Ooty

Dubbed as the “Queen of Hill Stations,” Ooty (Udhagamandalam) is a capital of Nilgiri district and one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Soothing climate, widespread greenery, picturesque landscape, and appealing attractions in and around Ooty, makes it one of the most visited summer vacation hotspots. The mountain train journey through bloodcurdling curves and fearful yet thrilling tunnels providing a striking view of abundant botany and tea gardens makes the trip to Ooty extra exciting. Every single vacation to the city is refreshing and heart-stealing.

Udhagamandalam is the bona fide name of Ooty. Originated from the Toda word "othakalmund," the name Udhagamandalam means “house in mountains”. Ooty was a popular summer tourist place for the Britishers during the colonial days. The establishment of plentiful tea factories made Ooty popular in India as well as abroad. One of the top hill stations in the country, the beauty of its tea gardens has also been a part of many popular Bollywood movies like Saajan, Deewana etc. Each year the Tea and Tourism Festival at Ooty attracts countless tourists to this lofty mountainous region.

October to May

The must visit places at Ooty include tea gardens/factory, temples, botanical gardens, leisure parks, museums etc. Sightseeing in Ooty involves exploring major tourist highlights of the city – The Tea Gardens. Don’t forget to include the following spots in your tour itinerary:

The restaurants in Ooty mainly serve South Indian cuisines; however popular restaurants like Lakeview Multi cuisine Restaurant, Dhabba Express, and Olives Restaurant serve delicious North Indian food. You can also try scrumptious Chinese/Indo-Chinese cuisine at Wang’s Kitchen. Pizza and sandwiches are best served by “Hot Breads”. Don’t miss the famous Ooty specialty dishes like buns, cakes, fruit and nut chocolates, varkis, from Modern Bakery, located in the heart of the city.

The gorgeous hill station is most popular for its tea gardens, therefore it is natural to see pure and original tea leaves in the local shops of Ooty. You can shop for chocolates, spices, cheese, and eucalyptus oil from the local shops of Nilgiris. Green Shop, Shivani Stores, and C-Store are renowned for the local products like Ooty chocolates, honey, bee wax, cream cheese, etc. Try the traditional Ooty biscuits, Varkey of Taj Bakers located in main bazaar of Ooty.

In order to explore the hill station, it is best to hire a tourist guide or buy a city guide map. Ooty is well-connected by air, road, and rail. By Air: The hill station can be reached from the major cities of the world through Coimbatore International Airport (approx. 95 km. away). Daily flights are available from Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, and other big metropolis. By Rail: Mettupalayam railway station (about 51 km.) and Coimbatore Junction (about 87 km.) are two nearest railway stations. By Road: Ooty is also well-connected by excellent wide roads. Buses are the cheapest mode to reach the city. Taxi, rental cars, auto-rickshaws, and state transport buses run from Coimbatore to Ooty. There are regular bus services from Bangalore, Calicut, Kanyakumari, Cochin, Thanjavur, Mysore etc.

Many other tourist attractions include Shooting Spots, Government Museum & Art Gallery, Doddabetta Peak, Emerald Lake, Tiger Hill, Kalhatty Water Falls, Marlimun Lake, Dolphin Nose etc.

Coonoor: Blessed with mild and cold climate round the year, Coonoor is another popular holiday hotspot that is equivalent to Ooty in terms of attractions, cuisines, and beauty. Located about 20 km away from Ooty, it has its own botanical garden and tea estates known as Sim Park. An astounding view of the waterfall and bird watching are favourite pastimes for tourists in Coonoor. Masinagudi: Another natural ecstasy located about 30 km. from Ooty, Masinagudi is known for its serene environment, picturesque landscape, and cool atmosphere. Here you don’t need an alarm to wake up; chirping and singing birds make the surrounding joyful giving you memorable mornings here. Kotagiri: Home of Kota tribes and scenic trekking tracks, Kotagiri lies in the Nilgiris Hills about 30 km. southeast to Ooty. Known for its affordable accommodations, cool climate, tea and coffee estates, Kotagiri is a serene holiday location. Annamalai Temple - Situated about 20 km. away from Ooty, this place is renowned as the house of Lord Muruga. There is an observatory at the top of the hill for tourists to enjoy the stunning view.