| Doddabetta | |
|---|---|
 Telescope House at the summit of Dodda Betta | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,637 m (8,652 ft)[1] |
| Prominence | 2,256 m (7,402 ft)[1] |
| Listing | Ultra, Ribu List of Indian states and territories by highest point |
| Coordinates | 11°24′08.7″N76°44′12.2″E / 11.402417°N 76.736722°E /11.402417; 76.736722[1] |
| Geography | |
  Doddabetta Location of Doddabetta within Tamil Nadu, India | |
| Location | Udagamandalam,Nilgiri District,Tamil Nadu,India |
| Parent range | Nilgiri Hills |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Doddabetta Road |
Doddabetta (IPA:[d̪oɖːɐbeʈːɐ]) is the highest mountain in theNilgiri Mountains at 2,637 metres (8,652 ft). There is a reserved forest area around the peak. It is 9 km (5.6 mi) fromOoty, on the Ooty-Kotagiri Road in theNilgiris District ofTamil Nadu,India. It is a popular tourist attraction with road access to the summit. It is the third highest peak inSouth India next toAnamudi andMeesapulimala. The peaks Hecuba (2,375 m (7,792 ft)), Kattadadu (2,418 m (7,933 ft)) and Kulkudi (2,439 m (8,002 ft)) are the three closely linked summits in the west of the Doddabetta range near to Udagamandalam. The word Doddabetta is derived fromKannada, meaning 'big hill'.
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]
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 theTamil 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]
Tourism inThe Nilgiris | ||
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Gardens and parks.jpg) | .svg) | |
Viewpoint | ||
Lake and waterfalls | ||
Other tourist spots | ||
Events | ||
