The artificial lake of 65 acres against the background of Nilgiris mountains was created in 1824, by the then Coimbatore collector John Sullivan. The lake extended from the central bus stand in an irregular L shape. The Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC) took over the lake and introduced boating facilities in 1973. The boat house near the lake provides boating facilities and you can enjoy your boating in the scenic lake in either a rowboat, pedal boat or motor boat. You can also hop on to tony ponies for a ride in front of the boat house. The lake was earlier used for fishing activities and ferries were used for travelling across the river. You can also spot water birds here. Children can get on the mini train and play in the amusement park in the garden on the way to the boat house. There is also a horror house and mirror house, a Columbus ride, and dashing cars. Surrounded by Eucalyptus trees, there is a railway line along the shore.  This is also an ideal shooting location for photo enthusiasts and filmmakers.

If you are visiting the lake in May, you can enjoy the boat races and boat pageantry. Boating facilities are available from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm. The deer park on the lake road has sambars, hares, chitals and water birds. The lake park and the current bus stand race course were formed after the lake was shrunk from its original size. The visiting hours in Ooty lake are from 9.00 am to 6.00 pm. October to June is the best time to visit the lake.