Ooty

Ooty, which is also known as Udagamandalam, 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. It used to be a popular summer and weekend getaway for the British during the colonial days. It is situated at an altitude of 2,240 meters above sea level.
An additional attraction for the tourists to Udagamandalam is the train journey on a ratchet and pinion track which commences from Kallar, near Mettupalayam and wends its way through many curves and fearful tunnels which justs sets our pulses raising and chugs along beside deep ravines full of verdant vegetation, gurgling streams and tea gardens. There is a marvellous change in vegetation, from Kallar to Coonoor. The establishment of numerous tea estates has made Ooty famous. Lofty mountains, dense forest, sprawling grasslands and miles and miles of tea gardens greets the passengers on most routes. The annual Tea and Tourism Festival attracts crowds from all over the world in large numbers.

How to reach there?

By Air

There is a direct flight to Coimbatore from Chennai, Kozhikode, Bangalore and Mumbai. Indian Airlines flies Delhi-Kochi via Mumbai and Coimbatore.Coimbatoer Airport is a domestic airport in India.

By Rail

Nearest railway station is Mettupalayam (46 kms).Mettupalayam is connected to Ooty by a Mountain Railway takes about 4 hours .Udhagamandalam (Ooty) the Queen of Hill Stations stands at an altitude of 2600m. The 'Nilgiri toy train' connects Ooty to Mettupalayam, at the foot of the Nilgiris.

Train Nos. and Names

2626
+KERALA EXPRESS
NEW DELHI COIMBATORE JN

02678
+BANGALORE EXP
*PALAKKAD COIMBATORE JN

2625
+KERALA EXPRESS
*PALAKKAD COIMBATORE JN

2696
+TVC CHENNAI EXP
*PALAKKAD COIMBATORE JN

3352
+DHANBAD EXPRESS
*PALAKKAD COIMBATORE JN

6316
BANGALORE EXP
*PALAKKAD COIMBATORE JN

6322
+BANGALORE EXP
*PALAKKAD COIMBATORE JN

6328
+KORBA EXPRESS
*PALAKKAD COIMBATORE JN

6382
+CAPE MUMBAI EXP
*PALAKKAD COIMBATORE JN

6525
+BANGALORE EXP
*PALAKKAD COIMBATORE JN

6608
+MAQ CHENNAI EXP
*PALAKKAD COIMBATORE JN

6628
WEST COAST EXP
*PALAKKAD COIMBATORE JN

6866
+TIRUCHCHI EXP
*PALAKKAD COIMBATORE JN

7229
+SABARI EXPRESS
*PALAKKAD COIMBATORE JN

By Road

Ooty is well connected by major roads. It is 535 km from Chennai ,89 km from Coimbatore, 18 km from Coonoor ,155 km from Mysore,236 km from Kodaikanal ,187 km from Calicut, 290 km from Bangalore, 281 km from Kochi.There is a regular bus service from Bangalore, Mysore, Coimbatore, Calicut, Kanyakumari, Thanjavur, Tirupathi and Cochin. Buses ply regularly to Mudhumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Kotagiri, Coonoor and Doddabeta. City Bus, Taxi and and Call Taxi Auto are available for local transport.

Where to stay in Ooty?

There are many luxury hotels with state of the art facilities and the best quality foods.Some of the very well known hotels are:

Taj Savoy Hotel
77, Sylks Road, Ooty- 643001, Tamil Nadu, India.

Hotel Alakapuri
Ettines Road, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Hotel Apsara Lodge
Big Mosque Street,Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Hotel Blue Bird
Coonoor Road, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Hotel Blue Hills International
Christo Buld, SB Lane, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Hotel Charing Cross
Garden Road, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Hotel Darshan
Woodcock Road, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Hotel Dasaprakash
FernHill, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Hotel Fern Hill Palace
FernHill, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Hotel Fern Hill Imperial

FernHill, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Hotel Gangothri
Club Road, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Hotel Hills Palace
Commercial Road, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Hotel Impala Lodge
Commercial Road, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Hotel Jay Shanthi
Club Road, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Hotel KHEMS

Shoreham Place Road, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Hotel KHEMs @ shamrock
Snow Don Road, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Hotel Madhuvana
Vannerpet Road, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Hotel Madhuvana
Vannerpet Road, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Sterling holiday Resorts
25, Ramakrishna Mutt Road, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India
Hotel Sweekar
236, Race View Road,Ooty - 643 001, Tamilnadu, India
Hotel PNR
Ettines Road, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India
Hotel Preethi Palace
Ettines Road, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India
Hotel Royal Paradise
ABU Strret, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India
Hotel Saffire Paradise
Ettines Road, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India
Hotel Savoy
Sylks Road, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India
Hotel Southern Star
Havelock Road, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India
Hotel Sri Ganapathy
Baikie Road, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India
Hotel Sweekar
Dasaprakash Complex, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India
Hotel Tamilnadu Tourism
Charring Cross, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India
Hotel Tamilnadu

Charring Cross, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India
Hotel Tripless
Ettines Road, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India
Hotel Tung Fong / Chineese
Church Hill Road, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India
Hotel Willow Hill
Have Lock Road, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India
Hotel Woodlands
Fern Hill Willow View, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India
Hotel Kings Cliff
Havelock Road, Strawberry Hill, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India
Hotel Kluney Manor
Patna House, mount Pleasant, R.K. Puram, Ooty,Tamilnadu, India
Hotel Lake View
West Lake Road, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India
Hotel Sri Durga
Ettines Road, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India
Alankar Lodge
Ettines Road, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

What to Eat?
There are various restaurants in Ooty, mostly offering South Indian food, but some offer North Indian food.
One can also obtain some Chinese/Indo-Chinese food from restaurants such as Wang's kitchen and Western food such as pizza and sandwiches from chains like Hot Breads. Do not miss trying Ooty's famous buns, varkis, cakes, and other baked goods, as well as fruit and nut chocolates.

What to Drink?
The Nilgiris is famous for Tea.

Statistical features and general information:
District Area:36 Sq. Kms.
Population:87,763
Altitude:2,240 mts.
Climate
Summer : Max. 25°C, Min. 10°C
Winter : Max. 21°C, Min. 5°C
Rainfall:121cms
Season:April to June and September to November
Languages:Badaga, Tamil, Kannada, Hindi, Malayalam and English
Clothing:Heavy Woolen in winterLight Woolen in summer
Time:5.30 GMT
STD Code:0423
ISD Code:+91

What to see there?

Botanical gardens of Ooty

This garden was laid out in 1847 by the Marquis of Tweedale is spread over 55 acres of 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 and has a very wide variety of plants that include different types of roses, imported shrubs, rare flowering plants etc.

The "Summer Festivals" is held each year during the month of May in the Botanical Garden and is an added attraction for tourists. The Flower Show is the pride of the festival. To the east of the garden is the Toda mund (hill). The Todas are the native tribe. At the mund is a display highlighting the different aspects of their traditional culture

Ooty lake

From just behind the Main Bus Stand (also near the Railway station) the famous Ooty Lake stretches, in an irregular 'L' shape, for about two kilometres in length and varrying distances in width. At the far end is the Boat House where all kinds of boats are available for hire from eight in the morning to six in the evening. During summer seasons, in May, boat races and boat pageantry are organised on two days at the lake which draw huge crowds.In recent years the lake and the boat house have become the hub of entertainment for the visitors. At the boat house end there is children's park with a toytrain. In the adjacent site there is a deer park. A mini-garden is at the bus stand end and a well laid footpath circles the entire lake. Just outside the Boat house local ponies are available for jolly rides at a charge.For the curious, this lake was artificially formed by Johm Sullivan, the founder of Ooty, in 1823-25 by damming the mountain streams flowing down Ooty valley. The lake which breached thrice, completely emptying itself, originally extended upto the present day market and ferries were used to get across one side to the other. The lake gradually shrunks in size giving place to the present racecourse, the bus stand, mini garden and some part from the mini garden end.

Mini Garden
At about one kilometer distance Tourist can visit this mini garden (Children's Lake Garden) which is on the way to Boat House. Children's amusement park is housed here. A snack bar is also available. It is maintained by Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation Limited .

Rose Garden

Located less than a km from Charring Cross, the rose garden is laid on 10 acres of land. The garden has a collection of more than 1000 varieties of roses.

A noteworthy attraction of Ooty is the St Stephens Church situated in the hilly area on Club Road. It is said to be the oldest church in the Nilgiris. This church was built in the year 1829 and consecrated in 1830. The cemetery close by houses the grave of John Sullivan, the founder of Ooty. Another outstanding attraction here is the Doddabetta peak. It is the highest peak (2623 meters) in the Nilgiris and is situated about 10-km from Ooty, offering a beautiful view of the Nilgiri hill ranges.

Schools in Ooty

Archangel Primary School
Rock Land LoveDale, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Bethlehem Girls Higher Secondary School
St. Mary's Hill Ooty , Tamilnadu, India

The Blue Mountains School
'Dilkhush Mahal' Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Breeks All India Higher Secondary School
Charing Cross, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Breeks Memorial School
Charing Cross, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Child Jesus School
St. Mary's Hill Ooty , Tamilnadu, India

CSI Gell Memorial School
Dunmere Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Cliff School
Woodcock Road Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

CMM School
Summer House Road, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Elsie Evangelical School
Mission Church Compound, Kandal, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Good Shepherd Public School
Fernhill Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Hebron School
Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Hill Wood Preparatory School
Havelock Road, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

HPF High School
Indunagar, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Infant Jesus School
Beat, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

JSS Public School
Mysore Road Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Kendriya Vidyalaya
Indunagar, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Kingsbury Montessori House
Higgins Road, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Laidlaw Memorial School Junior College
Ketti, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Lawrence School
Lovedale, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Loyola School
Snowden Road Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Nazareth Convent
St.Marys Hill Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

New Era Resedential Day School
Snowden Road Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Nilgiris School
Rajmahal, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Nirmala English Primary School
Finger Post, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Ootacamund School
Horeb Dewington Road, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Ooty Matriculation School
Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Rex Higher Secondary School
Woodcock Road, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Sai Nursey and Primary School
Gul Mohammed Road Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Sacredheart Technical School
Charrring Cross, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Shanthi Vijaya Girls Higher Secondary School
Ettines Road Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Shanthi Vijai Primary School
Ettines Road, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Sri Venkateshwara Vidyalaya
Green Fields Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

St. Joseph's Industrial School
Finger Post, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

St. Joseph's Higher Secondary School
St. Mary's Hill Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

St.Hildas School
Sheddon Road Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

St.Peters School
Arden VillaHavelock Road Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Woodside School
Woodside Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Theatres in Ooty
Ganapathy Theatre
Linga Villa, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Liberty Theatre
Behind Commercial Road, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Theatre Alankar
Ettines Road, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

ATC Theatre
Near Market, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Rohini Theatre
Kandal, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Sri Kempe Gowda Talkies
Commercial Road, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Ganesh Theatre
Near Alankar Theatre, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Clubs in Ooty

GYMKHANA Club
Golf Club Road, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Hunt Club
GYMKHANA Club, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Madras Race Club
Race Course, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Nilgiris Ladies Club
Snowdown Road, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India

Ootacamund Club
Club Road, Ooty, Tamilnadu, Ooty

Ootacamund Cricket Club
Club Road, Ooty, Tamilnadu, Ooty

Kerala Club
YBA Hall, Ooty, Tamilnadu, Ooty

Lawley Institute
Garden Road, Ooty, Tamilnadu, Ooty