Ooty has many colonial architectural structures, St. Stevens Church is one of them. St. Stevens Church, Ooty was constructed on the site of an ancient Toda temple. It is a small church influenced by the Gothic style of architecture. The influence of British people and Christianity are quite evident on the culture and architecture of Ooty. St. Stevens Church is located 1km on the west of the gardens and up the hill from Charing Cross. The architectural building is one of the first colonial structures in Ooty that was built in 1820s. This oldest in the Nilgiris was sanctified in the year 1830.

The wood that was used in the construction of St. Stevens Church at Ooty was obtained from the palace of Tipu Sultan located at Srirangapatnam. These wooden planks were transported on the back of elephants traveling a distance of 120 km. The church is located at a picturesque location overlooking the captivating views of Nilgiri hills and the vast stretches of greenery. The church is adorned with majestic Gothic arches, cane pews and attractive clerestory windows.

St. Stevens Church in Ooty is situated in the hilly area on Club Road. There is a cemetery attached to the church, which has the grave of John Sullivan and other legendary figures of Ooty. The tombstones covered with ivy take you back to the Victorian Era and evoke sentiment for the children of that period. The tiny tombs of the children are engraved with mournful verses like, "Suffer the children to come to me" or, "Thy will be done."

Last Updated on 9/20/2011

Ooty Tourist Attractions