The Nilgiri Diaries-The Call of The Blue Mountains

 Day 2: Coonoor 

A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.” – Lao Tzu

If you're a traveler, plans hardly have a place in your life.  My trip to this beautiful hamlet was never preplanned and yet was one of the best I've made so far. 

From walking on the clouds to making new friends, Day 2 had its own charm. My day began with The Sunday Mass at the majestic Cathedral atop the mountain. The trek felt amazing, especially since it was early morning! 


Post- Mass, I joined my group and traversing through meandering roads we reached the ever gorgeous Ooty Lake. Decked with humongous pine and ferns trees on either side the lake gorged gorged through with an astonishing view of the Nilgiris. 



Another interesting thing about the trip was the visit to the tribal women's thread garden, created by women over 12 years with minute stitches creating over 150 different species of Nilgiri flowers which if nothing felt not only real but also fresh as if growing in real ground.


Next, on our list was the Botanical Garden which is home to more than 8000 species of flowers and  plants.  Where the flowers gaily blossomed in all their glory, giving thanks to their Divine Painter. The happy play of colors and Blessed with light showers,  the whole Garden seemed as enchanting as a page out of the fairytale. 




Having bid farewell to the flowers,  we couldn't but keep our poor tummies waiting could we? And hence...a visit to a local restaurant and delving into the delicacies of  Ootacamund.


Post-lunch moving through the meandering roads we reached the Doddabetta Peak, where the monsoon rain wooed with clouds took me back into some era done away with the passage of time. The chill only augmented the vibe. Having danced with nature, the real concert was still left to be a part of. 



We soon reached the evergreen tea estates of Coonoor. Crowned with forests and tea shrubs with silver oaks, and dazzled by rain, this place seemed to have been home to fays  and fairies. Having shopped a few teas and spices and beverages, we came to a majestic waterfalls. Like Ooty's many gifts, monkeys greeted us as if welcoming us to their homes. With a concert from the monkeys and dance with the clouds as they gently danced round the mountains, bidding farewell to Coonoor and its Cantonment, we headed back to our Stay. 








While Day 2 closed, a new adventure waits yet to be revealed.  Join me as I discover yet more adventures in Ooty.





While Day 2 closed, a new adventure waits yet to be revealed.  Join me as I discover yet more adventures in Ooty.

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