Ooty Travel Guide

TRAVEL GUIDE, OOTY Updated : Aug 16, 2017, 04.23 PM IST

The most famous hill station south of the Vindhyas, Ootacamund’s resplendent tea plantations and red-roofed bungalows still carry echoes of its colonial past. Originally a densely forested area in the Nilgiri mountains, it was converted into a summer retreat for the British in the 19th century. The undeniable natural beauty of Ooty (as it’s universally referred to) and its misty green trails continues to draw visitors every year.
Ooty is pleasant all year round, but the summer months are the high season. If you want to avoid the crowds and don’t mind a drizzle then head here between August and November, when the rains turn the hills a luxuriant green.

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Budget hotels in Ooty for a cost-effective stay

HOTELS IN OOTY

Budget hotels in Ooty for a cost-effective stay

Ooty is a busy tourist destination and that leads to the high inflow of travellers to the town. With time, there has been a hike in the numbers of budget hotels in Ooty. These Ooty budget hotels offer cosy stay at afford...more

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The 5 best resorts in Ooty

HOTELS IN OOTY

The 5 best resorts in Ooty

There are several luxury hotels and resorts in Ooty, one of south India's most loved hill stations. These range from heritage properties for the history buffs and farm-stays for the nature lovers. Given the presence of O...more

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5 home stays in the Nilgiris that will take you close to nature

HOTELS, TAMIL NADU

5 home stays in the Nilgiris that will take you close to nature

Ooty may be the most famous hill station in the Nilgiri hills, but the region’s natural splendour is best admired at one of its many tea estates.

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Tea Nest

HOTELS IN COONOOR

Tea Nest

Surrounded by 1800 acres of tea gardens on all sides, this heritage bungalow in Coonoor has six rooms, each named after a speciality tea.

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Tenerife Hill

HOTELS IN COONOOR

Tenerife Hill

Perched on top of a tea estate in Coonoor, this home stay is perfect for visitors looking for privacy and an intimate getaway.

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The 5 best restaurants in Ooty

RESTAURANTS IN OOTY

The 5 best restaurants in Ooty

Despite its popularity with tourists, Ooty has few good stand-alone restaurants. Several hotels have excellent fine dining options, while there’s fresh and spicy local fare to be found at the smaller local restaurants.

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Earl’s Secret

RESTAURANTS IN OOTY

Earl’s Secret

Located inside a restored colonial-era bungalow that houses the King’s Cliff hotel, this restaurant scores high on ambience.

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Nahar’s Sidewalk Café

RESTAURANTS IN OOTY

Nahar’s Sidewalk Café

This Italian restaurant in Nahar’s Nilgiris Hotel rustles up wood-fired pizzas, pies and pastas. They also have a vegetarian restaurant and a garden café.

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Shinkow’s

RESTAURANTS IN OOTY

Shinkow’s

One of the oldest restaurants in the area, this Ooty institution serves reliable Chinese at affordable prices.

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5 ways to explore the great outdoors around Ooty

SIGHTSEEING IN OOTY

5 ways to explore the great outdoors around Ooty

Ooty may be the most famous hill station in the Nilgiri hills, but the region's natural splendour is best admired at one of its many tea estates. These five home stays are a great way to experience the Nilgiris at their ...more

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Avalanche Lake

SIGHTSEEING IN OOTY

Avalanche Lake

Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, a biodiversity hotspot that’s home to a large number of species of plants, mammals, birds and reptiles. Watch out for You can walk along the shore or fish for trout and carp. The surrounding ar...more

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Mudumalai National Park

SIGHTSEEING IN OOTY

Mudumalai National Park

The first wildlife sanctuary in southern India, this national park is located in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Spread across the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala, it has plenty of options for wildlife enthusia...more

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Doddabetta Peak

SIGHTSEEING IN OOTY

Doddabetta Peak

At 8,969 feet, Doddabetta is the highest peak in the area. On a clear day, you can get commanding views of the Nilgiris, and even the plains around Coimbatore. There’s also a telescope which allows you to zoom in on surr...more

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Experiencing Ooty through its lakes

TRAVEL TRENDS, OOTY

Experiencing Ooty through its lakes

The charming hill station of Ooty is an escape plan during the harrowing summer months. And the places to visit in Ooty include some very irresistible natural vistas, misty landscapes, and lakes that present a strong cas...more

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6 experiences which are unique to Ooty

THINGS TO DO IN OOTY

6 experiences which are unique to Ooty

As the summer retreat for generations of British officials, and later, scores of city-dwellers, Ooty has developed plenty of activities to entertain all age groups and interests.

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5 things you should buy before leaving Ooty

SHOPPING IN OOTY

5 things you should buy before leaving Ooty

Gourmands and food connoisseurs will find much to appreciate, and many things to buy in Ooty. Its mild and pleasant climate is ideal for growing tea, spices and oil and even cheese-making. So you know what to shop in Oot...more

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Aromatic Oils

SHOPPING IN OOTY

Aromatic Oils

Ooty’s plantations also produce aromatic essential oils such as camphor, eucalyptus and citronella, which can be used for medicinal purposes.

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Handmade chocolates

SHOPPING IN OOTY

Handmade chocolates

Ooty has a sizeable handmade chocolate industry. Indulge your sweet tooth with the truffles, fudges and marshmallows available at King Star Confectioners on Commercial Road or The Modern Store on Botanical Gardens Road.

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The Green Shop

SHOPPING IN OOTY

The Green Shop

Epicures can also get fresh spices like cloves, nutmeg, pepper and cardamom from The Green Shop in Ooty.

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Fascinating weekend escapes from Ooty

Fascinating weekend escapes from Ooty

If you are planning a weekend trip from Ooty, you won’t be disappointed as there are myriad fascinating options to choose from. The gorgeous Pondicherry is around 400 km from Ooty while the beautiful city of Mysuru is on...more

Besides visiting its sprawling tea plantations and red-roofed bungalows, there are plenty of things to do in Ooty. You can say a prayer at the St. Stephen’s Church that was built in 1829 in neo-Gothic style and is supported by wooden beams from Tipu Sultan’s palace. A ride in the Nilgiri Mountain Railways is also a great way of exploring this region. If you have the luxury of time, you can even hop off at Coonor or Wellington enroute. If you think that the city only has churches and tea plantations to offer, head out to the Racecourse where horse riding is a 125 years old tradition or stopover at the Botanical Gardens for a refreshing day time excursion. With the crowds conspicuous by their absence, it’s no wonder that Ooty is a honeymooner’s paradise.
As a colonial era hill station, Ooty has more than a few momentous churches. Attend a Sunday service at the oldest of these, St Stephen's church. It was built in 1829 in Gothic architectural style and has wooden beams which were taken from Tipu Sultan's palace in Srirangapatnam. There's a cemetery next door with intriguing inscriptions. If you're interested in colonial history and architecture, check out the Gothic style Union church and the Tudor style Holy Trinity Church as well.
Taking a train ride along the Nilgiri Mountains is a must thing to do in Ooty. Board the steam engine train that runs from Mettupalayam to Ooty and back, stopping at hill stations such as Coonoor, Wellington, Lovedale and Ketty on the way. This railway line was first opened in 1899 to connect Ooty Mettupalayam on the plains. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this train track offers some amazing photo ops with vistas of forests, tea gardens and waterfalls all along the way.  Taking a walk in the Botanical Garden can be a fun thing to do in Ooty. One of the oldest botanical gardens in the country, this gorgeous park was established in 1847 by the then Governor of Madras. Spread across 55 acres and divided into six sections, which together make for a refreshing daytime excursion, the highlight of this park is the 20 million year old fossilized tree. Apart from that, this garden is home to many rare varieties of trees, shrubs and flowers and some magnificent topiary. 
Boating at the Ooty Lake also qualifies to be called a fun thing to do in Ooty. Ooty’s founder John Sullivan is the man behind this lake who created it by damming a mountain stream. Go for a boating session on its waters and explore the flora and fauna that lay scattered along the banks.   Shopping is not that much of an activity to do in Ooty but that does not mean that you will come back empty handed. The town has sizeable handmade chocolate industry and you can bring back some of the locally made chocolates. Ooty’s plantations also produce aromatic essential oils such as camphor, eucalyptus and citronella–all can be kept in your shopping bag due to their medicinal purpose. And last but not the least; you can also pack varieties of tea like masala, jasmine, cardamom and even chocolate from the tea estates of Ooty. 

Ooty Map

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