Ooty flower show commences; E-pass causes drop in tourist footfall

The renowned Ooty Flower Show and the Rose Show are set to grace the picturesque hill station from Friday till May 20. Traditionally, the Rose Show is held in the second week of May, followed by the Flower Show in the third week. Owing to the Lok Sabha elections, dates of several spring festivals in Ooty were changed.

Preparations for the Flower Fair at the Ooty Botanical Gardens are almost over. The galleries have been adorned with vibrant flower pots, while the garden staff are busy crafting intricate floral arrangements on the lawns. Rose and carnation flowers brought in from Bengaluru and Hosur will be used for these displays, complemented by a lineup of diverse art programmes.

The Rose Show is scheduled from Friday until May 19 at the Rose Garden. Visitors can expect a stunning array of rose flowers in green, yellow, maroon, violet, white, red, and other hues, with the garden boasting an impressive collection of 4,200 rose varieties.

E-pass has caused drop in tourist footfall

In response to a directive from the Chennai High Court, the implementation of e-pass has created a decrease in tourist footfall in the Nilgiris. Effective from last Tuesday, e-pass has been made mandatory for entry into the region. Tourists can obtain passes by applying through the Tamil Nadu Government website, epass.tnega.org.

E-pass requirements will remain in force until June 30 for all tourist vehicles except government buses travelling to Ooty and Kodaikanal. Strict monitoring has been initiated at key checkpoints in Nilgiris district, including Kallar, Nadugani, Devala, Kakanallah, and Pattavayal checkpoints. Over 100 officers have been deployed for this purpose with Nilgiris Collector M Aruna personally overseeing e-pass compliance at the Kallar checkpoint on Tuesday.