At a distance of 22 km from Ooty, Pykara Lake is a placid lake situated on Ooty - Mysore road in Tamilnadu. Pykara Lake & Dam is one of the best places to visit in Ooty and an ideal place to experience beautiful boat ride.

Pykara Dam built on Pykara River amidst dense forest is a beautiful destination offering breathtaking scenery. Pykara is the largest river in Nilgiris district. Pykara Lake is a blessed lake for the Todas, the local tribe of Nilgiris. This is the best place to relax and admire the beauty of nature. The dam is near the main Ooty - Gudalur road and includes a power station. Often referred as one of the oldest power plants in South India, the Pykara Power Station still functions and generating about 60 megawatts electricity. It was declared as a heritage plant in 1997, triggered the establishment of more hydro-electric power stations in the state.

A boat house on the Pykara reservoir is an added attraction for tourists and is maintained by Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation. Boating in Pykara Lake is a memorable experience. Visitors can hire a speed boat or motor boat from the boat house and enjoy a fun ride in the lake. The boat house also includes a restaurant and a rest house, where tourists can relax. The place is a popular picnic spot among locals as well as tourists. The lake is surrounded by thick forest of Mukurthi National Park. If you are lucky, you can catch a glimpse of wildlife like elephants roaming on banks of the lake.

Boat house is usually crowded on weekends and holidays and may have to wait for more than 30 minutes some times.

Boat House Timings: 9. 30 AM - 5. 30 PM

Pedal Boat (30 mins): Rs. 60 for 2 seater, Rs. 100 for 4 seater Motor Boat (20 mins): Rs. 325 for 6 seater, Rs. 425 for 8 seater and Rs. 525 for 10 seater