A man-made lake with beautiful natural settings, Ooty Lake (Tamil: ஊட்டி ஏரி) is surrounded by eucalyptus trees and dollops of green plants along the shores. It is among Ooty’s most picturesque tourist destinations.
The lake, which was once built for fishing, is now essentially a major tourist destination in Ooty. You can find peace by riding a bike around the lake in the evening (you can hire one), or by spending a peaceful morning with your significant other by your side and the lake in front of you. Ooty Lake was once considerably larger, but as time went on, it became smaller to make room for additional buildings, such as the racecourse.
The boat races and pageantry that are a feature of Ooty’s Summer Festival are the principal attractions that surround the lake. Since boating is one of the main draws of Ooty Lake all year long, it is frequently referred to as Ooty Boat House. Around the lake, you can also find a variety of stores offering reasonably priced local goods like shawls and eucalyptus oils.
In 1824, the Coimbatore collector set the groundwork for what is now a vibrant and entertaining venue for both adults and children. Depending on your preference, you can rent a paddle boat or rowing boat at the on-site boat house or pay for motorboat trips. And the adjacent amusement park makes sure that kids don’t leave the place heavy-hearted.
One of the most stunning and attractive lakes in South India is Ooty Lake, which has a mountain railway passing through one of its banks. Additionally, it’s a must-visit location to see and appreciate Ooty’s beauty because of the surrounding flora.
What was formerly a fishing area has evolved into a gathering place where people can socialise and spend time with their loved ones. The list of things to do at Ooty Lake is as follows:
1. Boating on the lake: To enjoy the surroundings, Tamil Nadu Tourism’s Ooty Lake Boat House provides a variety of boat trips. When it’s not too crowded, you may take in the tranquil 30-minute ride among the forests, greenery, and far-off hills. It is possible to rent huge motor boats, row boats, and pedal boats.
2. Photographing the area Ooty Lake is a picture-perfect location for photographers to showcase their creative side, especially with the Nilgiris in the background. Ooty Lake has everything you could ever want in a photographer, from vibrant people to photograph to flowery gardens and evergreen scenery.
3. Cycling the outskirts: On a long day, you can even ride away at Ooty Lake. After paying the rent, choose a bicycle and get on it to explore the neighbourhood around Ooty Lake and the bustle of the food vendors. at addition to a wide selection of food, some counters at such tuck shops sell handmade chocolates, eucalyptus oils, and other regional goods.
4. Horse Riding Along the Shores: The lake offers opportunities for the adventurer in you to ride a horse, just like many other Ooty tourist attractions. Get a decent price and enjoy a few joyrides around the lake with your horse.
5. Savouring comfort food: In addition to the numerous snack and candy vendors along Ooty Lake’s beaches, the Boat House has a clean canteen. The canteen offers a variety of choices, ranging from tea and coffee to evening snacks and North and South Indian specialities. To quell your appetite, grab a bite to eat or relax with your masala tea.
6. Taking a trip on the little train: The miniature train on the property travels around the coastlines. The kids are the only ones allowed to board and take a lake tour. Even adults can handle it, but it will make you long to be a child again.
7. Having fun at the amusement park — The Ooty Lake Boat House amusement park offers a variety of entertaining activities, such as the horror house, dashing car, and break-dance rides.
Now that you have all the important Ooty Lake information, here are a few interesting facts related to the lake.
All year long, Ooty and Ooty Lake are paradise. The weather is always pleasant when you go there. The months of October through May are the ideal times to go because of the consistently clear skies. Rain showers may occur occasionally, but they don’t cause any problems.
But in May, schedule a visit to Ooty Lake. You may catch the vibrant boat race event in addition to getting a brief reprieve from the summer heat. The Ooty Lake serves as the location for the Summer Festival. Therefore, the optimum time to plan a trip to Ooty would be in May.
Ooty Lake is open from 9 AM to 6 PM and admission costs ₹13 per person. These are also the typical boating hours at Ooty Lake, though they may change a little based on the weather and other unanticipated circumstances. You must pay for your camera in addition to the admission charge. The cost is ₹150 for a video camera and ₹30 for a still camera.
Regarding Ooty Lake boating costs, two-seater pedal boat rides cost ₹240, while four-seater pedal boat rides cost ₹260. Row boat rides for four or six people cost ₹250 and ₹290, respectively, which includes the driver’s price. You will be required to pay a security deposit in addition to the boating fees.
The cost of riding a motorboat is determined by the number of seats, and the ride lasts approximately 20 minutes. Motorboat rides for eight people cost ₹560, those for ten cost ₹680, and those for fifteen cost ₹990. The cost of the motorboat ride also covers the driver’s fee.
Ooty Lake is located near the bus stop and the train station. To commute, one can rent local transit.
Timings : 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM
Timings : The visiting hours for Ooty Lake are from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
Entry Fee : The entry fee is INR 10 per person and INR 20 for still camera.
There is parking facility too as per the charges: INR 5 for bus, INR 3 for car, INR 2 for two-wheeler.
The mini-train present for the kids costs INR 10 per head.
7D cinema, horror house as well as mirror house each costs INR 100 per head.
Dashing car, breakdance and Columbus rides cost INR 50 per head.
Boating charges : 2 seater rowboat for 30 minutes: INR 180
4 seater pedal boat for 30 minutes: INR 200
8 eater motorboat for 20 minutes: INR 450
2 seater pedal boat for 30 minutes: INR 160