Ooty offers luxuriant hills, lush green valleys and untouched natural beauty to
all urban tired souls. Ooty gives an opportunity to resume our affair with nature,
where we actually belong to. Ooty is the informal name for Ootacamund or Udhagamandalam,
a destination in the state of Tamil Nadu in the south of India. Ooty covers an area
of over 36 sq. km and is home to the Doddabetta peak, the highest point in South
India. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru titled Ooty as the “Queen of Hill Stations”.
Ooty is South India’s most famous hill station, established by the British in the
early 19th century as the summer headquarters of the then-Madras (Chennai) government
and memorably nicknamed ‘Snooty Ooty’. In 1799, John Sullivan started the development
of the hill station and promoted it as an ideal summer retreat. Lots of cottages,
clubs and other buildings were built to house and provide recreational facilities
to the British officials. The Nilgiris district in which Ooty is located is home
to a large selection of tea plantations, making this officially ‘tea country’ and
the ideal place to sample some local brews as well as check out the massive and
quite awesome plots on which tea plants stretch for as far as the eye can see. Now,
these tea estates not only produce the favorite drink of millions of Indians but
also add to the charm and the beauty of Ooty.
The British influence is still in existence in the region with hand rolled cigars,
chocolate and cheese that one can enjoy here. However, before the British there
were Todas, an aboriginal tribe who inhabited the region since ancient times. The
British constructed the first railway line in the area and made it the summer capital
of the Chennai Presidency.
Ooty tourism offers a range of scenic sites and adventure-laden trips both in the
township and nearby areas. Places to visit in Ooty are Botanical garden, which has
some rich flora of the region, St. Stephen's church that reflects the city's long
association with the British. You can also explore Government Museum to witness
tribal artifacts of the region and other historical relics. Or simply sit back and
reflect by the side of Ooty Lake.
The annual Tea and Tourism Festival attracts crowds in huge numbers to visit the
place and have a great time in this wonderful place. Ooty has blooming vegetation,
fine pine and eucalyptus trees which keep enhancing the beauty of the place. Several
areas are preserved like that of sanctuary so as to conserve the beauty of the nature
and avoid extinction of the life on earth.
Ooty is a charming hill station that is pleasant all through the year. Thus, there
no precise time to visit Ooty. However, many consider that the best time is from
'February to May' or from 'September to November'. Being a hill station, summers
are quite comfortable and occasionally you may also encounter drizzles. Winters
are quite chilly so it would be a good idea to carry your winter wear or woolen
clothing with you on tours to Ooty.
Ooty is ideal as a weekend or short break destination as part of a traveling holiday,
offering the chance to spend a relaxing few days and presenting a genuinely soothing
alternative to the hectic spectacle that many large Indian cities are witness to.