Why Ooty’s Thread Garden Is A Top Tourist Attraction
The garden features 350 types of artificial flowers, all carefully crafted using a rare “four-dimensional hand embroidery” technique.
The Thread Garden in Ooty, located opposite the famous Boat House in the Nilgiri district, is a unique and captivating tourist attraction, celebrated for its extraordinary collection of hand-crafted artificial flowers and plants closely resembling real botanical life. This impressive garden is a result of nearly two decades of meticulous work, initiated by Professor Antony Joseph in 1988. Joseph, alongside a dedicated team of 50 women artisans, created every single element—flower, leaf, and plant—entirely by hand. Remarkably, no machines or needles were used in the creation process, which emphasizes the exceptional skill and dedication in this endeavour.
The garden features 350 artificial flowers, all carefully crafted using a rare “four-dimensional hand embroidery" technique. This intricate method involved weaving embroidery thread using only the artists’ bare hands, a process that required an astounding 6 crore (60 million) meters of thread to complete the garden’s vibrant display. Materials such as cardboard, steel, and copper wire were used as supportive structures, with a thread of various colours wrapped around to create petal shapes and vibrant hues, resulting in lifelike replicas that astound visitors with their realism.
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Originally, the Thread Garden was located in Malampuzha, Kerala. In 2002, it was moved to its current picturesque setting by Ooty’s Boat House, making it more accessible to tourists in the Nilgiri Hills. This unique work of art has earned national and international recognition, securing its place in the India Book of Records, Tamil Nadu Book of Records, and Unique World Records. The garden serves not only as a visual treat but also as a source of handicrafts that visitors can purchase as souvenirs.
Pradeep, a representative working at the Thread Garden, highlighted the significant effort and dedication of the team, explaining that the project took 12 years of intensive labour by the 50 women artisans to bring this extraordinary vision to life. Entry to this unique garden is modestly priced at Rs. 30 for adults and Rs. 20 for children, allowing tourists of all ages to enjoy this awe-inspiring display of craftsmanship.
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