swimming not allowed, No idea about depth

No swimming

No paddle boat is available there, only motorised boats are available.

There are taxi stands available at various spots in ooty. They have also displayed fixed rates for sight-seeing (like half-day, full-day, distance etc.) I used to take taxi for Places like Pykara and Coonoor from Charing cross stand.

Two options - If you are adventerous enough, take a left from theppakadu and take the masinagudi route, very scenic but narrow and steep ghats!! Via gudalur is a sedate option but both are good roads!!

Places Mysore: Palace, Brindavan, Zoo, Srirangapatna if u hae time Hotel: Any 3 star hotel, all are almost same. Ooty: Toy train at least in return Gardens ( 3 are there) Lake in evening Doddapetta Hotel : Hotel Grange or any 3/4 star hotel in heart of city

Water is there but not a must visit place at this time of the year.

They both are absolutely safe. There is not much activity other than boating on these two lakes. From downtown Ooty, it is an hour's drive, one way to either of these places. Boating would be an hours activity. So, you can pretty much cover both the places in one single day.

I don't know if you are reaching through Chennai or not, if yes then make your plan like -- Day 1. (i) Board on Toytrain from Mettupalayam in the morning, it will give you a chance to see Nilgiri Hill from close, you will reach Ooty/Udagamandalam by 12.10pm. Upon reaching don't waste time, put your luggage in hotel, get freshen up, have food in small quantity. And make use of the 2nd half. (ii) Take a cab and reach Doddabetta Peak. (iii) Then move to Tea Factory and Chocolate Factory. (IV) then reach wax museum (optional) (v) make Ooty Botanical Garden your last destination for Day 1. Try to reach within 4.30 max, because it remains open till 6.30pm. And you will need time to cover the entire B.garden area. Day 2. (i) Set out for Avalanche Lake, on the way you will pass the Cairn Hill, visit it later while returning, keep moving for Avalanche. (ii) Then go for Emerald Lake (iii) Then come back to Cairn Hill, it will take time to cover the entire area. (IV) then visit Ooty Lake & enjoy the Boating. Day 3: (i) Set out for Pykara Lake (best boating experience) (ii) Before reaching you can experience Horse riding. (iii) then visit Pine Forest, you will see a lake adjacent to it, you will also see rear part of Kamaraja Sagar Dam (IV) then proceed forward to the front part of Kamaraja Sagar Dam, it's famous place. (v) then visit 9th Miles or shooting point. You will get excellent view over here. Climb till the top. (vi) then via Mysore road reach Pykara Falls, it will take time as cars are not allowed to falls area, it's walking distance around 1km (vii) then visit Pykara Lake. Keep your DSLR ready while boating. ;) (viii) then come back to Ooty and visit to Govt Rose garden, this will be the last destination. Day 4 I know it is the day you will return, but don't waste the 1st half of the Morning, check out from hotel and move to Connor (i) Visit Sims park (ii) then proceed towards Madras Regiment (Don't try to take any snap around the area) (iii) then while reaching to Lambs rock area you will pass by the Tea Garden area, spend some time there, take snaps, buy tea if you want (IV) reach Lambs rock, excellent place, take breath taking snaps. Spend sometime with yourself only. (v) while returning just take a look of the Stone house, take some snaps of Valleys. This is how it will end, easily you can wrap up the Connor part within 1pm. :)

A little over an hours drive from Ooty to Pykara lake if it's noon traffic.