Ooty

Ooty, short for Ootacamund (an anglicized name for Udhagamandalam), is a popular hill resort in the state of Tamil Nadu in Southern India.

The name Udhagamandalam is derived from the Toda word "othakal-mund" which means "house in mountains". Ooty stands at 2,240 m (7,347) feet above sea level in the Nilgiri mountain range. It was founded in the 19th century by the British, and served as the summer headquarters of the Madras Presidency. Ooty is in the Niligiris District which was one of the first places in India to get rid of plastic carry bags, so if you are heading there, remember to carry your own reusable bags, not plastic.

Located in the Nilgiris ("Blue Mountains"), it draws swarms of tourists every year. The weather is quite pleasant at a mean of 15-20°C around the year, dropping to lows of 0°C during winter. The landscape is marked by rolling hills covered with dense vegetation, smaller hills and plateaus covered with tea gardens, and eucalyptus trees. Many portions of the hills are preserved as natural reserve forests, and special permits will be needed to camp in noncamp sites. Ooty is not the destination in itself, as much as it is the focal point of attraction. Auto touring the surrounding country side is certainly a must do. Unfortunately, the hill town suffers from overcrowding and erosion of natural resources. Tourism has placed an enormous strain on the natural resources resulting in pollution, water shortage and roads.

The hilly region also houses smaller towns like Coonoor and Kotagiri. These smaller towns are a better choice to visit and spend time in, since they are off the beaten path, yet less than an hour away from Ooty. They enjoy the same natural climes and prices are a lot cheaper.

• Annamalai Temple. This place has grown as a famous temple of Lord Muruga, and is known as 7th Hill house of the lord. The view from the temple is great. There is an observatory at the top of hill for the public to enjoy the magnificent panoramic view.
• Boating at Pykara. It's an awesome experience. Though the rate of boating is little bit high (minimum is ₹400) but still it is worthy. Fresh air, good feeling and good view.
• Doddabetta Peak. The Dodabetta Peak stands at an altitude of 2,623 m. It is the highest point in the district, making it possibly the best vantage point around Ooty. It is 10 km from Ooty so you can simply grab your camera and head straight to the peak, and click amazing pictures of the valley below. Many say that on a clear day, which is honestly not that often, one can see far off areas, even the plains of Coimbatore and the flat highlands of Mysore. You can get there by catching a bus from ooty bus stand which will charge you ₹10, but will have to walk about 3 km. from the stop where the bus will drop you. You will enjoy the way up the peak, if you love walking.
• Dolphin's Nose. The Dolphin's Nose View point is 10 km from Coonoor Central. You can enjoy the views of the roads and tea farms.
• Echo Rock. Some call it the "Lamb's Rock", as it naturally took the shape of a lamb. Go through a very small forest and then you can see the rock.
• Falls at Pykara. This is an interesting place near the Pykara village. Bathing is not advisable here as there is a danger of drowning when there is water. However, there is not always water in the waterfalls, so check current conditions before you go.

• Fern Hills Palace. Be sure to visit this palace-turned-hotel of the Mysore Maharaja. Extremely beautiful place and quite affordable tea-snacks and slightly expensive buffet dinner. The palace and its estate are beautiful and are open to guests. The locals often will call it Mysore Palace to avoid confusion with the Fern Hill Hotel.
• Hidden Valley.
• Historical dam with power station at Pykara.

• Ooty Botanical Gardens. If you are on a sightseeing tour to Ooty, you might want to visit the Government Botanical gardens, which were laid out in 1847. The picturesque gardens that are maintained by the Horticulture department of the state, cover an area of about 22 ha. The gardens have well over 650 species of plants and trees, including a fossil of a tree, which is believed to be more than 20 million years old. The garden is very popular with nature lovers and those who long to walk among greenery and see rare ferns and shrubs up close. If you are in Ooty in the month of May, then you can also be a part of the summer festival, which is held here annually. The festival holds flower shows and various cultural programs showcasing the talent of the locals and the renowned artists.
• Ooty Rose gardens. It is an amazing and very large area garden. You can enjoy varieties of roses there. The roses bloom only for 2-3 months a year (not sure when), so going there off-season is not very interesting. If interested can buy the seeds and plants also.
• Pine forest. It's a natural beauty. After the end of the forest a lake is there. Be careful while walking as the path has slope. Down the slope lies the waters of Kamaraj-sagar Dam.
• Shooting Point. One very nice place is that. Don't miss it. The view is very pleasant.
• Sims Park, Coonoor. Similar to Ooty Botanical Garden, very rare plants and trees are present. The park is famous for the fruit show it hosts annually during summer festivals.
• The Tea Factory. Several tree gardens and factories are there. On the way you will get lots of them. They will approach you with free tea taste and offer some tea packets to buy. But be cautious if you don't have much knowledge about tea, better not to buy from them as the packet tea has not the same taste as they gave you to taste. The spices' quality is not so good.
• Wax World. Its a private investment not supported by Govt. Don't expect much like other foreign wax museum which are helped by tourism authorities for advertisements and promotions. But for sight seeing its good. More attraction is the very old house, where the museum is set up. Candles are available. But it is suffering from funds for expansion so they request tourists to visit so that they can get help from them, which is the only form of support.

Annamalai Temple. This place has grown as a famous temple of Lord Muruga, and is known as 7th Hill house of the lord. The view from the temple is great. There is an observatory at the top of hill for the public to enjoy the magnificent panoramic view.

Boating at Pykara. It's an awesome experience. Though the rate of boating is little bit high (minimum is ₹400) but still it is worthy. Fresh air, good feeling and good view.

Doddabetta Peak. The Dodabetta Peak stands at an altitude of 2,623 m. It is the highest point in the district, making it possibly the best vantage point around Ooty. It is 10 km from Ooty so you can simply grab your camera and head straight to the peak, and click amazing pictures of the valley below. Many say that on a clear day, which is honestly not that often, one can see far off areas, even the plains of Coimbatore and the flat highlands of Mysore. You can get there by catching a bus from ooty bus stand which will charge you ₹10, but will have to walk about 3 km. from the stop where the bus will drop you. You will enjoy the way up the peak, if you love walking.

Dolphin's Nose. The Dolphin's Nose View point is 10 km from Coonoor Central. You can enjoy the views of the roads and tea farms.

Echo Rock. Some call it the "Lamb's Rock", as it naturally took the shape of a lamb. Go through a very small forest and then you can see the rock.

Falls at Pykara. This is an interesting place near the Pykara village. Bathing is not advisable here as there is a danger of drowning when there is water. However, there is not always water in the waterfalls, so check current conditions before you go.

Fern Hills Palace. Be sure to visit this palace-turned-hotel of the Mysore Maharaja. Extremely beautiful place and quite affordable tea-snacks and slightly expensive buffet dinner. The palace and its estate are beautiful and are open to guests. The locals often will call it Mysore Palace to avoid confusion with the Fern Hill Hotel.

Hidden Valley.

Historical dam with power station at Pykara.

Ooty Botanical Gardens. If you are on a sightseeing tour to Ooty, you might want to visit the Government Botanical gardens, which were laid out in 1847. The picturesque gardens that are maintained by the Horticulture department of the state, cover an area of about 22 ha. The gardens have well over 650 species of plants and trees, including a fossil of a tree, which is believed to be more than 20 million years old. The garden is very popular with nature lovers and those who long to walk among greenery and see rare ferns and shrubs up close. If you are in Ooty in the month of May, then you can also be a part of the summer festival, which is held here annually. The festival holds flower shows and various cultural programs showcasing the talent of the locals and the renowned artists.

Ooty Rose gardens. It is an amazing and very large area garden. You can enjoy varieties of roses there. The roses bloom only for 2-3 months a year (not sure when), so going there off-season is not very interesting. If interested can buy the seeds and plants also.

Pine forest. It's a natural beauty. After the end of the forest a lake is there. Be careful while walking as the path has slope. Down the slope lies the waters of Kamaraj-sagar Dam.

Shooting Point. One very nice place is that. Don't miss it. The view is very pleasant.

Sims Park, Coonoor. Similar to Ooty Botanical Garden, very rare plants and trees are present. The park is famous for the fruit show it hosts annually during summer festivals.

The Tea Factory. Several tree gardens and factories are there. On the way you will get lots of them. They will approach you with free tea taste and offer some tea packets to buy. But be cautious if you don't have much knowledge about tea, better not to buy from them as the packet tea has not the same taste as they gave you to taste. The spices' quality is not so good.

Wax World. Its a private investment not supported by Govt. Don't expect much like other foreign wax museum which are helped by tourism authorities for advertisements and promotions. But for sight seeing its good. More attraction is the very old house, where the museum is set up. Candles are available. But it is suffering from funds for expansion so they request tourists to visit so that they can get help from them, which is the only form of support.

Most travel agents and hotels conduct guided tour packages that will bundle you into a bus, and tick off the most important and hence crowded "tourist" spots in the area. Some hotels also arrange for private cars like Indica, TATA Sumo.

• Travel on the railway. The charming Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR), blue and cream with wooden coaches and large windows, is widely regarded as a marvel of engineering.
• Go for long walks and hikes.
• Visit a tea plantation and if possible a tea factory.
• Travel the countryside in a 4x4.
• Catch a round of golf at the Gymkhana Golf course (membership or introduction required)
• Visit the local Army cantonment - the Madras Regimental Center and the DSSC (Defense Services Staff College).
• Visit terrace farmed cabbage fields around Ooty.
• Visit the Mudumalai forest sanctuary (1-2 days minimum).
• Visit the Needle industries which is around 6km from maintown Ooty in Ketti.
• Visit 9th mile and also the 6th mile where lot of movies are shot.
• Visit the Municipal Market and shop for fresh local fruits.
• Horse back riding. It's popular here. In one hour you can go around the lake or longer rides you can visit countryside around Ooty. Some knowledge of horses would be good as the guides are local men who don't speak too much English, teaching is minimal. On top of the price you have to pay for guide. US$4/hour.

Travel on the railway. The charming Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR), blue and cream with wooden coaches and large windows, is widely regarded as a marvel of engineering.

Visit a tea plantation and if possible a tea factory.

Catch a round of golf at the Gymkhana Golf course (membership or introduction required)

Visit the local Army cantonment - the Madras Regimental Center and the DSSC (Defense Services Staff College).

Visit terrace farmed cabbage fields around Ooty.

Visit the Mudumalai forest sanctuary (1-2 days minimum).

Visit the Needle industries which is around 6km from maintown Ooty in Ketti.

Visit the Municipal Market and shop for fresh local fruits.

Horse back riding. It's popular here. In one hour you can go around the lake or longer rides you can visit countryside around Ooty. Some knowledge of horses would be good as the guides are local men who don't speak too much English, teaching is minimal. On top of the price you have to pay for guide. US$4/hour.

Ooty and Nilgiris are well known for a variety of local products like tea, eucalyptus oil, chocolates, spices and gourmet cheese. There are a lot of shops that deal these products, though you have to be careful that you get an authentic product.

• Green Shop. It is an extension of the Keystone Foundation that has been working in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve over the last 15 years (since 1995) with indigenous communities on eco-development initiatives. and makes available their handicrafts and products like bee honey, bee wax and other hand-crafted artifacts. They also stock excellent gourmet cheeses like Gouda, Colby, Monterey Jack, Cheddar, Haloumi and Herb Cream Cheeses made by Acres Wild Cheesemaking Farmstay in Coonoor. They also have a bee museum that is certainly worth a visit as they show documentaries on wild bees and honey collection.
• Taj Bakers, Main Bazaar, Ooty. Visit Taj Bakers for traditional Ooty Biscuit called (Varkey) and other bakery items like home made chocolates, cakes etc..
• King's Star. Ooty is famous for its chocolates, and the best place to have them is at King's Star. They have around 4 outlets in Ooty and are the first chocolate makers in Ooty. (The shops are run by the 3rd generation of the family.

Green Shop. It is an extension of the Keystone Foundation that has been working in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve over the last 15 years (since 1995) with indigenous communities on eco-development initiatives. and makes available their handicrafts and products like bee honey, bee wax and other hand-crafted artifacts. They also stock excellent gourmet cheeses like Gouda, Colby, Monterey Jack, Cheddar, Haloumi and Herb Cream Cheeses made by Acres Wild Cheesemaking Farmstay in Coonoor. They also have a bee museum that is certainly worth a visit as they show documentaries on wild bees and honey collection.

Taj Bakers, Main Bazaar, Ooty. Visit Taj Bakers for traditional Ooty Biscuit called (Varkey) and other bakery items like home made chocolates, cakes etc..

King's Star. Ooty is famous for its chocolates, and the best place to have them is at King's Star. They have around 4 outlets in Ooty and are the first chocolate makers in Ooty. (The shops are run by the 3rd generation of the family.

There are various restaurants in Ooty, mostly offering South Indian food, but some offer North Indian food.

• Hotel Sri Velmurugan, Walsham Road, Green fields (On the road connecting Alankar Theatre (in Ettines road) and the Commercial Road, +91 9944817139, +91 423-2444968. 6AM to 11PM. Traditional South Indian restaurant.
• Earl's Secret, Kings Cliff.
• Bismillah Hotel, Near Juma Masjidh, Upper Bazar. Delicious meat and fish dishes of Calicut taste.

Hotel Sri Velmurugan, Walsham Road, Green fields (On the road connecting Alankar Theatre (in Ettines road) and the Commercial Road, +91 9944817139, +91 423-2444968. 6AM to 11PM. Traditional South Indian restaurant.

Earl's Secret, Kings Cliff.

Bismillah Hotel, Near Juma Masjidh, Upper Bazar. Delicious meat and fish dishes of Calicut taste.

The Nilgiris are famous for tea.

• Hotel Blue hills, Commercial Road. Best non-veg hotel in Ooty. Serving biriyani and other dishes for more than a decade.
• Krishan Prabhas. lower bazaar, near bus stand, ooty

Hotel Blue hills, Commercial Road. Best non-veg hotel in Ooty. Serving biriyani and other dishes for more than a decade.

Krishan Prabhas. lower bazaar, near bus stand, ooty

• Bandipur National Park
• Nagarhole National Park
• Kodanad Viewpoint in Kotagiri
• Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary