Ooty, India: travel guide
Tea gardens, pine forests and a toy train in the Nilgiris
The 'Queen of Hill Stations' in the Nilgiri mountains — pine forests, tea gardens, Botanical Gardens, and the celebrated Nilgiri Mountain Railway.
About Ooty
Ooty, officially Udhagamandalam, is a hill station high in the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu. Cool air, eucalyptus and pine, rolling tea estates and a colonial-era feel made it a favourite escape from the summer heat of the plains.
A visit usually takes in the Government Botanical Gardens, boating on Ooty Lake, the Rose Garden and the viewpoint at Doddabetta Peak. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway, a slow narrow-gauge line climbing through tunnels and tea country, is a highlight in its own right, and a tea factory visit explains how the local leaf is processed.
Ooty suits families, honeymooners and slow-paced travellers. The best time to visit Ooty is generally from March to June and again from September to November, avoiding the heaviest monsoon rain.
- Country
- India
- Currency
- INR
- Time zone
- Asia/Kolkata
Last updated
Top places to visit in Ooty
Government Botanical Gardens
botanical-garden · 4.4 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
Terraced 1848 colonial gardens spread over 55 acres with rare conifers, a fossilised tree, Italian-style lawns and the famous May flower show.
Ooty Lake
lake · 4.2 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate
A scenic 1824 artificial lake ringed by eucalyptus, offering pedal- and row-boating and a small amusement park — a classic Ooty family outing.
Doddabetta Peak
peak · 4.4 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
The highest peak in the Nilgiris at 2,637 m, with a telescope house and sweeping views over the blue mountains, tea estates and surrounding plains.
Nilgiri Mountain Railway
heritage-railway · 4.6 rating · about 4 h · entry ₹160
The UNESCO World Heritage steam rack-railway from Mettupalayam to Ooty via Coonoor, climbing through tunnels, tea slopes and forests — a spectacular ride.
Rose Garden
flower-garden · 4.2 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
A hillside garden with one of India's largest collections of roses — thousands of varieties in terraced beds, vivid in the April-June bloom.
Pykara Falls & Lake
waterfall-lake · 4.3 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
A scenic spot ~20 km from town where the Pykara river forms a series of waterfalls and a reservoir for boating, set amid shola forest and grassland.
Tea Factory & Museum
tea-museum · 4.2 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
A working tea factory and museum on the Coonoor road demonstrating Nilgiri tea processing, with tastings and a chocolate-and-tea shop.
St Stephen's Church
church · 4.4 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate
Ooty's oldest church (1829), a fine colonial Gothic building with timber beams brought from Tipu Sultan's palace and a historic cemetery.
Avalanche Lake
lake · 4.4 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
A pristine lake and reserve ~28 km from Ooty amid shola forest and grasslands, rich in rhododendrons and birdlife — a serene off-the-beaten-track escape.
Wax World Ooty
wax-museum · 4.0 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
India's first private wax museum, set in a colonial bungalow, with life-size figures of historical and cultural icons of India — a fun family stop.
Emerald Lake
lake · 4.3 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
A tranquil, photogenic reservoir amid tea estates in the Silent Valley area south-west of Ooty, a peaceful spot for picnics and birdwatching.
Tribal Research Centre Museum
ethnography · 4.1 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
A museum on the Nilgiri tribes — Todas, Kotas, Kurumbas and Badagas — displaying their dwellings, crafts, ornaments and artefacts.
Things to do
- Nilgiri Mountain Railway Toy Train Activity · 2.5 h · from INR 300 per person
- Government Botanical Garden Walk Nature · 1.5 h · from INR 100 per person
- Ooty Lake Boating Activity · 0.8 h · from INR 200 per person
- Doddabetta Peak & Tea Museum Nature · 2.5 h · from INR 800 per person
- Coonoor & Sim's Park Day Trip Nature · 5 h · from INR 1,500 per person
Day trips and tours
- Ooty Sightseeing & Toy Train 8 h · from INR 1,800
- Coonoor & Tea Country Day Trip 6 h · from INR 1,500
- Pykara Falls & Lake Excursion 5 h · from INR 1,300
Where to stay in Ooty
- Charing Cross about INR 3,500 per night
Main commercial area with shops and hotels
- Coonoor Road about INR 2,500 per night
Quiet residential area with homestays
Hotels
- Savoy IHCL SeleQtions 5-star · INR 9,000 to INR 17,000 per night
- Zostel Ooty 2-star · INR 650 to INR 2,200 per night
- Sterling Fern Hill Ooty 4-star · INR 5,000 to INR 9,500 per night
- Gem Park Ooty 4-star · INR 4,000 to INR 7,000 per night
- Hotel Lakeview Ooty 3-star · INR 3,000 to INR 5,500 per night
- Welbeck Residency Ooty 3-star · INR 2,200 to INR 4,000 per night
Where to eat
- Shinkow's Chinese Restaurant Chinese, Asian · about INR 450 per person
- Willy's Coffee Pub Cafe, Continental, Bakery · about INR 400 per person
- Adyar Ananda Bhavan (A2B) South Indian, North Indian, Vegetarian · about INR 300 per person
- Sidewalk Cafe Continental, Italian, Cafe · about INR 500 per person
- King Star Chocolates & Sweets Desserts, Bakery · about INR 200 per person
- Place to Bee Continental, Cafe, Italian · about INR 500 per person
- Hotel Hyderabad Biryani House Biryani, North Indian, Mughlai · about INR 350 per person
- Earl's Secret Continental, North Indian, Fine Dining · about INR 1,800 per person
Getting to Ooty
Nearest airport: Calicut (CCJ), about 86 km away in a straight line. The road or rail journey is longer.
Getting around
- Auto Rickshaw
- Taxi
- Walking
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Frequently asked questions about Ooty
- What are the top-rated places to visit in Ooty?
- The highest-rated places in our Ooty guide are Nilgiri Mountain Railway, Government Botanical Gardens, Doddabetta Peak, St Stephen's Church, Avalanche Lake.
- Where should I stay in Ooty?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Ooty: Charing Cross, Coonoor Road.
- How do I get around Ooty?
- Ways to get around Ooty covered in our guide: Auto-rickshaw, Taxi, Walking.