06th February 2017.
As per an official note in March 1821CE in Madras
Gazette, Udhagamandalam was called Wotokymund. In early times it was called Ottkakalmandu and Mund means a Village in the Toda language. The present name is
the corruption of the local name. The local tribes Toda lived with Kota, Irula, and Kurumba. The hill was referred to in the 2nd-century Tamil work Silapathikaram in which Chera King Senguttuvan, ruled this place. He
also stayed here for some time on the way to the Himalayas.
After 1117 CE this place comes under the rule of
Hoysalas, Satavahanas, Cheras, Gangas, Kadambas, Rashtrakutas, Cholas, Hoysalas,
Vijayanagara Empire, and Rajas of Ummathur. Tipu Sultan captured Nilgiris in the
eighteenth century and handed it over to the East India Company by the treaty of
Srirangapatna in 1799 CE. During 1819 CE, John Sullivan, the collector of
Coimbatore Visited Kotagiri and described this place looks like
Switzerland, in a letter to Thomas Munro. A Road was laid in 1823 from
Sirumugai to the newly built Bungalow at Dimhatti, which was later
extended to Coonoor in the year 1830 to -32 CE.
Ooty served as a Summer Capital for the Britishers
Madras Presidency. Wellington has become the home for the Madras Regiment of
the Indian Army and after independence, it was developed as a Hill resort and
called Queen of Hills. The names of the Places and streets remind the British
rule. This post does not cover all the heritage buildings and structures,
but the buildings I visited.
The Details of some of the places
visited are...
CHARING
CROSS.
It was told this
fountain is very much similar to the one available in London. It will be very
nice to see with water flowing and light.
MUNICIPAL OFFICE
The municipal office of Ootacamund ( OOTY ) was
constituted in the year 1866 and this office was constructed in 1894. Then the
building was extended in 1946. The building was constructed by the contractor
M. Joghee Maistry. The commissioner, Engineer, Health officer, Town Planning, PA To
Commissioner, and Manager offices are functioning in this building. The first
floor and steps are constructed with wood.
TAMIL NADU ELECTRICITY BOARD OFFICE.
The single-floor office was constructed in
1923 CE with tiled roofing. ADE, DE, and Bill collection offices are functioning
here. Except for the age of the building, there are no special features.
BRIDGES:
On the way to Ooty, we have to cross 3 iron bridges
constructed from 1900 to 1923 with riveted joints by a contractor from
Calcutta.
---OM
SHIVAYA NAMA---
I specially liked the history of Ooty that you have given at the beginning of this post.
ReplyDeleteThanks amit
ReplyDelete