With a dip in the inflow of tourists witnessed last weekend giving way to a surge this hill station has been swarming with tourists for the past few days.
Contrary to an apprehension shared by many that this year’s Autumn season would end prematurely on account of the developments which followed the verdict in the disproportionate assets case against Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, the flow of tourists has been steadily increasing since the middle of the week.
With the weather turning pleasant, scenic spots such as the Government Botanical Garden, the Ooty Lake and Doddabetta Peak here, Sim’s Park and Dolphin’s Nose in Coonoor and the Kodanad View Point in Kotagiri are teeming with tourists.
The majority of them are from Karnataka and Kerala.
Enquiries revealed that the number of persons visiting the Kodanad View Point was more than usual. It is attributed to the current focus on the Kodanad estate owned by Jayalalithaa, which is situated on the way to the view point.
Speaking to The Hindu , Joint Director of Horticulture N. Mani said that during the first three days of the month about 30,000 tourists had visited the Government Botanical Garden and the number is likely to be equal or more during the extended Bakrid weekend.
Since the flowers in all the beds are in full bloom and a special display of about 5500 potted flowers is on, vigil has been stepped up to keep vandals at bay.
He said that the flow of tourists to the Government Rose Garden has come down considerably since most of the plants have been pruned.
Tiger reserveThe Deputy Director, Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, D. Chandran said that there was a marked rise in the flow of visitors to the reserve. Stating that the demand for van safaris was heavy, he said that elephant safaris were being operated only if the weather was clear. Sources in the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation said that all the boats are now almost continuously engaged at the Ooty Lake.
Railway sources said that the demand for seats on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway trains was very high and tourists are forming long queues at the railway stations particularly in Ooty.
Meanwhile the secretary of Nilgiri Hotels and Restaurants Association, N. Chandrashekar, said, “October is looking good for the hospitality sector”.
