This hill station at 2,240 meters has a 20-million-year-old fossilized tree, steam trains running through 16 tunnels, and slopes covered in tea plantations across Tamil Nadu's Nilgiris.
At 2,240 meters in Tamil Nadu's Nilgiri mountains, Ooty spreads across tea-covered hills and mountain slopes. You'll find a 55-acre botanical garden with a 20-million-year-old fossilized tree, ride a steam locomotive through 16 mountain tunnels, and walk to Doddabetta Peak at 2,623 meters. Local bakeries make traditional varkey pastries while small factories produce strong Nilgiri tea and homemade chocolates with cardamom and nuts.
Climate and Best Time to Visit
Ooty's elevation keeps temperatures cool throughout the year, ranging from 25°C in summer to 0°C in winter. Plan your visit between April and June for clear skies and mild temperatures ideal for hiking and exploring. The monsoon transforms the hills from July through September, while winter months from December to February bring cold mornings with occasional frost.
Getting to Ooty
The Nilgiri Mountain Railway climbs 46 kilometers from Mettupalayam to Ooty using steam locomotives. You can fly into Coimbatore International Airport, 105 kilometers away, with daily connections to major Indian cities. Buses connect Ooty's central station to Chennai (550 km), Bangalore (290 km), and Mysore (155 km). The main road from Mettupalayam winds through 36 hairpin bends.
Mountain Views and Lakes
From Doddabetta Peak's telescope house, you can see across four states when skies are clear. Mountain goats and deer roam near Avalanche Lake, 28 kilometers from town. Walk one kilometer through the forest to reach the 61-meter Pykara waterfall. To visit Upper Bhavani Lake, get a permit from the forest department office near the municipal gardens.
Gardens and Parks
Walk through the Government Botanical Garden's 55 acres to see 650 plant species, including a fossilized tree trunk dating back 20 million years near the entrance. The Government Rose Garden grows 20,000 roses from 2,800 varieties on valley-facing terraced slopes. Walk among 30-meter tall trees in the pine forests near town.
Local Food and Products
Small factories process tea leaves into strong, dark Nilgiri tea. Try Ooty varkey, a crispy cookie that local bakeries make fresh daily. Chocolate makers combine local dairy with cardamom, pepper, and nuts for their bars and truffles. From March to June, farmers harvest strawberries, plums, and peaches from the surrounding hills.
Activities Around Town
Row across Ooty Lake for 150 rupees per hour or take a pedal boat for 200 rupees per hour. Follow walking trails ranging from the 1-kilometer garden path to the 6-kilometer Doddabetta Peak track. The daily steam train to Coonoor departs at 9:15 AM, traveling for an hour through mountain tunnels and across bridges.
