Doddabetta

Doda Betta
Doda Betta Location of Doddabetta, Tamil Nadu
Elevation	2,637 m (8,652 ft) [1]
Prominence	2,256 m (7,402 ft) [1]
Listing	Ultra
Location
Location	Ootacamund, Nilgiri District, Tamil Nadu, India
Range	Nilgiri Hills
Coordinates	11°24′08.7″N 76°44′12.2″E / 11.402417°N 76.736722°E / 11.402417; 76.736722Coordinates: 11°24′08.7″N 76°44′12.2″E / 11.402417°N 76.736722°E / 11.402417; 76.736722[1]
Climbing
Easiest route	Doddabetta Road

Doddabetta (Tamil: தொட்டபெட்டா, Kannada: ದೊಡ್ಡ ಬೆಟ್ಟ Badaga: தொ:ட்ட: பெ:ட்டா:, Malayalam:ഡൊഡ്ഡബെട്ട) is the highest mountain in the Nilgiri Hills, at 2637 metre (8650 feet). There is a reserved forest area around the peak. It is 9 km from Ooty,on Ooty-Kotagiri Road in 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.

Etymology

The name "Doddabetta" traces its roots from the Badaga/Kannada language translating into 'Big 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 districtsss 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.,^[2][3]

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 (TTDC). The average number of viewers in 2001-2002 was 3500 per day in season and 700 per day in the off season.^[4] See panoramic photograph taken from the Telescope House.

Gallery

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  Nilgiri Hills from atop Doddabetta

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  View of Ooty (Udhagamandalam) from Doddabetta peak

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  A different view of Ooty (Udhagamandalam) from Doddabetta peak (image cropped)

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b c} http://peaklist.org/WWlists/ultras/south_india.html
2. ^ PLACES OF INTEREST, retrieved 8/31/2007 DODDA BETTA
3. ^ District Administration, Nilgiris (8/20/2007) National Informatics Centre, Nilgiris, retrieved 8/31/2007 Hills and Peaks
4. ^ District Administration, Nilgiris (8/20/2007) National Informatics Centre, Nilgiris, OOTY / UDHAGAI / UDHAGAMANDALAM / OOTACAMUND, retrieved 8/17/2007 DODDABETTA: