Ooty, a beautiful hill station, was once the summer resort during the days of British rule. And even today the location holds on to its position of being one of the most popular sightseeing locations. Also popular as the Queens of Hill Station this location truly justifies its name. And that is the reason why it also witnesses so many tourists on a regular basis. The beauty of this hill station is something that you cannot miss out on. Obviously the eye-catching beauty of the location also caught the attention of many filmmakers as well. And there is one such particular spot here that is popular as the Shooting Point Ooty. Originally called the 9th Mile Ooty this spot is known for its pristine beauty and multiple shootings as well. And this location in Ooty is one of the picturesque locations that should be a must visit spot.
Shooting Point Ooty is one location that has captured the attention of many directors and filmmakers. It has always been a popular location for shooting and because of the glimpses of the location in the films it also became one of the popular sightseeing spots as well. People visiting here can enjoy the tranquil views here and soak into nature. It can be one such spot that will rejuvenate and refresh your mind and soul in all ways. So if you are in search of one such spot that offers unparalleled natural beauty, definitely opt for visiting the Shooting Point. Keep on reading this article as here I will mention everything that you need to know about Shooting Point. This will be a helpful read for you if you are planning a trip to this beautiful location in Ooty.
Shooting Point Ooty
Location: Coimbatore- Ooty- Gundlupet Highway, Ooty, Tamil Nadu
Timings: 8 am to 6 pm on all days of the week
Entry fee: Shooting Point Ooty entry fee is Rs. 10 per person. And there is an additional charge for Still Cameras that is Rs. 30.
How to reach
By air
If you are travelling by air then the nearest airport to reach Ooty is the Coimbatore airport. You will get regular flights to reach Coimbatore from cities like Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi etc. The distance from Coimbatore Airport to reach Shooting Point is about 101 km. It will take you around 3 hours and 25 minutes to reach this location from the Coimbatore Airport. You can travel here from other locations and take a flight to Kempegowda International Airport in Bangalore as well. From there you can take another flight to Coimbatore. Or else you can directly drive to reach Ooty as well. The distance from Bangalore to Ooty is about 314 km. It would approximately take you around 6 hours and 24 minutes to reach the location from the Bangalore airport.
From both the airports the convenient option to reach the Shooting Point would be to take a car or hire a cab. However bus services are also available on this route to reach Ooty, so you can opt for that as well.
By train
If you are travelling by train then the nearest railway station to reach Ooty would be the Mettupalayam station. You will get trains from major cities and towns like Coimbatore, Chennai etc to reach the Mettupalayam railway station. From the railway station Ooty is located at a distance of 65 km and it would take you around 2 hours and 25 minutes to reach there. You can easily take a car or hire a cab from the railway station to reach the Shooting Point.
By road
In case you are travelling by road then you can opt for buses to reach Ooty from major cities and towns. Furthermore to reach the location comfortably you can drive or take a car or hire a cab as well. It is located a few hours’ drive away from locations like Mysore, Coimbatore and Bangalore. You can opt for taxi services from different locations to reach the Shooting Point as well.
Best time to visit
The ideal time to visit a location like this would be during the cooler months. From November to March it is the peak season and most people visit here during that time. This is the time when the weather of the location is also pleasant so it will be comfortable for a visit here. And the sky also remains clear at this time with almost no chances of rain. In that case you will get to enjoy a beautiful view of the location as well. However Ooty is a hill station and it mostly enjoys a favourable climate. A lot of people also prefer visiting here during summers to get a respite from the heat everywhere else. But avoid visiting here during the monsoon as rains can be a dampener to your trip. So plan your visit to Ooty accordingly so that you can enjoy the best of the location.
Overview of Shooting Point
The Shooting Point Ooty is originally popular as the Wenlock Downs 9th Mile Ooty and it is a scenic tourist spot here. This location is about 15 km away from Ooty that equals to 9miles and hence the name. Basically it is a vast meadow spreading across a huge area and is one of the picturesque locations as well. At one point of time in the past this location served as the hunting ground for the British. But currently it is a popular tourist spot that visitors love visiting in Ooty. The location is even more popular amongst tourists because of its appearance in many hit Bollywood films. Some of these films are Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Deewana, Raja Hindusthani and a lot more. Because of the shootings local people call this location as Shooting Medu.
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The shooting spot in Ooty is a part of the Wenlock Downs and 9th Mile and 6th Mile Shooting Point Ooty together adds up to the beautiful charm of this location. You can enjoy a gorgeous view of the landscape with the views of pine forest Shooting Point Ooty. There are Shola forests here as well that elevates the beauty of this location further. Along with the green grassland and the sprawling meadow it offers a pristine view. Hiking is one of the popular activities that you can enjoy at Shooting Point. And a hike up would also offer you an unobstructed view of the Nilgiris as well. You will also get to enjoy a panoramic 360 degree view from this location which will be etched in your mind till a very long time.
Things to enjoy at Shooting Point Ooty
Hiking
The beautiful landscape of this location provides a surreal backdrop ideal for hiking. You will be able to witness the rolling grassland from the road itself as you travel to the Shooting Point. But to actually enjoy the pristine view that it offers you need to hike up the trail to reach the top. The slope is steep and it would approximately take you around 15 minutes to reach up to the top. And the view that you would get to witness here would always remain memorable for you. From the top you would get to enjoy a view of the lush green Shola forest, the Pykara Lake as well as the Nilgiri Mountains. After reaching the top all your effort of hiking would seem like nothing.
Enjoy the views
A location that caught the attention of filmmakers and that is so picture perfect that it got its nickname as Shooting Point is undoubtedly a beautiful location indeed. So, one of the things that you can enjoy here is obviously soaking up in the beauty of the location. You can surely hike up to enjoy the breathtaking view here and that is extremely exciting. But even if you don’t feel like hiking up, you can spend decent time at the leveled landscape here. You can spend some quiet time here, enjoy the breeze and take some photographs as well. The place is totally Instagrammable so you would find multiple angles to click some of the best pictures.
Horse Riding
This is yet another popular activity that you can enjoy at the Shooting Point Ooty. At the entrance of the location you will find trained and gentle horses for enjoying a ride. You can pay a charge and then opt for a ride on the horseback here amidst the beautiful landscape. The horse ride is furthermore available to take you up to the top of the Shooting Point as well. So if you wish to enjoy a ride then you can definitely opt for it. It would be a ride of about 15 to 20 minutes as you reach the top and enjoy the pristine view there. The horse trainer will always be with you as you ride on the horse so you can be rest assured about safety.
Wrapping Up!
So that was all about the Shooting Point Ooty and now you can plan a trip to this location as soon as you can. It is one of the most picturesque locations that you can visit in Ooty. Moreover a location like this offers so much of natural beauty that it will practically leave you in awe. The beauty that you can enjoy here is not something that you should miss out on. The warmth and the serenity of nature here is enough to rejuvenate your mind. And if you are in search of any such location where you can enjoy some peaceful time amidst nature then consider visiting Shooting Point.
It is not one location that you should visit and then leave quickly. Give some time to yourself to soak in to the beauty of nature and spend some hours here. Only then you would actually get to enjoy the essence of this beautiful location. So when are you planning a trip to the Shooting Point in Ooty? And let me know if this article on Shooting Point is helpful for you in planning a trip to this beautiful location in Ooty.