Soon, 86-acre meadow garden to enter Ooty’s tourists spots list

Udhagamandalam: The list of tourist spots in Ooty is all set to get bigger with the introduction of a meadow garden, which will have a trekking route, ponds, lawns, theme-based flower beds and pergolas.

Chief minister Edappadi K Palanisami had sanctioned the proposal for the garden that will be developed on an 86-acre plot at the 9th Mile on the Ooty–Mysore Road. The government recently allotted Rs 10crore for the work.

The land falls under the joint registry of the forest and revenue departments, and the process to transfer it is underway, joint director of horticulture (in-charge) Shiva Subramaniam Samraj said. “The land is of different levels and the garden will be developed on all the levels. The main reason for developing the meadow garden is to divert the tourist crowd from the Government Botanical Garden and the Government Rose Garden, which are located within the town,” the official told TOI.

The proposed garden will have ample space for parking, with a lot than can accommodate at least 300 cars and 50 buses at a time. “The botanical garden as well as the rose garden lack parking facility. A parking area is being developed at the rose garden at the cost of Rs 3crore,” Samraj said.

The meadow garden will be developed without disturbing the terrain. “It will become one of best attractions in Ooty for tourists,” the official added.

Besides the botanical garden and the rose garden, an arboretum and tourist spots like the Ooty Lake, Cairn Hill, shooting spot, Doddabetta and a garden developed by the Karnataka government are some of the other local tourist attractions.