Udagamandalam (Ooty) India Travel Guide

Nuzzled in the Nilgiri Hills is the beautiful hill station of Udhagamandalam, or Ooty, as it popularly known. Located in Tamil Nadu, a southern state in India, Ooty is situated two-thousand-two-hundred-and-forty meters above sea level.

Udhagamandalam History

All of Nilgiris, including Ooty, was under the control of King Vishnu Vardhana of the Hoysala Dynasty for more than eight-hundred years, after which the city along with the surrounding region was annexed into the kingdom of Tipu Sultan. As the British established a colony in India, they fought a series of wars with Tipu Sultan, who eventually signed a treaty with the British. The whole of the Nilgiri territory was turned over to the British as part of the treaty. The beauty of the city and the surrounding regions captivated the British, and by 1822 Ooty saw its first English inhabitants. The Nilgiris area then was a part of the district of Coimbatore, but was separated in1868 to prevent the smuggling of tobacco. The city by then had become a gateway of the Madras regency.

Udhagamandalam Today

Ooty is famous for being known as the “Queen of Hill Stations” in southern India. Ooty is very popular because of its beautiful and picturesque landscapes. This hill station is a perfect site for a bit of rest and relaxation, making it a summer haven for tourists and locals alike. The beautiful orchards and plantations of tea, eucalyptus, plums and peaches add to the beauty of the city. Ooty is also famous for its derby races and for its production of honey.

Udhagamandalam Things To Do and Attractions

Ooty’s revenue comes mostly from tourism, so there are a number of tourist places to be visited. You can start by visiting the Botanical Garden, which covers an area of more than fifty acres, with extensive and varied flora. One of the major highlights of the garden is a twenty-million year old tree fossil. Another garden worth a mention is the Rose Garden, with more than two-thousand types of roses to be seen. The city has many other gardens and parks worth seeing. You can also visit Ooty Lake, which is a beautiful artificial lake built during the British rule. St. Stephen’s Church is the oldest church of the Nilgiris hills. Along with being a religious place it is also a major Ooty thing to do, because of its gothic architecture. The city also has a splendid deer park and a government museum with a good collection of rare artifacts. Other activities Udhagamandalam, or Ooty, offers include golfing, paragliding, and hand gliding. There are also a number of lakes and streams around the city where anglers can get their kicks in.

Udhagamandalam Excursions

Sixty-seven kilometers from the city is the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, one of the finest wildlife sanctuary in southern India. The sanctuary is spread over an area of more than three-hundred-and-twenty square kilometers, and claims to have the “finest elephant camp in the country.”Located at a distance of ten kilometers from Ooty is Doddabetta, the highest point near the city. Also of interest is the Kalhetty Falls area, which is a popular picnic spot. Coimbatore, another beautiful city in southern India, is about a hundred kilometers from Ooty. It’s worth a visit if you have the time.

Udhagamandalam Shopping

The city is not known to be a shopper’s paradise, but has a lot of variety to offer. Check out the Toda apparels like jewelry or shawls, which are sold in the main bazaar in the city. If you like buying local handicrafts then head straight for Poompuhar Tamil Nadu Handicrafts at the super market building. You can also good quality cigars in the city, made completely from Indian tobacco.

Udhagamandalam Restaurants

Ooty, being a tourist retreat, has many good restaurants in and around the city. It has a typical Madrasi cuisine, but also is famous for its Chettinad cuisine, which is one of the spiciest and most aromatic cuisines in India. Do try the Chettinad chicken pepper which is a specialty of the city. The city is also famous for its cheese and chocolates.

Udhagamandalam Nightlife

The city is very peaceful, so you won’t find a lot of pubs here. But, there are some lounge bars and bars within the restaurants in the city. The higher quality bars are usually in the star rated hotels.

Udhagamandalam Getting There and Around

The city doesn’t have its own airport, so people usually fly up to Coimbatore and then travel here by railways or roadways. The city is very well connected by railways and roadways to all the major cities of India.

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