Dhagamandalam, popularly known as Ooty, and located at an altitude of 2,240 m above sea level in the mountainous Nilgiri district of Tamil Nadu bordering Karnataka and Kerala, is the most famous hill station of south India. Set amidst cloud-kissing peaks, dense forests, gushing streams, undulating lush-green meadows, flower-bedecked valleys and hills, Ooty, which is also the district headquarters, is a veritable paradise that attracts tourists all round the year. Like most other well-known hill stations of India, Ooty too owes its discovery to the British, who developed it as the summer capital of the erstwhile Madras presidency by providing it with road and rail connectivity as early as the mid-1800s. The more than 150-year-old Nilgiri Mountain Railway, which connects Ooty with Mettupalayam, was recently accorded the world heritage status.

Other major attractions

Botanical Garden: This sprawling garden of over 50 acres has rare varieties of exotic and ornamental plants that were laid out in 1847 by the Marquis of Tweeddale. It is situated near the Raj Bhavan (residence of the governor of Tamil Nadu) and is about two km from Ooty railway station. The lovely garden has a rich collection of different species of plants from many parts of the world. A widely-attended horticultural show is held every year here in the month of May.

Ooty Lake: This beautiful lake is set in a picturesque valley and offers boating facilities with row boats, paddle boats and motor boats for hire. There is a children's corner in the boathouse, which offers pony rides  and even fishing is permitted under licenses issued at the office of the assistant director of fisheries
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Kundal Mund: This is a village 9 km from Ooty where tribal people, the Todas, live traditionally in tiny domed huts and wear decorative tattoos and vivid hand-woven shawls. The Todas are remnants of a great race and are of anthropological interest. They have been featured on the National Geographic Channel as one of the world's unique tribes.

Doddabetta: Located about 10 km from Ooty, it is the highest peak (2,634 m) in Nilgiris and offers beautiful vistas of hills, plateaus and plains, which can be viewed through a telescope atop the hill.

Pykara Lake: Located at a distance of 21 km on the Ooty-Mysore road, the lake has waterfalls, well-protected fenced shoals, Toda settlement, undisturbed grassy meadows and a wildlife habitat.

Kalhatty Falls: Located on the Kalhatty slopes about 13 km from Ooty, the waterfalls are about 100 ft in height. The Kalhatty-Masinagudi slopes are also rich in wildlife.

Glen Morgan viewpoint: It is located 17 km from Ooty and is an ecologically rich forestry spot.

The Mukurthi Peak & National Park: About 40 km from Ooty, the Mukurthi National Park on the southeastern corner of the Nilgiri mountains surprisingly has flora and fauna that compare well to those of the Himalayan ranges.

Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary (1,140 m): This is the first sanctuary to be set up in India and forms part of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Park. It is located 36 km from Ooty. Spread over an area of 321 sq km, the sanctuary is home to diverse habitats.

Coonoor: Located only 17 km from Ooty, Coonoor at an altitude of 1,839 m is a well-developed hill station and a tea garden town. It has a milder climate than Ooty and is a popular weekend getaway.

Kotagiri: Unlike Ooty and Coonoor, Kotagiri is situated in an 'open-terrace' massif. At an elevation of 1,985 m, the town, about 31 km from Ooty, has developed around numerous knolls and valleys. The Kotagiri weather is more bracing than that of Coonoor and balmier than Ooty.

Nilgiri Mountain Railway: Ooty is connected to Mettupalayam by the narrow guage Nilgiri mountain train, one of the oldest in the world. Powered by a steam engine, the train's picturesque journey in the Nilgiris takes it through several tunnels, over waterfalls, edge of cliffs, tea estates, etc.

Tourist Information

How to reach:
• By Air: Nearest airport is at Coimbatore, about 100 km away.
• By Rail: Main railhead is at Mettupalayam, about 46 km away.
• By Road: Well-connected by road from Coimbatore and other important cities.

Climate:

Winter: Maximum temperature is 21 degrees Celsius, minimum is 0 degree.
Summer: Maximum temperature is 25 degrees Celsius, minimum is 10 degrees.
Best time to visit: March-June & September-December
Where to stay: Hotel Tamilnadu • Youth Hostel
• Hotel Maurya Sudarshan • Holiday Inn Gem Park
• Hotel Monarch • Nahar Hotel • Blue Hills International
For more on India tourism, visit:
www.tamilnadutourism.org • www.hcilondon.net • www.tourindia.com

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