Doddabetta Explained

Doddabetta
Elevation M:2637
Elevation Ref:[1]
Prominence M:2256
Listing:Ultra
List of Indian states and territories by highest point
Map:Tamil Nadu
Map Size:260
Label Position:right
Location:Udagamandalam, Nilgiri District, Tamil Nadu, India
Range:Nilgiri Hills
Coordinates:11.4024°N 76.7367°W
Easiest Route:Doddabetta Road

Doddabetta (in Tamil pronounced as /toʈːabeʈːaː/) is the highest mountain in the Nilgiri Mountains at . There is a reserved forest area around the peak. It is 9 km from Ooty, on the Ooty-Kotagiri Road in the Nilgiris District of Tamil Nadu, India. It is a popular tourist attraction with road access to the summit. It is the third highest peak in South India next to Anamudi and Meesapulimala. The peaks Hecuba (2375 m), Kattadadu (2418 m) and Kulkudi (2439 m) are the three closely linked summits in the west of the Doddabetta range near to Udagamandalam. The word Doddabetta is derived from Kannada, meaning 'big hill'.

Flora

The area surrounding Doddabetta is mostly forested. Sholas cover the hollows of its slopes. Slightly stunted, rhododendron trees, in the midst of thick coarse grass, flowering sub-alpine shrubs and herbs are common, even very near the peak.[2] [3]

Telescope House

There is an observatory at the top of Doddabetta with two telescopes available for the public. It was opened on 18 June 1983 and is run by the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC). The average number of viewers in 2001-2002 was 3500 per day in the season and 700 per day in the off-season.[4]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Southern Indian Subcontinent: 4 Mountain Summits with Prominence of 1,500 meters or greater. Peaklist.org. 24 November 2011.
  2. Web site: Places of Interest:Doddabetta . 31 August 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070929003437/http://nilgiris.nic.in/placeofinterest.htm . 29 September 2007 .
  3. Web site: National Informatics Centre, Nilgiris. 31 August 2007. Hills and Peaks. 27 September 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110927092521/http://www.nilgiris.tn.gov.in/newpages/hills_and__peaks.htm. dead.
  4. Web site: National Informatics Centre, Nilgiris . 20 August 2007 . Ooty, Nilgiris . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110114053740/http://www.nilgiris.tn.gov.in/ooty.htm . 2011-01-14 .