Ooty

Ooty, also known as Ootacamund, Udagamandalam or Udhagai is the capital of Nilgiris district in the state of Tamil Nadu. Nilgiris means Blue Mountains. It is famous as the Queen of hill stations and an establishment of numerous tea estates. Hailed as one of the most popular tourist resorts in India, Ooty is also a land of picturesque picnic spots. This beautiful, small town is situated at an altitude of 2,240 meters above sea level. Lofty mountains, dense forest, scenic grasslands and miles of tea gardens greet the tourists here.

History
This hill-station used to be a popular summer and weekend getaway for the British during the colonial days. The town served as the summer capital of Madras Presidency in British era in India. Even the wounded soldiers of the British army were sent here to recover after a war. However, there is no historical data showing Ooty to have been under the rule of any Indian kingdom or dynasty. The closest relevance is given to King Tipu Sultan.

Shopping
Ooty can be a fun place to shop, but nothing extra-ordinary. The main places to shop at are along Commercial Rd where one can find Kashmiri shops, government outlets and Khadi Gramodyog Bhavan.

The chief thing produced in this area is tea and all variety of tea is available for tasting as well as purchase. Honey and organic products harvested by local farmers can also be bought from here.

Where to stay
Hotels in Ooty usually provide rooms with a beautiful view of the luscious green valleys. Everything from budget to luxury hotels is available in this small town. Budget hotels charge anything between Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,800 for a double bedroom. Students’ dormitories are also available where the rates are reasonable for students.

Luxury hotels have rooms with a picturesque view of the entire city and the mountains. They also provide internet access.

Where to eat
Ooty is well known for bread, buns, cakes and handmade chocolates; it would be a good idea for tourists fond of tasting local cuisines to sample the local bakeries. Ooty people follow a typical Madrasi cuisine, but one can also find Chettinad cuisine, which is one of the spiciest and most aromatic cuisines in India. Try the Chettinad chicken pepper which is a specialty of the city. There are numerous restaurants in Ooty, mostly offering South Indian food, but some do offer North Indian stuff.

What to do
Touring the tea plantations and taking walks through gardens is one of the favourite activities of the tourists here.

Trekking is also preferred by tourists. Ooty provides a number of charming treks, some long and some short, into the adjoining hills. Winter is the best time to explore the natural beauty of Ooty through trekking. One can also trek to Dodabetta, the second highest peak in the Western Ghats. The peak lies about 10 km from Ooty.

A visit to one of the tea factories can also be exciting. The factories are well equipped, produce tea of different qualities and flavours and focus on a large international market. One should surely try the taste of the fresh, just made tea to have that essence of freshness.

Best time to visit
Ooty is a destination that can be visited all through the year, however, October is considered a good time for visit. Summers are pleasant, winters are cold, and monsoons are beautiful.

You can book holiday packages for India including honeymoon packages for Ooty and Kodaikanal and also Ooty Kodaikanal packages