Ooty / Udhagai / Udhagamandalam / Ootacamund
Queen of hill stations

Udhagamandalam, which is the Head Quarters of the district, is the largest and most important Hill station in south India. This principle station on the Nilgiris is at an elevation of 2286 meters and situated at the center of the district. It is an extensive valley enclosed on all sides but the west by a lofty range of hills. The name of the ooty or Ootacamand was first mentioned in about 1821 in the Madras Gazette which was then spelt as "Wotokymund" by an anonymous correspondent who was one among the Europeans to set an eye on Ootacamand. It is also fondly called the Queen of Hill Stations.

Ooty also known as Udhagamandalam is the "Queen of hill stations" and the capital of Nilgiris district. It is one of the most popular tourist resorts in India. Nilgiris means "Blue Mountains". It is a land of picturesque picnic spots. Used to be popular summer and weekend getaway for the Britishers during the colonial days. It is situated at an altitude of 2,240 meters above sea level.

An added attraction for the tourists to Udagamandalam is the mountain train journey on a ratchet and pinion track which commences from Kallar, near Mettupalayam and wends its way through many hair-raising curves and fearful tunnels and chugs along beside deep ravines full of verdant vegetation, gurgling streams and tea gardens.

Head for the hills! Ooty, or Udhagamandalam as it is now officially known was founded by the British in the mid - 19th century. Located at an altitude of 2,240 metres above sea-level, Udhagamandalam has salubrious weather all around the year. It?s no wonder then that thousands of tourists flock here, year after year.

One can notice a marvellous change in vegetation, as one goes from Kallar to Coonoor. The establishment of numerous tea estates made Ooty famous. Lofty mountains, dense forest, sprawling grasslands and miles and miles of tea gardens greet the passengers on most routes. The annual Tea and Tourism Festival attracts crowds in huge numbers.

Lofty mountains, dense forest, sprawling grasslands and miles and miles of tea gardens greet the passengers on most routes.

Udhagamandalam (Ooty), the capital of Nilgiri district, is popularly known as the "Queen of hill stations' among the tourist circuits. It is situated at a distance of 105 km away from Coimbatore. The height of the hills in the Nilgiri range varies between 2280 and 2290 metres, the highest peak being Doddabetta at a height of 2623 metres.

If you want to find a cove simple and charming enough for a romantic getaway, there is hardly any place to match the beauty of Ooty. This is one of the most beautiful places that you will ever have the fortune of visiting.

Ooty is situated in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Many of the forested areas and water bodies are off limits to most visitors in order to protect this fragile ecosystem. Some areas of the Biosphere Reserve have been earmarked for Tourism Development, and steps are being undertaken to open these areas to visitors whilst conserving the area. Generally tourists are encouraged to observe any local signage and not to enter reserved forests and protected areas. Much of Ooty has already been damaged by rampant commercialisation as a result of tourism. Some steps are being introduced to limit the impact of pollution by tourists in the biosphere reserve such as making the area a plastic-free zone. This largely applies to plastic bags.

Ootacamund or Udhagamandalam or Nilagiri, which stands 7,349 feet above sea level in the Nilgiris, is known as the Queen of southern hill resorts of India. Ooty, as it is popularly known, spreads over 36 square miles and offers a picturesque green feast for the eyes. Apart from coffee and tea plantations, trees like conifers, eucalyptus, pine and wattle line the hillside in Udhagamandalam and its environs.

It is believed that the name Nila, has been in use for over 800 years since, the King of the Hoysalas Vishnu Vardhana, who ruled from 1104 to 1141 AD seized the Nilgiris Plateau. His general Ponisia recorded this fact in 1117 AD with mention of Todas. The name Nilgiri was due to the blue haze, which envelops the range with most distant hills of considerable size.

This Nilgiri territory came into possession of the East India Company as part of the ceded lands, held by Tipu Sultan, by the treaty of Srirangapatnam in 1799. Rev. Jacome Forico, a priest was the first European who visited Nilgiris in 1603 and released his notes about the place and people of Nilgiris.

In 1812 surveyor William Keys and Macmohan visited the top of the plateau. In 1818, Wishand Kindersley, Assistant and Second Assistant to Collector of Coimbatore visited this spot and submitted their experience report to the Collector of Coimbatore Mr. John Sullivan. Settlement in Udhagamandalam began in 1822 with the construction of the Stone House by John Sullivan, the then Collector of Coimbatore. The bungalow, which is locally called "Kal Bangla", is one of the landmarks of Udhagamandalam and is now the Chamber of the Principal of the Government Arts College.

Ooty pronunciation, short for Ootacamund pronunciation (the official name is Udhagamandalam, sometimes abbreviated to Udhagai, is a city, a municipality and the district capital of the Nilgiris district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

Ooty or Udhagamandalam, the capital of Nilgiri district, is popularly known as the "Queen of hill stations' among the tourist circuits. Situated at a distance of 105 km away from Coimbatore, Ooty is a lovely place with lofty mountains, dense forest, sprawling grasslands and miles of tea gardens. Situated at an altitude of 2,240 m above sea level, Ooty is a land of picturesque picnic spots.

An added attraction for the tourists to Ooty / Udagamandalam is the mountain train journey, which commences from Kallar, near Mettupalayam and wends its way Nilgiri Hills - Ootythrough many hair-raising curves and fearful tunnels and chugs along beside deep ravines full of verdant vegetation, gurgling streams and tea gardens.

If you holiday in the Nilgiri Hills in Tamil Nadu, you will find the Queen of South India Hill resorts - Ootacamund or Udhagamandalam, commonly known as Ooty. Situated 7,349 feet above sea level in the Nilgiri Hills, Ootacamund extends over 36 square miles and is green with coffee and tea plantations, and various species of trees such as pine, eucalyptus and wattle. Originally inhabited by tribal people known as the Todas, Ooty was developed as a hill resort by the British in the early 1800's when it became the summer capital of Madras Presidency. even today retains a flavour of colonial times, with beautiful bungalows, quaint cottages, the Ootacamund Club, the Nilgiri Library, St Stephens Church and a cemetery. The Ootacamund Derby, which attracts the best racing talent in India, is a popular holiday attraction

Front of Ootacamund Club, 1905

The Nilgiri Hills were part of Chera Empire in ancient times. later it fell in to the hand of Ganga dynasty. and then Hoysala empire under king Vishnuvardhana in the 12th century. They then became part of the Kingdom of Mysore of Tipu Sultan who later surrendered them to the British in the 18th century.

John Sullivan, the British governor of neighbouring Coimbatore province, liked the climate of this forested land, and occupied it by taking land from the native tribes (Toda, Irumba and Badaga); often buying up many square kilometres in a day for the price of a few meals.

The hills were developed rapidly under the British Raj because they were almost entirely owned by private British citizens, unlike the rest of India. Ooty served as the summer capital of the Madras Presidency, and had winding hill roads and a complicated rack railway system built by influential and enterprising British citizens with venture capital from the Madras government.

It is believed the Blue Mountains appear so because of the vast Nilgiri forest surrounding them.