All over India the British located idyllic sports hill resort so as to get away from the heat of the plains in summer.In the south, in the Nilgris or Blue mountains (which get their name from the blue haze which envelops them), they selected three spots ooty, Coonoor and Kotagiri.
Of these three, Ooty with its beautiful gardens, wooded rolling hills, pine and eucalyptus forests and cool climate has earned the name, queen of Hill stations.
The nilgiris are known for their tea and coffee plantations and for the eucalyptus oil used as a base for medicines for cough and colds.
There are many ancient tribal people here, the Badagas and Today amongst others, whose talents have helped to develop Ooty.
Visitors should not miss the train journey on the hill railway from Mettupalaya yo Ooty.

TOURIST PLACES TO VISIT IN OOTY

• Botanical garden – Established in 1847, the Botanical garden have a variety of exotic plants and colourfully laid out ornamental gardens.

• 

  Ooty Lake where boating is a favourite pastime.

• 

  Doddabetta Peak, the highest point in the Nilgiri mountains(2623 metres high).

• 

  Ooty has myraid walks and trek to Elk Hill, Wenlock Downs, Ketty Valley, Lamb’s rock. Lady Canning seat, avalanche, Mukurthi Peak, Frog hill, Pykara Dam etc.

• 

  Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary (67 km from Ooty)

• 

  Toda Community and their Toda Hut – Even before civilization entrapped Ooty, this region and the surrounding areas were inhabited by the indigenous tribes of the Western Ghats who still exist and are considered as a formidable part of Society and the local Ooty population. Toda Huts depicts a curious hamlet like structure with the complete absence of any windows. These Toda Huts are semi-barrel shaped and the entrance is rather very small. You need to literally bend and stoop forward to get inside a Toda Hut, however, once inside, you can stand upright with little comfort. Although now many Toda huts have converted into Concrete houses, still you can find few of those traditional huts. A look at Toda huts is must among tourist places to visit in Ooty.

More Tourist Places to Visit in Tamilnadu

EXCURTIONS

Coonoor (19 km), another hill station at a lower altitude. Surrounded by tea and coffee plantation, Coonoor is famous for its Sims Park and several scenic spots, as also fruit orchards.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Altitude :        2286metres
Best Season :  Throughout the year except June to August
Clothing :
Summer         Light Woollen
Winter           Heavy Woollens

How to reach Ooty

Air:

The nearest airport is Coimbatore 989 km) from where Indian Airlines operate flights to Madras, Bangalore and Bombay.

Rail:

Ooty is connected by excellent roads which go past tea plantation and wooded forest. It is 160 km from Mysore, 281 km from Cochin 290 km from Bangalore 302 km from Trichy and 535 km from Madras.

LOCAL TRANSPORT

There are unmetered taxis and auto-rickshaws available.

CONDUCTED TOURS

1.Full-day tour to Ooty Lake, doddabetta Peak, Botanical Gardens and Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary.
2.Full-day tour to Kotagiri and Coonoor.
(Tours are conducted in the season0.
(Contact TTDC, Hotel Tamil Nadu, Tel;2543)