Ooty, is not less than a paradise
remained unknown to the great southern dynasties and it took the British to
discover it in the early 1800s. Before that time, the area was inhabited by
Todas. These
tribal people still inhabit the area.
The 19th century creation of the British acted as the summer head quarters
of the Madras government. Standing high at 7,349 feet above sea level in the
Nilgiris, Ooty is the uncrowned Queen of southern hill resorts of India.
Udhagamandalam or Ooty offers an amazing array of tourist destinations.
Around Ooty:
The mesmerizing beauty of the place attract thousands of tourists
regularly. The idyllic valleys view and the plush flora and fauna greet you.
Nature has been benevolent with this region which is by far, the most
beautiful, in the state. Apart from coffee and tea plantations, trees like
conifers, eucalyptus, pine and wattle dot the hillside in Udhagamandalam and
its environs.
Prime Attractions:
Climate: Winter- Distinctly cooler with a high of 21°c and
a low 5°c. Summer- Temperature is rarely higher than 25°c with
a minimum of 10°c.
Shopping Spots: While in Ooty eucalyptus oil, honey, cinchona
products, coffee and tea are some of the good buys. Toda Showroom sells
silver and tribal shawls. Municipal Market and Coop. Super Market and
Upper and Lower Bazaar Roads are the main shopping areas.
Travel Connectivity:
» Airway: The nearest airport is at Coimbatore, which has
daily flights to and from Madras,
Bangalore,
Cochin and Trivandrum.
» Railway: The Blue Mountain Express to Ooty is from
Mettupalayam (47 km). Mettupalayam can be reached from Coimbatore by the
Tea Garden Express.
» Roadway: There is a regular bus service from Bangalore
(300 km), Mysore (170 km), Coimbatore (105 km), Calicut (187 km) and
Cochin (281 km).