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Ooty Hillstation

Ooty

About:
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.
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.

Location info:
Address:From Bangalore, 281 km
District:Nilgiris district
Nearest City:Nilgiris , Coimbatore
Best time to visit: April to June and September to November

Climate/Weather of Ooty Hillstation:
Summer : Max. 25°C, Min. 10°C, Winter : Max. 21°C, Min. 5°C

History of Ooty Hillstation:

Ooty or Udagamandalam (the Tamil version of the original name) rightly described as "Queen of Hill Stations" by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, now sprawls over an area of 36 sq km with a number of tall buildings cluttering its hill slopes. It is situated at an altitude of 2,240 meters above sea level. Ooty still woos people from all over India as well as foreign countries right through summer, and sometimes in the winter months too. 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.

The scenery, as it unfolds during the trip, is breathtaking, awe-inspiring and fantastic. One can notice a marvellous change in vegetation, as one goes from Kallar to Coonoor. At Kallar it is tropical and at Burliar-the next bus-stop as one proceeds from Mettupalayam-it is sub-tropical. Near Coonoor, it is humid with pines, blue gum (Eucalyptus globulus) and cypress trees. As we go from Ooty to Gudalur, the change in vegetation is striking. What a splendid interaction between climate and vegetation ! It is therefore very appropriate that Mount Stuart called the whole road leading to Ooty from Mettupalayam, "One long botanical debauch."

Interesting things to do:
You would need light woolens in the summers but if you are visiting in the winters, heavy woolens are a must. Ooty is also a trekker's delight, with several grades of trekking routes. So carry your trekking shoes.

Interesting things to Visit:
A ride in the meter gauge Blue Train is a must. It is an engineering marvel and the train is still powered by a vintage steam engine. There are a number of trekking routes, some of which leads through the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary and it would appeal to the adventurous souls. The adventure seekers can also jump off the cliff in a hang glider, the courses for which is conducted by the Tourism Department. If you like something more sedate, go angling.

Mobile range info:
 

How to reach Ooty Hillstation?
Nearest Railway Station:Nearest broad gauge railway head is Mettupalayam (46 kms). Major broadgauge railway junction is Coimbatore. It is connected with all major cities.
Nearest Airport:The nearest airport is in Coimbatore, 100 km away. You can catch a direct flight to Coimbatore from Chennai, Kozhikode, Bangalore and Mumbai. Indian Airlines flies Delhi-Kochi via Mumbai and Coimbatore.
Road Transport: Ooty is well connected by good roads. It is 535 km from Chennai (via Salem), 89 km from Coimbatore, 18 km from Coonoor (via Gudalur), 155 km from Mysore, 187 km from Calicut, 290 km from Bangalore, 281 km from Kochi (via Coimbatore and Palakkad), 236 km from Kodaikanal (via Coimbatore and Palani)
There is a regular bus service from Bangalore, Mysore, Coimbatore, Calicut, Kanyakumari, Thanjavur, Tirupathi and Cochin. Buses ply regularly to Mudhumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Kotagiri, Coonoor and Doddabeta.

Nearest Visiting places in Ooty Hillstation:
1.Botanical Garden
2.Lake Garden
3.Doddabetta
4.Pykara Falls
5.Hindustan Photo Film, Cosmic Ray Laboratory Radio Telescope ,Tribal Research Center

Nearest Petrol Pump:
Ooty

Hotels/Lodge/Accommodation nearby Ooty Hillstation:
1.Hotel Taj Savoy,
77, Sylkes Road, Ooty
Tamil Nadu
India
Phone : 0423-2445712 - 16

2.Hotel Holiday Inn Gem Park,
Sheddon Rd, Ooty
Tamil Nadu
India
Phone : 0423- 2442955

3.Hotel Dasaprakash,
Ettines Rd.,
Ooty
Tamil Nadu
India
Phone : 0423-2442434,2442435

4.Hotel Howard Johnson The Monarch,
Off Havelock Rd, Church Hill
Ooty
Tamil Nadu
India
Phone : 0423-2444408

5.Hotel Nahar,
Charing Cross
Ooty
Tamil Nadu
India
Phone : 0423-2445173

Things to carry:
 

Tips & Suggestions for Ooty Hillstation:
 

Help Line/Phone Number:
Police Station:Police Control Room Town East, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India 244220
1.Police Out Post Pudumund, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India 2444065
2.Police Station Kandal, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India 2443941
3.Police Station (Rural ) Ooty, Tamilnadu, India 2443973
4.Police Station LoveDale, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India 2443942
5.Police Wireless Station Ooty, Tamilnadu, India 2443972
Nearest Hospital:1.Govt. Hospitals Ooty, Tamilnadu, India 2442212
2.H.F.M. Sait Memorial Hospital Ooty, Tamilnadu, India 2442240
3.Vijaya Nursing Home Ettins Road, Hope Villa, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India 2442500
4.S.M. Nursing Home Ooty, Tamilnadu, India 2442258
5.Parvathi Nursing Home Ooty, Tamilnadu, India 2442168
6.Nirmala Nursing Home Finger Post, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India 2442215
7.Sanhita Nursing Home Ooty, Tamilnadu, India 244376
Society/Community Phone Number

Ooty Hill Station Nearest Attraction
Ooty
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.....more