A quaint hill town, perched against the backdrop of Doddabetta (2,637 m), the highest peak in the Nilgiris, Ootacamund, in Tamil Nadu, is lined with traditional and colonial-style buildings, which make it the perfect fusion of the new and the old. Clear blue skies, lush green hills, deep verdant valleys and pleasant weather culminate to make this gem of the Nilgiris (Blue Mountains) one of the most attractive tourist destinations in South India. Peppered with coffee and tea plantations, forests of eucalyptus, conifers and pines, and a thick cover of shola trees, Ootacamund is the perfect getaway for nature lovers. Such is the renown of its beauty that it is popularly referred to as the 'Queen of Hill Stations' and the 'Switzerland of India'.


A popular summer retreat for Britishers, as well as the capital of the Madras residency in British India, Ootacamund or Ooty or Udhagamandalam (as it was earlier called) has been bestowed with many architectural wonders, thanks to its colonial heritage. The most prominent of these is the Raj Bhavan or the Government House, which is a cream-coloured sprawling bungalow, with a stunning ballroom. It was the erstwhile residence of the governor of Madras and draws tourists from around the area.
The best way to explore this quaint hill town is via the toy train, which runs on one of the steepest tracks in Asia. Going from a height of 1,069 ft to 7,228 ft, it winds through several breathtaking and picturesque spots, letting one drink in the spectacular size of the rocky terrain, ravines and lush green hills. Some of the scenic stops of this toy train include Coonoor, Wellington and Lovedale.
Ooty is predominantly inhabited by the Toda tribe, who have been calling the area their home since centuries.

Immersive Experience

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Immersive Experience

The best experience from Ooty tailored for you

Excursions

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Dodabetta Peak

Dodabetta Peak

Doddabetta, literally translating to big mountain, is the highest...

Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary

Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary

One of the first sanctuaries to be set up in South India, Mudumalai...

Rose Garden

Rose Garden

Maintained by the Tamil Nadu Horticulture Department, the Rose Garden...

Glenmorgan

Glenmorgan

Glenmorgan is an amazingly tranquil getaway in the region, just 20 km...

Ooty Lake

Ooty Lake

The pride of Ootacamund, the artificial Ooty Lake is the centre of...

Sims Park

Sims Park

Sim's Park, an extremely popular sight in Ootacamund, is spread over...

Kalhatti Falls

Kalhatti Falls

About 13 km away from Ootacamund lies the Kalahatti Village. After a...

Needle Rock

Needle Rock

Also called Soosi Malai, the Needle Rock Viewpoint lies 8 km away...

Mukkurthi National Park and Peak

Mukkurthi National Park and Peak

Located on the higher altitudes of the Nilgiris, the Mukurthi...

Government Botanical Garden

Government Botanical Garden

Sprawling along the slopes of the Doddabetta mountain, the vast...

Gudalur

Gudalur

Gudalur's name was derived from the words: koodal (meeting) + ooru...

Western Catchment

Western Catchment

Protected by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, the Western Catchment...

Western Ghats-Ooty

Western Ghats-Ooty

Running along the western coast of India, from Tapti river in the...

Tea and Tourism Festival

Tea and Tourism Festival

The hill station of Ooty has been home to vast tea estates since the...

Mudumalai National Park

Mudumalai National Park

Located on the banks of River Moyar, this park is home to wildlife...

Avalanche Lake

Avalanche Lake

Travel 28 km from Ootacamund, past the Emerald Lake and its thick...

Raj Bhavan

Raj Bhavan

In the olden days, Udhagamandalam (now Ootacamund) was only visited...

Ketti Valley

Ketti Valley

One of the largest valleys in the world, the 7,000-ft-deep Ketti...

Pykara Village

Pykara Village

About 21 km away from Ootacamund, Pykara is a beautiful village with...

Wenlock Downs

Wenlock Downs

Endless stretches of lush greenery, dotted with eucalyptus and shola...

Coonoor

Coonoor

One of the most popular hill stations in India, with all-year-round...

mysore

mysore

Boasting a rich royal heritage that is reinstated by the many...

Coimbatore

Coimbatore

Skirted by the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Western Ghats, one...

Palakkad

Palakkad

Pristine dense forests, lush paddy fields, gushing waterfalls and...