Ooty (Udhagamandalam)

Commonly referred as Udhagamandalam, Ooty is the queen of all hill stations. A British officer, John Sullivan in the early nineteenth century, discovered Ooty. Located at a height of 2240 m, Ooty sprawls with verdant tea estates, museums, beautiful gardens and waterfalls. Kalahatty Falls, Wendlok Down, Cairn hills are must see in Ooty. A lovely ride on Nilgiri Blue Mountain Railway is an unforgettable experience. This Lilliputian train commences its journey from Mettupalayam to Ooty passing through eleven stations and nineteen small bridges. This amazing journey offers you the spectacular views of the misty Nilgiris.

Places of Interest

Ooty Lake
Ooty Lake stretches in an irregular L shape and is about two kms long. John Sullivan, the founder of Ooty, artificially formed the Lake in year 1825. Visitors can enjoy boating and fishing in the tranquil Ooty Lake, however for fishing, you need to take a prior permission.

Dodabetta Peak
Standing at an altitude of 2623 meters, Dodabetta peak is the highest mountain peak in the Nilgiri Hills. It is the best place to capture a bird’s eye view of Ooty and the splendid Chamunda Hills. Dodabetta peak is about eight kms from Ooty.

Lamb’s Rock
About nine kms from Conoor is the popular picnic spot, Lamb’s Rock. The place offers spectacular views of Coimbatore and the green tea estates spread all over the hills. Lamb’s Rock is the perfect place for trekking and capturing the amazing views of lush green valleys and mountains in your camera.

Botanical Gardens
The Botanical Gardens of Ooty are the paradise for nature lovers. Laid out in year 1847, the gardens are the home to more than 650 rare species of flowering bushes, plants and trees. It also houses a fossilized tree, which is believed to 20 million years old. The lush green gardens are maintained by the Horticulture department of Tamilnadu. Every year, the summer festival (including a flower show) is organized in Botanical Gardens in the month of May.

Accommodation in Ooty
Ooty being a popular holiday destination is dotted with very expensive hotels and resorts than any other place in India. Searching for a budget hotel is really a time consuming job in Ooty. During peak season, the hotels increase the tariff hence it is recommended to get the room booked in advance.

Best Time to Visit : February to May, September to November

How to Reach Ooty
By Air
The nearest airport to Ooty is in Coimbatore (88kms) which is connected to all the major cities of India. Air Deccan, Indigo, Jet Airways, Go Air, Spice jet, Kingfisher and Air India operate non-stop flights to Coimbatore from Delhi.

By Rail
Enjoy a thrilling journey on the toy train that connects Mettupalyam and Ooty.

By Road
Ooty is connected by excellent roads to many cities. There is a regular bus service to Ooty from Coimbatore, Bangalore, Madurai, Mysore, Calicut, Kanya Kumari, Tirupati and Tirchy.