Elevation 2,637 m (8,652 ft) Parent range Nilgiri Hills | Prominence 2,256 m (7,402 ft) Easiest route Doddabetta Road | |
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Location Udagamandalam, Nilgiri District, Tamil Nadu, India | ||
Doddabetta (தமிழ்:தொட்டபெட்டா) is the highest mountain in the Nilgiri Hills at 2,637 metres (8,650 feet). 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, South India. It is a popular tourist attraction with road access to the summit. It is the fourth highest peak in South India next to Anamudi, Mannamalai 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 (Ooty).
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Map of Doddabetta Peak, Tamil Nadu 643002
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.
Telescope House
There is an observatory at the top of Doddabetta with two telescopes available for the public. It was opened on June 18, 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 season and 700 per day in the off season .