturesque yet wild Bandipur Wildlife Sanctuary, home to Tigers, Deer, Monkeys. Having made acquaintances with God's creatures, we traversed the circling roads of the Nilgiri Mountains and finally reached Ooty Mall Road. 



While basking in the majesty of the beloved Nilgiri Ranges, and nestled amid the beautiful white woolish clouds,  our little cottage,  which may rightfully be called, "humara ashiana" our little home away from home. 

No town or hamlet in India are devoid of its architectural Bliss. Ooty is neither! Home to some of the neogothic architectural wonders is The majestic Sacred Heart Cathedral crowned  with marveling Statue of Christ our King and God, this church posesses two bell towers where the bells chime together as the Angelic Hosts singing praise to Our God. The Cathedral Choir with its organ music and brilliance of the Holy Sacrifice of The Mass, my first evening at Ooty still had a tinge of awesomeness to add. 



Famed for its legendary Hot Chocolate and ginger Chai and being the earliest Sellers of Ooty's renowned homemade chocolate and their famed Classic Japanese Shortcake, Moody's brought a chocolaty end to my first day. If you've stayed this long, Stay tuned for Day2!



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