Ooty
Discover Ooty
Ooty, short for Ootacamund and officially Udhagamandalam (உதகமண்டலம் Utakamaṇṭalam), is a popular hill resort in the state of Tamil Nadu in Southern India. The name Udhagamandalam is derived from the Toda word "othakal-mund" which means "house in mountains". Ooty stands at 2,240 m (7,347 feet) above sea level in the Nilgiri mountain range. Here you can escape the heat of the region around: The weather is quite pleasant at a mean of 20-25°C during the day around the year. Ooty is in the Niligiris District which was one of the first places in India to get rid of plastic carry bags, so if you are heading there, remember to carry your own reusable bags, not plastic. Ooty is home to 5 tribal communities; Todas, Kurumbas, Paniyas, Irulas and Kotas. It was turned into a hill station in the 19th century by the British, and served as the summer headquarters of the Madras Presidency. In the Nilgiris (Blue Mountains), it draws swarms of tourists every year. The landscape is marked by rolling hills covered with dense vegetation, smaller hills and plateaus covered with tea gardens, and eucalyptus trees. Many portions of the hills are preserved as natural reserve forests, and special permits will be needed to camp in noncamp sites. Ooty is not the destination in itself, as much as it is the focal point of attraction. Auto touring the surrounding country side is certainly a must do. Unfortunately, the hill town suffers from overcrowding and erosion of natural resources. Tourism has placed an enormous strain on the natural resources resulting in pollution, water shortage and roads.
What to Experience in Ooty
a lush green hillside with a lake in the distance
houses near green trees under white clouds during daytime
During my last trip across Kerala, India I came across this place amidst the tea gardens of Munnar. The place looked surreal filled with lushness of greenery. The little drizzle added to the beauty of the location. The relaxing feeling at the time was unforgettable. This photo always reminds me of what heaven on earth might look like :)
a scenic view of a small town on a hill
Ooty in the Southern Indian State of Karnataka is fondly called the "Queen of hill stations".
brown wooden house on green grass field under white sky during daytime
green-leafed plant
Serene land near the pine forest.
green grass field with mountain in distance
Nature's Gift
Taste of Ooty...
There are various restaurants in Ooty, mostly offering South Indian food, but some offer North Indian food. There is no dearth of accommodations, with many hotels and inns that cater to every budget. Accommodations are no more expensive than most cities in India, and the popular Indian hotel chains have a presence here. Temperatures drop to 10–15°C at night and in the morning, so make sure to bring appropriate clothing.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsOoty has no airport. The nearby airports are located in: The Nilgiris are in Tamil Nadu, but near the borders Karnataka and Kerala. The hills consequently can be reached from within Tamil Nadu by travelling up a heavily forested winding road, with many hair-pin bends. The road trip from any state is scenic, although the Coimbatore-Mettupalayam-Coonoor-Ooty road (i.e. the Tamil Nadu route) is the most travelled and best-maintained. All roads to the Nilgiri hills have nominal tolls. Taxis at the C...
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Taxis, tourist cabs, auto rickshaws are available in plenty. There are no standard rates except for tourist cabs. Rickshaws charge a minimum of ₹30. Town buses are available to all important places. Conducted sight seeing tours are arranged by private operators and the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC). There are around 3-4 different day trip routes/packages available. Bus day-trip cost ₹125-150 and taxi day-trip cost ₹900-1100. Even if you arranged the taxi through the hotel (ev
Where to Stay
There is no dearth of accommodations, with many hotels and inns that cater to every budget. Accommodations are no more expensive than most cities in India, and the popular Indian hotel chains have a presence here. Temperatures drop to 10–15°C at night and in the morning, so make sure to bring appropriate clothing.
Money & Budget
Ooty and Nilgiris are well known for a variety of local products like tea, eucalyptus oil, chocolates, spices and gourmet cheese. There are a lot of shops that deal these products, though you have to be careful that you get an authentic product. There are various restaurants in Ooty, mostly offering South Indian food, but some offer North Indian food. There is no dearth of accommodations, with man
Safety Information
Nearby Destinations
Glimpses of Ooty
a lush green hillside with a lake in the distance
houses near green trees under white clouds during daytime
During my last trip across Kerala, India I came across this place amidst the tea gardens of Munnar. The place looked surreal filled with lushness of greenery. The little drizzle added to the beauty of the location. The relaxing feeling at the time was unforgettable. This photo always reminds me of what heaven on earth might look like :)
a scenic view of a small town on a hill
Ooty in the Southern Indian State of Karnataka is fondly called the "Queen of hill stations".
brown wooden house on green grass field under white sky during daytime
green-leafed plant
Serene land near the pine forest.
green grass field with mountain in distance
Nature's Gift
a lush green hillside with a lake in the distance
houses near green trees under white clouds during daytime
During my last trip across Kerala, India I came across this place amidst the tea gardens of Munnar. The place looked surreal filled with lushness of greenery. The little drizzle added to the beauty of the location. The relaxing feeling at the time was unforgettable. This photo always reminds me of what heaven on earth might look like :)