Museums in Ooty

Ooty is definitely a place for everyone, as it is for connoisseurs and history buffs. The museums of Ooty are atypical of their concepts which are entertaining as well as educating. An example of such is the Honey and Bee museum of Ooty which is supposedly the only one of its kind in India. Here a list of the museums situated in the beautiful city of Ootacamund.

The Government museum is located at the Mysore Road, Ooty. The museum came into existence in 1851. One can learn about the art of sculpting, contemporary paintings, objects and arts of tribals of Tamil Nadu.  The museum is set up with a purpose of preserving and imparting knowledge to the locals and tourists about the city and the state.

Location - Gundlupet Hwy, Monterosa Colony, Mettupalayam, Ooty, Tamil Nadu 643006   
Timings - 10:00 AM - 1.00 PM & 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM (Closed on Fridays, Second Saturdays)
Entry Fee - Free

The Honey and Bee museum of Ooty was the first ever such museum of India initiated in 2006. The motive of the museum is to help tribesmen breed bees for their economic empowerment. There is honey and bee-keeping section in the museum that projects products made of honey and wax. Also there is a green shop wing for the display of chemical free products. The two tribes Irula and Kurumba are backed in gathering honey and running of this museum. One can also see here the documentary display of traditional honey hunting process.

Location - Sargan Villa Club Road, Ooty Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu- 643003
Timings - 9:30 AM to 7:00 PM on all days except Sundays
Entry Fee - Free

The Wax Museum of Ooty is an initiative and hobby of an engineer and a businessman Shreeji Bhaskaran. With a nominal fee of just Rs. 30 one can have a look at the Wax statues of eminent personalities of India and abroad. The statues are made out of combining both digital imaging techniques and sculpting and molding arts. The museum houses around 20 life-size statutes which include statue of Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Manmohan Singh, APJ Abdul Kalam and Subhash Chandra Bose.

Location - Opposite Boat Lake House, Ooty, Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu- 643002
Timings - 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM on all days except Saturday and Sundays
Entry Fee - Rs 30

Nilgiris are a popular habitat to the growth of tea plants. The tea museum is spread over an acre of land and is a paradise to the tea lovers. One gets to see how tea is produced, and put through different processes till it is packed.  A variety of tea with varying flavors like Cardamom tea, Chocolate tea, masala tea, lime tea, ginger tea and many more such interesting flavors can be tasted here. There is a souvenir shop where one can purchase souvenir flavors of tea, cups and plates.
Location - Tea Factory, Dodabetta Road, Nilgiris, Ooty, Tamil Nadu- 643002
Timings - 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM on all days except Sundays   
Entry Fee - Rs 5

There are about 36 tribes in Tamil Nadu and the exhibits of ‘Tribal research Centre’ are an interesting place to get an insight about these tribes. One can see the statues of Toda, Paniya and Kota couples, their weapons, utensils, embroidery, pottery and many more such displays.  Tribal artifacts, palm leaf manuscripts, dry leaves, magic, astrology and many such interesting highlights of the tribal of Nilgiris. There is a library and an audio-visual room also for references. The museum is existent since 1989 and entry fee is very nominal. The museum is run by Tribal Welfare Department of Tamil Nadu State.

Location - Murhoral Palada, Ooty at 10 Kms from Ooty
Timings - 10:00 – 17:00
Entry Fee - Free