Ooty Hill Station - India, Tamil Nadu

Ooty also known as Udhagamandalam ,the capital of Nilgiri district,is popularly known as the "Queen of hill stations' among the tourist places in india. The height of the hills in the Nilgiri range varies between 2280 and 2290 metres,the highest peak being Doddabetta at a height of 2623 metres. This hill station has splendid green downs and lofty hills of extraordinary scenic beauty and is endowed with a salubrious climate similar to the English summer.The name Ooty or Ootacamund derives its name from the local Toda word Udhamandalam meaning village of huts. The Tamil 'Whotai' a species of dwarf bamboo that grows in the forests,'kai' meaning a fruit or green stuff in the middle and the Toda 'mund' meaning a village clapped at the end. Ooty,however,got its name during the British rule,by calling 'WOTYKAMUND' in the Madras gazette.Ooty nestles in an amphitheater created by four majestic hills-Doddabetta,Snowdon,Elk Hill and Club Hill. These hills are part of the Nilgiri ranges that are really the meeting point for the Western and the Eastern Ghats.

Ooty has become more of a 'honeymooner's paradise' and a de-facto filming location. Apart from coffee and tea plantations, trees like conifers,pine and wattle dot the hillside of Oooty and its environs. While visiting you will also come across many eucalyptus trenches . The fresh smell of eucalyptus trees in a trendy and clement breeze will make you psychedelic for sure. The funnel-shaped blossoms covering the hills in floral profusion and the lavender-blue flowers spread over the mountains will pack you with memories for a lifetime.

Attractions:

Botanical Gardens
Botanical gardens are a major tourist attraction for those who visit Ooty,one of the most popular hill stations of India. They sprawl over 50-acre and lie on the lower slopes of Doddabetta peak,which is the highest point in Ooty. Marquis of Tweeddale established these gardens in the year 1848.

The gardens are formally laid out with lily ponds,and there are clipped bushes in the form of elephants,with raised trunks. One can find a thousand different species of plants including some thirty types of eucalyptus in these gardens. There is also a fossilised tree trunk, which is said to be 20 million years old. Towards the eastern part of the garden there is a wooden house made of logs known as "Toda Mund", which provides an excellent view.

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.

St Stephens Church
Situated in the hilly area on Club Road,St Stephens Church is said to be the oldest in the Nilgiris. The church was built in 1829 and consecrated in 1830. The beam of the church was taken from the palace of Tipu Sultan at Srirangapatnam. The cemetery close by houses the grave of John Sullivan,the founder of Ooty.

Mini Garden
Mini garden is also situated on the way to the boathouse where the children amusement park is housed. A snack bar is also available. Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation Limited maintains these gardens.

Rose Garden
Rose Garden is situated about 3 to 4-km away from Charring Cross. They are spread over an area of 10 acres of land with 2000 variety of roses. Rose Gardens lie on the way to the boathouse.

Government Museum
The government museum,Mysore Road,Ooty has items of tribal objects, district's ecological details and representative sculptural arts and crafts of Tamil Nadu. It was set up in 1989,with a view to provide education benefits to the residing and visiting population of Nilgiris district.

Deer Park
At a distance of 1-km from the Lake there is a Deer Park,which is worth visiting.

Doddabetta
Doddabetta is the highest peak (2623 meters) in the Nilgiris,which is about 10-km from Ooty. It is a beautiful place lying between the junction of the Western and Eastern Ghats and offers a beautiful view of the Nilgiri hill ranges. It is surrounded by dense Sholas.

Hindustan Photo Films
The Hindustan Photo Films,one of the major industrial units of the district,is located about 5-km away from Ooty railway station over a sprawling area of over 300 acres,near the Ooty golf-links on the Ooty- Mysore road.

Travel Information:

• By Air: Coimbatore,105 km from Ooty,is the nearest airport.
• By Rail:Ooty is on the narrow gauge railway,connected to Mettupalayam (47 km),which is directly connected to Coimbatore and Chennai. The famous toy train connects Ooty with Mettupalayam and Coonoor.
• By 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.