Ooty is a perfect place to select for a vacay holiday if you are really in need of a break from the city buzz. Be it a honeymoon destination or a temple visit, Ooty is known for its chilled climate and unblemished atmosphere. Though there are so many tourist attraction spots in Ooty. Visiting a temple in the hills is indeed a great experience. Ooty is also known for its beautiful temples. The beautiful hill town of Ooty is a home to many wonderful structures in the form of places of worship. Each temple of Ooty depicts its own history and myths associated with it and its really wonderful to know the history of these temples. With its beautifully sculptured idols, these temples will really shock you off. Let’s take a look at 9 of them.
Here is the List of Temples In Ooty:
1. Mariamman Temple:
Mariamman temple is a Hindu temple located near the market of Ooty and is dedicated to the local Goddess of Rain, Mariamman. The temple also houses an idol of Kaliamman, the sister of Mariamman. Goddess Mariamman is believed to be an incarnation of Goddess Kali. The temple celebrates Ooty Mariamman Temple Festival when devotees flock to the place and many of them walk barefoot over burning coal to show their devotion to the Goddess. People in Tamil Nadu believe that Mariamman or the Goddess of Rain has the power to heal diseases like measles, chicken pox and small pox. A Mariamman temple is a very commonly seen temple in the state of Tamil Nadu. The Ooty Mariamman temple festival is celebrated in the month of April. Thousands of devotees gather on that day to celebrate this festival and you can see them performing special traditions like walking barefoot on the burning coal.
- Temple Timings: Open on all days from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm
- Temple Address: Elk Hill, opposite to Ooty market, Ooty, Tamil Nadu – 643001
- Dress Code: no specific dress code
- How to Reach: As the temple is located near the Ooty market, it is in the centre of the town.
- Best Time to Visit: The Mariamman temple festival is the best time to visit.
- Nearest Attractions: Aralmigu Mariamman temple, Ooty botanical garden
2. Annamalai Murugan Temple:
Annamalai Murugan temple is located at a distance of 20 km from Ooty and is dedicated to Lord Murugan. The temple is referred to as the 7th hill house of the Lord. The temple stands on a hilltop and is surrounded by a peaceful and serene atmosphere. The temple supplies free food to devotees and the needy ones, every day of the month for over 30 years now. The temple is widely visited during Lord Murugan festival. If you are looking for a blissful place to do meditation or yoga, it is ideal to visit Annamalai Murugan temple in Ooty. The fresh air and breezy climate in the hill-top help people cope with hypertension, depression and work related stress.
- Temple Timings: Open throughout the week from 5:00 am to 12:00 pm and 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm
- Temple Address: Kil Kundha Post, The Nilgiris, Ooty 643219, India
- Dress Code: no specific dress code, but usually seen wearing ethnic dress
- How to Reach: Reach Ooty and then drive by road to Manjoor or Kundah Dam, which takes only 45 minutes.
- Best Time to Visit: Duration of the festival of Thaipusam is the best time to visit this temple.
- Nearest Attractions: the hill view that you get from the temple, Sri Ramana Ashram, Ooty botanical garden, Agni Lingam, Ooty tea plantation
3. Ooty Elk Hill Murugan Temple:
Murugan temple situated on Elk Hill in Ooty is a replica of Batu Caves in Malaysia. The temple complex houses a 40 feet long statue of Lord Murugan in Suthai form in a standing posture just outside the temple entrance. The temple also has idols of Lord Ganesha, Lord Shiva, Goddesses Sakthi, Nava Kanikas and Navagraha Sanithamans. The temple is located among dense forests and mountains and thus has become a prominent tourist spot. The festival of Thaipusam is widely celebrated here. This is one of the spotted temples in many Tamil movies. The side view of the temple from top is mesmerizing.
- Temple Timings: Open on all days, at all time.
- Temple Address: Elk Hill, Ooty 643001, India
- Dress Code: No specific dress code
- How to Reach: By bus, there are frequent bus services from Bangalore, Mysore, Chennai, and Ooty. If you are coming by air, the nearest airport is the Coimbatore airport. Drop down at Coimbatore airport and catch a bus or taxi to reach the said temple.
- Best Time to Visit: Thaipusam Festival is a great time to visit the Murugan Temple in Ooty.
- Nearest Attractions: Ooty lake, Rose garden, Doddabetta, Dolphin’s nose
4. Vaupujiya Swamy Swethambar Jain Temple:
Are you looking for Ooty Jain temple? Well, then you have come to the right page. Vaupujiya Swamy Swethambar Jain temple is one of the most respectable Jain Dharmashalas in Ooty. The place is highly renowned and is known for its ability to clear out and purify the mental mysteries of one’s mind. Tourists who follow Jainism flock to the place because the temple celebrates spiritualism. People who love to find inner peace and self enlightenment come to Vaupujiya Swamy Swethambar Jain temple.
- Temple Timings: 6:00 am to 9:00 pm
- Temple Address: Upper Bazaar, Ooty, Tamil Nadu 643001
- Dress Code: no specific dress code
- How to Reach: by bus or car you can easily access this temple, as it is located in the market.
- Best Time to Visit: The holy days of ‘Paryushan’ as well as Mahavir Jayanti are great days to visit this temple.
- Nearest Attractions: Ooty rose garden, tea factory, Botanical garden, Ooty hills
5. Nasiyan Jain Temple:
Nasiyan Jain temple is another main attraction especially for the Jain community in Ooty. The temple was constructed and initiated in the year 1895 and is located in Prithvi Raj road. It was built in the honor of Rishabhdeoji, the first Jain Tirthankara. The temple also houses a small museum which preserves all valuable information of Jains. If you love to visit a Jain temple in Ooty, please don’t miss this Nasiyan Jain temple.
- Temple Timings: open on all days
- Temple Address: Ooty, Tamil Nadu, India
- Dress Code: no specific dress code
- How to Reach: being in the center of the town, the Jain temple is easily accessible from all parts of the town.
- Best Time to Visit: Mahavir Jayanti is a good time to visit this temple as well as the period of ‘Paryushan’.
- Nearest Attractions: Ooty lake, Nilgiri mountain railway journey, tea factory, Dolphin’s nose.
6. Valparai Linga Temple:
Valparai Linga temple is situated on the majestic hills of Ooty and is a beautiful, ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple complex house a huge Shiva Lingam who is the presiding deity of the temple. The temple also has a structure of Nandi Bull. It is said that the temple was built collectively by collecting money from the neighbouring villages.
- Temple Timings: open on all days
- Temple Address: Ooty hills, Tamil Nadu
- Dress Code: no specific dress code
- How to Reach: the temple is at the centre of the town hills, and hence it is easily accessible
- Best Time to Visit: Being a Shiva temple, Mondays and Maha Shivratri are good times to visit this temple.
- Nearest Attractions: Ooty botanical garden, rose garden, ooty lake
7. Muniswarar Temple:
Muniswarar temple is located on the Bombay castle area of Ooty and is a prominent spot for locals and tourists alike. The shrine is dedicated to Lord Muniswarar who is believed to be a form of Lord Shiva. It is said Lord Muniswarar grants wishes to those who pray with a clear conscience. The temple is beautifully decorated with flower garlands and lights during festivals. Since it’s a Lord Shiva temple, Maha Shiva Ratri is celebrated here.
- Temple Timings: Open on all days from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm
- Temple address: Muneeswarar Kovil, Near Bus stand, Ooty, Tamil Nadu
- Dress Code: no dress code specified
- How to Reach: it is located near Ooty bus stand, which is easily accessible for people coming by bus.
- Best Time to Visit: Mondays and Maha Shiv Ratri is a good time to visit this temple.
- Nearest Attractions: Nilgiri mountain railway, shooting point, Avalanche lake
8. Toda Temple:
Any trekkers here? Then this one’s for you. The Toda temples or the Toda huts are so beautiful and pleasing to one’s eyes. Located on top of the hills, visiting these Toda huts is a great experience of trekkers and explorers. Anyone can visit this Toda hut irrespective of the religion and caste. It is a kind of tribal temple that has its own unique traditions and rituals. Toda temples situated on the Nilgiri hills of Ooty in Muthunandu Mund were the place of worship for Toda people, one of the 18 unique tribes in Ooty. The temples were constructed in a circular pit lined with stones and looked similar in appearance and construction to Toda huts. The Toda women are restricted to even go nearer to these temples.
- Temple Timings: open on all days – 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Temple Address: Vannarapettai, Ooty, Tamil Nadu 643002
- Dress Code: No specific dress code
- How to Reach: if coming by bus, get down at Ooty bus stop. If coming by rails, halt at Ooty railway station.
- Best Time to Visit: Except for heavy rainfall days, other days with favorable weather conditions are great to visit this temple.
- Nearest Attractions: Lake park, Ooty rose garden, Tea factory, shooting point.
9. Holy Trinity Church:
Another holy place to visit in Ooty is the Holy Trinity Church. Holy Trinity church located in the peaceful and serene atmosphere of Ooty is one of the oldest churches there. It was initially visited by Indian Christians and put to use as a school during the weekdays. By 1858, it became a dedicated church with magnificent stained glass windows and looked Gothic and Tudor in appearance.
- Temple Timings: Open throughout the week from 7:00 am and closes at 6:00 pm
- Temple Address: Summer House Road, Summer House Colony, Upper Bazaar, Ooty, Tamil Nadu 643001
- Dress Code: no specific dress code
- How to Reach: Ooty Lake is the nearest landmark for holy trinity church.
- Best Time to Visit: Sundays and Christmas is a great time to visit the Church.
- Nearest Attractions: Ooty lake, shooting point, Botanical garden, Ooty hills, Nilgiri mountain train journey
By now, you might have got a clear picture on various temples located at Ooty. Exploring the unexplored is what makes our journey truly awesome, especially if it is about exploring our ancient history, tradition and beliefs. These are just a few samples of temples mentioned above and there are plenty of small and unknown temples in Ooty, which are still unexplored. If you know any such temples that are really worth visiting, share your experiences.
Frequently Asked Question And Answers:
1. What is Ooty famous for?
Ans: Ooty is a famous hill station with lots of temple for sightseeing.
2. Which season could be appropriate to visit?
Ans: As it is a hill station, one can go in summers to have some relief from summer or can utilize their summer vacation for roaming.
3. Is it an expensive place?
Ans: No, it has medium rate like those which are generally in hills station.
