Ooty

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India / Tamil Nadu /Nilgiris /Ooty

Ooty also known as Udhagamandalam is the “Queen of hill stations” and the capital of Nilgiris district. It is one of the most popular tourist resorts in India. Nilgiris means “Blue Mountains”. It is a land of picturesque picnic spots. Used to be popular summer and weekend getaway for the Britishers during the colonial days. It is situated at an altitude of 2,240 meters above sea level. 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. One can notice a marvellous change in vegetation, as one goes from Kallar to Coonoor. The establishment of numerous tea estates made Ooty famous. Lofty mountains, dense forest, sprawling grasslands and miles and miles of tea gardens greet the passengers on most routes. The annual Tea and Tourism Festival attracts crowds in huge numbers.

Ooty-Hill-statation-View

Hill statation, Ooty

Quick Facts-Edit

Category : Hill Station

Time Zone: UTC + 5:30 Hours

Pincode: 643001

STD Code: 423

Info Website: ooty.com

Best Time to Visit:  October- June

HistoryEdit

Ooty history, goes back to many centuries. Not much information is available on the reason behind the name ‘Blue Mountain’. While some blame the smoky mist present in the area, while some are of the opinion that the blue Karunji flower, is the reason behind it. No historical data confirms Ooty to have been under the rule of any kingdom or dynasty. The closest relevance can be associated with Tipu Sltan who built a cave like structure in order to expand his kingdom.What today stands as the Old Ooty has some historical connections with the Toda tribes. It is believed that the Todas handed over that part of Ooty to Mr. John Sullivan, the ten governor of, in order to develope the town.The British predominantly stayed in Ooty and owned almost all the land. The town served as the summer capital of the Madras Presidency and the colonial days. During those times, the wounded soldiers.

Places to VisitAdd

Ooty Sightseeing

How to ReachEdit


By Air :There is no airport in ooty. Coimbatore airport is the nearest airport and is around 105 km from Ooty. A number of private airlines give provide services to Coimbatore. Coimbatore is well connected with many south Indian cities by air including Chennai, Bangalore, Madurai and Hyderabad. Pre-paid Taxi fare from Coimbatore to Ooty is about Rs 2,500. Coimbatore International Airport: 0422 259 2155.

By Train : The hill station of Ooty has a railway station of its own. It is called the Udhagamandalam railway station and can be reached by The Nilgiri Mountain Railway (a.k.a. Toy Train) from Mettupalayam which is 47 km away from Ooty, is the nearest major railway station. There are regular train services from Coimbatore and Chennai to Mettupalayam. Mettupalayam and Conoor are connected to Ooty with toy trains .Taxis are available from Mettupalayam to Ooty and fare is about Rs 1,000. Udhagamandalam railway station: 0423-2442246.

By BUS : Ooty is well connected with all most all south Indian cities by bus. There are regular bus services from Mysore (Rs 300), Bangalore (Rs 600), Chennai(Rs 650) and also from many cities in Kerala. State owned and private vehicles ply on this route. Many tourist services providers offer package trips to Ooty from many south Indian cities. These will charge about Rs 4 per km.

By Taxi : Ooty is well connected by a road network and national highways 67. The tourist can reach to Ooty by taxi. The normal Indian taxi charges of Rupees 8 to 20 will be charged for each km.

By Other : N.A.

Top HotelsAdd

Budget  – Up to Rs. 800
  • Hotel Jayashanthi ; Hill Bunk, 175, Opp Ooty Club ,Ooty 643001. ; Ph – 097 89 493055 ; Facilities – Travel Desk , 24-hour front desk , Parking.
Economy – Up to Rs. 801 to Rs. 1200
  • Hotel Blue Star ; Garden Road, Ooty 643001 ; Ph – 0423 244 4465 ; Facilities – Travel Desk , Conference facilities , Elevators , Laundry , Parking , Disco , 24-Hour Security , Banquet facilities , Doctor on call.
Deluxe – Up to Rs. 801 to Rs. 1200
  • Astoria Residency ; # 171, Chruch Hill Road, Near ICICI Bank, Ooty 643001. ; Ph – 0423 244 4571 ; Facilities – Shopping , Travel Desk , 24-hour front desk , ATM/Cash machine , Conference facilities , Laundry ,Parking , Non-smoking rooms , 24-Hour Security , Parking.
Luxury – Rs. 2501 and above
  • Accord Highland-Ooty ; # 4/278,Doddabetta Junction,Kotagiri Road,The Nilgiris, Ooty 643001. ; Ph – 089 39 856407 ; Facilities – Travel Desk , 24-hour front desk , 24-hour room service , Baby sitting , Conference facilities , Laundry , Wheel chair access , Non-smoking rooms , 24-Hour Security , Bus Parking , Catering Services , Concierge , Courtyard , Executive Level/Floor , Game Room , In Room Movies , Laundry/Valet Services , Lounge.

Top RestaurantsAdd

  • Shinkow’s Chinese Restaurant ; 32/83, Ooty, TN 643001.; M –  0423 244 2811 ; Food Serve :  Chinese Foods.
  • Blue Hills International ;  Hospital Road, Near State Bank of India,Ooty. ; M –  0423 244 4466 ; Food Serve :  Multi-cuisine.
  • Palve Sugavasam ;  Bishop Town Road, Ramakrishna Puram (Behind Ramakrishna Madam),Ooty. ; M –  098 41 647145 ; Food Serve :  Multi-cuisine.
  • Pooja Restaurents ;  Club Road, Hill Bunk,Ooty. ; M –  096 55 833621 ; Food Serve :  Indian.

Must Eat FoodAdd

Chocolates-in-ooty

Chocolates

  • Chocolates –  King Star ;  54 Commercial Road, Ooty, The Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, 643006.; Ph/M –  91-423-2450205, 91-98944-08680, 91-98430-68536. ; Cost –  N.A. ; Famous for – N.A.

Must Do ActivitiesAdd

Boating-in-Ooty

Boating

  • Boating ; Ooty Lake,Ooty, India. ; Cost – Rs.60 for a two-seater pedal boat (30 minutes) and up to Rs250 for a 15-seater motorboat (20 minutes). ; Visiting Time –  9:00am ; Closed Time :  5.30pm.

Must ShopAdd

  • Toda shawls ; Poompuhar Emporium ;  Khadi Craft Building Complex, Ooty, The Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, 643006. ; Ph/M:  91-423-2442435.
  • Handicrafts ; Udhagamandalam Kairali Emporium ;  Ooty, The Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, 643006. ; Ph/M:  N.A.
  • Nilgiri tea ; Sarkkar Super Market ;  No 23 Hotel Charing Cross Complex, Garden Road, Ooty HO, Ooty – 643001 ; Ph/M:  9442624922.
  • Spices ; Venus Super Market ;  Coonoor Road, Coonoor Road, OOTY – 643001. ; Ph/M:  0423, 2444350, 2442917.

Nightlife (Pub / Disc / BAR)Add

  • Vinayaga Inn ; C-36, Ooty GPO, Ooty- 643001. ; Ph/M: (0423) 2444394, (0423) 2444396. ; Cost:  N.A. ; Food Serve : N.A.
  • Fortune Bar And Pub ; 123, Ettines Road, Ooty- 643001. ; Ph/M: (0423) 2441415. ; Cost:  N.A. ; Food Serve : N.A.

SpaAdd

  • Amrutha Ayurvedic Massage Centre ;  Mysore Road, Udagamandalam, Ooty- 643002. ; Ph/M – 9159733010, 9159733020 ; Cost:  N.A. ; Services –  Back Massage, Baliness Massage, Bleaching, Body Wrap, Deep Tissue Massage, Face Massage, Facial, Foot Reflexology, Hand And Feet Massage, Head Massage, Rejuvenation, Rope Massage, Spa Capsule, Spa Manicure, Spa Pedicure, Sports Massage, Steam Bath, Steam Wrap, Waxing.
  • Palms Day Spa ;  Nea Mahindra Club, 2230484, Ooty HO, Ooty – 643001 ; Ph/M – 9843320646 ; Cost:  N.A. ; Services –  Deep Tissue Massage, Face Massage, Facial, Foot Reflexology, Hand And Feet Massage, Head Massage, Rejuvenation, Rope Massage, Spa Capsule, Spa Manicure, Spa Pedicure, Sports Massage, Steam Bath, Steam Wrap, Waxing.

FestivalAdd

Ooty Flower Festival ; Venue:  N.A. ; Period :  May ; Details:  Ooty Flower Festival held at Ooty Botanical Gardens, this is just one of many summer festivals that take place in the Tamil Nadu hill stations. Visitors can expect a variety of cultural activities as well as fantastic flower displays across the gardens.

M.A.D Festival ; Venue:  N.A. ; Period :  May ; Details:  The Mad Festival was the final day in this glorious mélange of Music, Arts and Dance. While there was a small increase in the crowd, a few familiar faces were notably absent on an early Saturday morning, possibly nursing hangovers. If Day 1 was the day of the big-name acts (Indian Ocean, Raghu Dixit, Swarathma to name a few) and Day 2 the day of alternative, left-of-centre acts (Sulk Station, Bicycle Days, Schizophonic etc.), Day 3 was easily the most versatile in the sheer range of acts lined up. We at WTS look back fondly on the closing day of the first edition of The Mad Festival.

Safety / WarningEdit

  •  Beware of pickpockets as Ooty is a major tourist city in India.
  •  Don’t flash jewelry or large sums of money.
  •  Avoid false saller, they may sale you fake items.

HelplineEdit

  • Ambulance : 102
  • Fire Brigade : 101
  • Police : 100

ItineraryEdit

Day 1
8:30 am – Botanical Garden ;Approx. time spent : 2 hrs
11:00 am – Government Museum ;Approx. time spent : 2 hrs
1:00 pm – Wax Museum;Approx. time spent : 2 hrs
3:00 pm – Ooty Lake ;Approx. time spent : 2 hrs
5:00 pm – The Mudumulai Wildlife Sancturies ;Approx. time spent : 2 hrs
Day 2
8:30 am – Doddabetta peak ;Approx. time spent : 2 hrs
11:00 am – Echo Rock ;Approx. time spent : 2 hrs
1:00 pm – Kotagiri ;Approx. time spent : 2 hrs
3:00 pm – Rose Garden ;Approx. time spent : 2 hrs
5:00 pm – Art Gallery – Lalith kala Academy ;Approx. time spent : 2 hrs
Day 3
8:30 am – Mini Garden ;Approx. time spent : 2 hrs
11:00 am – Shooting Point ;Approx. time spent : 2 hrs
1:00 pm – Raj Bhawan ;Approx. time spent : 2 hrs
3:00 pm – Nilgiri Mountain Railway ;Approx. time spent : 2 hrs
5:00 pm – Glenmorgan ;Approx. time spent : 2 hrs

Gallery