Ooty summer fest wraps up in full bloom with record 3.7 lakh visitors

The month-long mega summer festival in Ooty came to a close on Sunday, wrapping up a vibrant season of allied events and exhibitions. This year’s edition stood out with the addition of a brand-new event — the Plantation Show, introduced for the first time.

The festival featured several major attractions, including the flagship Ooty Flower Show, Dog Show, Fruit Show, and Vegetable Show.

According to the Department of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, the Government Botanical Garden — Ooty’s premier tourist destination — recorded 3.72 lakh footfalls between May 1 and May 31. Officials estimate that 75 to 90 per cent of all visitors to Ooty make it a point to stop at the garden, the heart of the hill station’s tourism circuit.

Despite disruptions caused by heavy summer rains, technical issues with the tourist vehicle e-pass system, and the closure of several tourist spots due to adverse weather, the Botanical Garden still drew an average of 12,000 visitors daily. The actual number of tourists is likely higher, as this estimate accounts only for those visiting the Botanical Garden.

The highlight of the summer season was the 127th Flower Festival, which concluded on May 26. Inaugurated by Chief Minister M K Stalin on May 15, the show featured over six lakh flowers crafted into elaborate installations and floral sculptures. A 70-foot-long, 20-foot-high floral castle at the entrance alone used around 1.3 lakh flowers. Other attractions included a floral swing, swan installations, musical instruments, and animal models. The flower show hosted 513 stalls and registered 1,84,777 footfalls over its 11-day run.

The festival officially concluded on Sunday with an award ceremony honouring the winners of various contests held as part of the 67th Summer Fruit Festival and the debut Plantation Festival. Traditional performances by local communities such as the Badagas, Todas, and Kottas added cultural vibrancy to the closing day celebrations.