Ooty Lake, also known as Pykara lake is a man-made lake, originally constructed for the purpose of fishing, and is now a prominent sightseeing spot, garnering a lot of attention from tourists and locals. Built by John Sullivan in 1824, the Ooty Lake gets its water source from the mountain streams, and is spread over an area of 65 acres. The lake is named after the river Pykara, and is part of the hydro-electric dam project, and is now a reservoir, and a tourist landmark for boating rides.
The Ooty Lake is maintained by the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation, as a tourist attraction and offers various boating facilities for tourists. A must-see event at the lake, are the colorful boat races, pageant shows and other events, that are organized as part of the Ooty Summer Festival, held every year without fail. Row boats, paddle boats, motor boats, and speed boats are available for hire, to enjoy the scenic landscape of the surrounding thick forests at the backdrop, lined with eucalyptus trees at one end of the shore.
The large boats are typically 8 seaters and 15 seaters, and the small speed boats are 2 seaters, and can be easily booked at the boathouse/boat club near the lake. Many prefer to opt for a large boat ride over a speed boat, as a ride on a large boat lasts for 20 minutes, and a speed boat ride for 10 minutes. The entry fee for boat rides starts from 240 INR – 770 INR and is charged based on the type of boat and duration of the ride, and boat ride timings are between 9am-6pm every day.
Besides boating activities, tourists can go hiking on Pykara falls, around 2kms from the lake, and enjoy the cascading waterfall, and explore the picturesque trail of nature from the lake to the falls. For children to indulge, there is the mini-train, haunted house, mirror house, and horse-riding, and the lake is perfect to spot rare birds as well. Be prepared to wait in queues, as the Ooty Lake is usually crowded during weekends, so arrive early to book tickets at the counter.
A small cafeteria at the boat club will warm the cold bones, with refreshing fresh tea picked from the tea estates of Ooty, and not to forget the candid shots of pine trees, long walks along the edge of the lake, wafting through the misty breeze, makes it an unforgettable experience. Best time to visit the lake is during the spring from October – March, for boat rides, and to explore the surrounding vicinity. Many prefer the morning rides, over the evening as they are quiet and less crowded, and pleasant to enjoy even in summer.
People typically spend around 2-3 hours at the Ooty Lake, and is usually crowded during the peak season at the Summer Ooty Festival, and less crowded in the off-season. On most days the lake is open from 9am to 6pm. To visit the Ooty lake, the nearest railway station is at Mettupalayam, and the nearest airport is at Coimbatore, and the roads are well-maintained for interstate transportation, private and public vehicles. A trip to Ooty is never complete without experiencing the scenic bliss of the Pykara Ooty lake, and is a must-see on every traveler’s debut visit to Ooty.
Address & Contact
Lake Road,
Kathadimattam, Ooty,
Tamil Nadu 643006
Directions: Google Maps
Phone: 044-25333444 (Tamil Nadu Tourism)
