¤ About Ooty
The hills of Dodabetta, Snowdon, Elk Hill, and Club Hill in the Nilgiri ranges, Ooty (also Ootacamund or Udhagamandalam) is the queen of southern hill stations and a popular tourist destination of Tamil Nadu. The history of Ooty goes back to about 900 years when it was ruled by Vishnu Vardhana, the Hoysala king from AD 1104 to 1141. The city also finds mention in the writing of Jacome Ferico, the first European to visit this place in 1603. In 1799, this hilly region came under the control of the British East India Company. The British established Ooty to serve as the summer headquarters of the Madras government.

A government house was built and keeping in tune with the English lifestyle, the British set up cottages and clubs, with facilities for tennis, golf, and horse riding. With the establishment of numerous tea estates in the subsequent years, Ooty made its presence felt in the tourist map of India. With the maximum temperature going up to 25°C, Ooty offers a pleasant climate throughout the year. One can visit this picturesque hill station at any time of the year though the ideal time is from February to May and September to November. An added attraction for the tourists to Udagamandalam is the mountain train journey on a ratchet and pinion track which commences from Kallar, near Mettupalayam and wends its way through many hair-raising curves and fearful tunnels and chugs along beside deep ravines full of verdant vegetation, gurgling streams and tea gardens.

The scenery, as it unfolds during the trip, is breathtaking, awe-inspiring and fantastic. One can notice a marvelous change in vegetation, as one goes from Kallar to Coonoor. At Kallar it is tropical and at Burliar-the next bus-stop as one proceeds from Mettupalayam-it is sub-tropical. Near Coonoor, it is humid with pines, blue gum (Eucalyptus globulus) and cypress trees. As we go from Ooty to Gudalur, the change in vegetation is striking.

¤ Major Tourist Attractions of Ooty
» Ooty Lake - About 1-km distance there is an artificial lake with a charming look, which was formed in 1824 by Mr. John Sullivan, the then Collector of Coimbatore.

» Botanical Gardens - Lush green well maintained lawns, rare tree species (like the cork tree which is probably the only such tree in India, the paper bark tree and the monkey puzzle tree - monkeys cannot climb this tree), a 20 million year old fossilized tree, an Italian-style garden bordering a clear pool, a vast variety of flowering bushes and plants in myriad hues (exotic and ornamental), fern house with a vast range of ferns and orchids, are some of the many highlights of this garden. A flower show along with an exhibition of rare plant species is held every year in the month of May at this garden. The Garden is maintained by the Horticulture Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu

¤ Shopping
Shopping in Ooty would be a nice experience for the passionate shopper. Although the region does not have any specialty handicraft of its own, there are many other things for shopping in Ooty. On the slopes of the great Nilgiri range, the region grows some of the best qualities of coffee and tea in India. The sprawling plantations and the heady smell are feast to senses. You may choose to buy some coffee or tea while shopping in Ooty. Handmade chocolates are also popular items for shopping in Ooty. Also pick up aromatic oils and spices while shopping in Ooty. Besides, there is the wide variety of handicrafts of Tamil Nadu. The ace craftsmen of Tamil Nadu are skilled in making fantastic Jewelry, painting, pottery, and stone crafts. Look for such artifacts as you go on shopping in Ooty. You may also come across some tribal crafts in the shops. The local bazaars are replete with private shops and Government run emporia, where you can shop till you drop. Many hotels have shopping arcades where of course the price would be a bit on higher side.

¤ Accomodation
Accommodation is available at the luxurious, middle class and small budgeted hotels, lodges, and the railway retiring rooms in Ooty. Ooty offers a wide range of hotels, motels and youth hostels for a comfortable stay. Besides, there are a number of unclassified hotels and lodges available.

¤ Climate of Ooty
Temperatures range from 25°C in summers to 5°C in the winters. The best season to go is between November and March, avoiding high-season crowds (April-June and September-October).

¤ How To Reach Ooty
» Air - The nearest airport is in Coimbatore, 100 km away. You can catch a direct flight to Coimbatore from Chennai, Kozhikode, Bangalore and Mumbai. Indian Airlines flies Delhi-Kochi via Mumbai and Coimbatore.

» Rail - Nearest broad gauge railway head is Mettupalayam (46 kms). Major broadgauge railway junction is Coimbatore. It is connected with all major cities. Mettupalayam to Ooty, is connected by a Mountain Railway which is 4 hours journey.

» Road - A good network of roads and national highways connect Ooty with all major towns and cities. There are regular bus services to and from Coimbatore, Trichy, Bangalore, Madurai, Kanyakumari, Mysore, Palghat, Calicut, Tirupati and other important destinations in South India. Ooty is also well connected with major cities of Kerala and Karnataka.