Udhagamandalam, better known as Ooty, is a popular destination in south India. Located on the Western Ghats at a height of 2240 metres, Ooty is the headquarters of Nilgiris district where the two ghats meet. It is easily the most beautiful region in the state.
Apart from coffee and tea plantations, conifers, eucalyptus, pine and wattle characterise the hillside of Ooty and its surrounding areas. The British discovered this splendid beauty only in the early 1800s. Prior to that it was inhabited by a tribe called Todas who claimed the Nilgiris had been their home since time immemorial. The British made this hill town accessible by constructing the first railway line in the area and designated it the summer capital of the Madras Presidency.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
April - June, September - November
HOW TO GET THERE
BY AIR: The nearest airport is Coimbatore (100 km).
BY ROAD: Ooty is connected by good motorable road. Regular buses and taxis connect Ooty to other cities.
Some important distances are:
Coimbatore: 89 km Coonoor: 17 km Coorg: 225 km Kodaikanal: 236 km Munnar: 282 km Mysore: 160 km Bangalore: 297 km Cochin: 281 km Trichy: 302 km
BY RAIL: The nearest broad gauge railway head is in Mettupalayam (46 km). Major broadgauge and metre gauge railway juinction is Coimbatore (89 km). Coimbatore is connected with all major cities. Mettupalayam is connected to Ooty by Mountain Railway which is a 4 hours journey.
