Chal Chaiyya Chaiyya to the Nilgiri Mountains this May.
If
Sharukh Khan can….you can too.
The
only difference….he was at work. But you can play in Ooty this May.
Nilgiris
Mountains beckon all the flower, fruit, spice, tea, boat-racing, vintage-cars,
horses, dogs, sports, art lovers from all over the country to participate in
the 16-day Summer Festival organized by the Department of Tourism, Government
of Tamil Nadu during the second-half of May this year.
The
District Capital of Nilgiris District – Ooty – a Hill Station at 7350 feet
altitude in Tamil Nadu, is going to play host to the Summer Festival held in
May where the Nilgiri Mountain Range is going to display its proud possessions in
various shows held at various locales in Ooty and its environs.
o Flower Show: More than 150 types of
imported and indigenous flowers would be put on display at the Botanical Garden
in Ooty. Indian floral arrangements, Japanese floral arrangements, flower
rangoli, Bonsai, vegetable carving are some of the many activities and competitions
held here. The Flower Show tradition in Ooty has been in practice since 1896. A
2-day Flower Show would also be held at Kodaikanal in which florists from all
over the country would participate.
o Rose Show: More than 3000 types of
Roses will bloom this May in Ooty to participate in the prestigious Rose Show
which happens every summer.
o Fruit Show: More than 25000 tourists
visit the Sim’s Park in Coonoor to participate or view the tons of fruits on
display – organized by the Department of Horticulture which has been in
practice for more than 50 years.
o Vegetable Show: The Nehru Park in
Kotagiri is visited by more than15,000 people every summer for the Vegetable
Show organized by the Department of Horticulture for 2 days. The Star
attraction of this show every year is the depiction of the Map of India using
red, yellow and green Capsicums.
o Spice Show: Department of Horticulture
organizes the Spice Show at Gudalur in the Nilgiris each year putting on
display the immense wealth of spices that grow in the Nilgiri Mountains.
o Dog Show: The third oldest Dog Club in
India – the ‘South of India Kennel Club’ has been organizing the Dog Shows in
Ooty at the Government Arts College Grounds for more than 107 years. You will
get to see some of the best looking and well trained canines strut around in
this show. The same event shall be held at Kodaikanal as well.
o Boat Race & Boat Pageantry: The
Ooty Lake will dazzle with countless boats which will all muster to participate
in this century-old spectacular tradition of boat pageantry and competitions in
Ooty. This is a jumbo crowd puller with tourists and natives of Bangalore,
Chennai, Kerala and other nearby towns thronging to the Ooty Lake to see this
event every summer. The Kodaikanal Hill Station would also host a boat-race organized
by its Boats Club this may in its scenic Kodaikanal Lake.
o Vintage Car Rally in Ooty is an
interesting piece of the Annual Nilgiris Summer Festival where many vintage
cars will drive around the main town of Ooty to display their antiquities.
o A Marathon Race would be held in Ooty
for the ‘fit and the fast’.
o The Breeks HADP open-air stadium in
Ooty will be the venue for the 9-day Summer Cultural Festival comprising dance,
drama and music programs.
o Hot-air balloon Show: In one of the
largest ballooning events of India, scores of hot-air balloons shall fill the
skies of Ooty in a colourful and elaborate display of hot-air balloons.
o Amateur Photo Contest: Ooty is where
all the photography-enthusiasts and amateurs get their chance to click and compete
for a prize in the Summer Festival.
o Painting Exhibition: Artists are
invited to showcase their creativity in their paintings in the Painting
Exhibition in Ooty.
o Heritage Building Trek: You would be
given a guided-tour of the great centuries-old Heritage Buildings of Ooty which
throw insights into the history of these Mountains and Ooty in particular.
o Eco-trekking: Where there are verdant
mountains, there is eco-trekking and Ooty offers myriad such opportunities to
explore and enjoy the natural lush green Mountains, valleys, forests and
tea-gardens.
o Catch-a-Fish Event: This amusing event
shall be held in Kodaikanal during the last week of May this year.
o Horse Competition: Kokaikanal which is
famous for its horses would hold a competition for Horses this May.
o Sports Competition: Kodaikanal
District Sports Office would conduct sports competitions in hockey, football,
volleyball and mini-marathon in Kadaikanal at the Bryant Park.
