Avalanche Lake

Avalanche Lake lies 28 km from Ooty in the Nilgiris district. It takes its name from a huge landslide that struck the area in the early 1800s. The area is also exceptionally wet: on 9 August 2019 Avalanche recorded 92.1 cm of rain in 24 hours, the highest 24-hour total in South India, after 82 cm the day before.

The lake is an important destination in the Nilgiris. Rolling country around it blooms with magnolias, orchids and rhododendrons, and winding paths run beside the water. A trout hatchery nearby supplies rods and tackle for trout fishing, visitors pitch tents along the shore, and rafting is possible on the lake. Treks lead into the nearby hills such as Upper Bhavani, with thick forest and wild habitat.