Doddabetta - Highest Mountain of Nilgiri Hills

Doddabetta is the highest mountain in the Nilgiri Hills, at 2623 meters (8652 feet). There is a reserved forest area around the peak. It is 4 km southeast of Udagamandalam (formerly Ooty) in the The Nilgiris District of Tamil Nadu, South India. It is a popular tourist attraction with road access to the summit. The Chamundi Hills can be viewed from the peak.



The name "Doddabetta" (Kannada:ದೊಡ್ಡ ಬೆಟ್ಟ) traces its roots from the Kannada language, in which "Dodda" means Big and "Betta" means Mountain.



Hecuba (2375 m.), Kattadadu (2418 m.) and Kulkudi (2439 m.) are the three closely linked heights in the west of the Doddabetta range and nearby Udagamandalam.





In the Nilgiris plateau Doddabetta is highest peak of the Nilgiris district remarkable for the flattened curve of its summit. Sholas cover the hollows of its slopes. Slightly stunted, rhododendron trees, in the midst of thick coarse grass, flowering sub-elphine shrubs and herbs are common, even very near the peak.


Telescope House

There is an observatory at the top of Doddabetta with two telescopes available for the public to enjoy the magnificent panoramic view of the whole District. It opened on June 18, 1983 and is run by the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development corporation. The average number of viewers in 2001-2002 was 3500 per day in season and 700 per day in the off season.[3] See panoramic photograph taken from Telescope House.