I still remember the day when I was in third semester of my post-graduation. We all were waiting for out class test (CAT) on Infertility, but I was pretty sure that everyone was dreaming about the Industrial Visit- a trip to Ooty. Immediately after completing our exam we all ran to our hostels and started packing. Me, my friends along with four faculty members got engaged to make every aspect of the trip a perfect. The bus arrived near Almart, a local shop outside my Institution. The clock stuck 9.30pm when the bus along with 56 students started for Ooty. It was clear from everyone's face that after a long academic pressure we got some relief and we deserve it. We all danced along with the tune of music and two of my friends played guitar.
The road was too steep and the bus went too slow in the morning as we were climbing a hill station. Finally we reached Sterling Resort Elk hill, a 3 star hotel. There they arranged for a warm reception with tilak and juice. The climate was too cold but matched perfectly with our demands. Ooty is locally known as Udhagamandalam and is often known as 'Queen of hill stations'. Located in the north of Coimbatore in the Nilgiris district, Ooty experiences a subtropical climate. The clock stuck 3pm and we all got prepared. Our faculty hired three mini buses and boarding them we left for Doddabetta Tea Museum. In the mean time we made a halt at 'The Suicide Point'. It was too high up and it started to rain. We clicked photos and enjoyed each and every beauty that nature beholds in front of us. Within one hour we reached Doddabetta tea museum. There we speculated tea processing and manufacturing. They offered us a free cup of tea and we bought the manufactured tea in packets. On the way back to hotel we bought local homemade chocolates. There were nearly thirty varieties of chocolates stuffed with almonds and raisins and it tasted perfect. We met some local people there. They were selling flowers that I saw first time in my life. Me along with some of my friends also tasted the local maize and carrots. They were very cheap there.
Back to our hotel we all gathered at the disco hall where we danced to both Hindi and English music. Dinner was served in buffets and we all enjoyed the meal. So to say we all kept awake till late night. Next morning at around 10.30am we complete our breakfast and left for Pykara lake. We reached there by 12.30pm. It was more beautiful than we thought of. Clouds flew across the forest trees and it was raining slowly. We got divided into eleven groups and hired boats that took us along the lake. It was just awesome more than any dream or wonderland. I along with my five pals drove a speed boat. Finally we arrived at the 'Shooting Spot', so named because certain Bollywood films were picturised there. Finally we left for our Institution at around 5.30pm. By that time it started raining heavily. Our clothes were so drenched that we hanged them in the bus. It seemed that we were in a small garment market.
The beauty of Ooty was so beautiful that it can challenge each of us that its not enough to spectate her for once. I personally was awestruck and often thought if I were born there. Its beauty can only be defined by a poet alone. Although I am narrating, the real beauty of Ooty lies in the eyes of her beholder. My dream broke in the early morning when I found myself lying on the bus seat by a sudden stop and abrupt pull. It was one of my friend telling "we did it pal, the trip is a grand success". But I thanked the almighty god for everything.
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