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I don’t think I have ever come across a single place with so many names! Most popularly known as Ooty, this quiet South Indian hill station is also known as Ootacamund, Ottakalmandu, Whotakaymund, Udhagai and Udhagamandalam, its official name (for NOW). Ooty is the capital of the Nilgiris, or the Blue Mountains, and has been christened as the Queen of Hill Stations for its outstanding beauty. Founded in 1819 by John Sullivan, the then collector of Coimbatore, Ooty is a blend of British colonial architecture and a natural beauty unique to Southern India.

What is so British colonial about it?

The Government House (Raj Bhavan), The Ooty Club, Adam’s Fountain and several other structures are so quintessentially British colonial in their architecture that one half expects women in corset gowns and bonnets to be walking around them! The Stone House, John Sullivan’s residence, still stands too and has been converted into the Government Arts College of Ooty. There are also several churches and summer palaces that lend Ooty a man made grandeur of brick and stone. Additionally, the terraced Botanical gardens, rose gardens and even the railway coaches take the visitor to another space in time with their age old charm.

Here is a post about how to find Cheap Hotels in Ooty

What about Ooty natural beauty?

Ooty is filled to the brim with natural scenic beauty. John Sullivan was so captivated by it, that, in a letter to his friend, he said that Ooty is to Southern India what Switzerland is to Europe, a beauty that has to be seen to be believed. Ooty is peppered with lakes, waterfalls, tea and coffee plantations and several mountain peaks that give breathtaking panoramic views of the landscape. Some such places to visit are: the Government Botanical Garden, Centenary Rose Park, Doddabetta Point, Honey and Bee Museum, Avalanche Valley, Ooty Lake, Pykara River and waterfalls, Kalhatty Falls and so on. Being a popular destination amongst Indian hill stations, information about these spots is easily available on the internet.

What your average net guide won’t tell you about Ooty!

You can get all the information on where to go and how to get there on the net so far as Ooty is concerned. But it is the little nuances that set one tourist spot apart from the other and, unfortunately, this kind of know how seldom makes it to the net. So here is some insider information on what you should look out for when visiting the Queen of Hill Stations.

Chocolates! Yes, one of Ooty’s domestic industries is home-made chocolates and I can tell you, they are DELICIOUS! These come in varieties – plain, dark, with nuts, rice crispies, dry fruits and so on. Large chunks of these are packed in transparent plastic bags which usually don’t have any labeling but can be purchased at most shops, hotels and restaurants in Ooty.

Shawls and other Woolens! The local tribes of Ooty make lovely hand woven shawls and other knitted garments which can be purchased at ridiculously low prices. These woolens are naturally dyed and so have very specific tribal colours and designs, setting them apart from what is available anywhere else in the world.

English Fruits and Vegetables! The British influence doesn’t end at architecture in Ooty. One is amazed at the quality and variety of English fruits and vegetables that are grown in Ooty. Try out the strawberries, avocados, red radish, broccoli, lettuce and artichokes. Needless to say, most of the restaurants and hotels serve food made from home grown organic produce so it’s not just the air that is healthy in Ooty!

The People! Ooty has one of the friendliest and approachable local populace one can come across. Walking through the winding roads with cottages on either side, don’t be surprised (or alarmed) if a smiling local invites you in for some coffee or tea. If you need help with getting about, just ask. Even if the person does not understand your language, they will take you to someone who does and will be able to guide you. Another fact, Ooty has one of the lowest crime rates in India, so tourists need not fear being cheated or harmed in anyway.

The Tribes! Although Ooty was founded nearly 200 years ago, that too by the British, it still retains most of its ethnic tribes. These are the Todas, Badagas, Irulas, Kothars and Kurumbas. You can tell these tribes apart from settlers by the way they dress in natural dyed woolen clothes and have facial features that are not quite like everyone else. I would suggest that you get a local guide and visit the small ‘munds’ or villages located around Ooty. The members of these tribes are extremely friendly and this would give you a great opportunity to see their culture and traditions up close and personal!

Visit Ooty in the month of May. The weather is great all year round but this is the month when Ooty is at its festive best. You will be able to attend the famous Flower show, Rose Show and Dog show. Also, try out the horse riding options available at the clubs as well as through private operators in the town. Going through misty tea and coffee plantations on horseback is a must have experience!

As more and more visitors come to visit our properties in and around Ooty, we thought we can help you also plan your trip and find some of the sites where you can find some decent hotel prices and reviews of that hotels by visitors:

1. Trip Advisor Ratings
2. Make My Trip Cheap Hotels Ooty

http://www.tripadvisor.in/SmartDeals-g297679-Ootacamund_Tamil_Nadu-Hotel-Deals.html

Click here to view the picture of beautiful Ooty Wild Life

Wellington is a cantonment town in the Nilgiris District of Tamil Nadu. It is the Regimental Centre for the Madras Regiment of the Indian Army. One of its most famous residents was Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, who died in the town on June 27, 2008.

Wellington is home to The Defense Services Staff College (DSSC), a premier tri-service training establishment that imparts training to middle level officers of the three wings of the Indian Armed Forces, friendly foreign countries and various Indian Civil Service departments

Read more about Wellington, Coonoor in Wikipedia here

Map of Wellington, Tamilnadu, India

The World Tamil Conferences (WTC) are a series of occasional conferences hoisted by the government of Tamil Nadu, which aim to unite Tamil people around the world.

The ninth World Tamil Conference which was announced to be held in the city of Coimbatore from 21–24, January 201o stands canceled. Instead, World Classical Tamil Conference is hoisted at Coimbatore in the month of June.

Read More about World Tamil Conference in Asst Professor C.R.Jayaprakash’s Blog Here: http://bit.ly/c5V1ON

Read more about Ooty in Wikipedia……

Aruvankadu, Ooty Land for Sale. Ooty to Coonoor Main Road with Hill View

Aruvankadu Property Details: Call Now for Details

• 5 kms from Coonoor
• 12 Kms from Ooty
• Ooty – Coonoor, Coimbatore High Way Side
• Cordite Factory, SHopping centers Walkable Distance
• Post Office, Aruvankadu Bus stop walkable distance
• Police Station Walkable distance
• Other Hospitals : within 5 – 12 kms range
• Aruvankadu Railway Station : 4 Kms
• Proposed NH Road
• Est: 8 Acres Total with Hill View
• 7 Meters Road
• Water Electricity  Facility
• All paper work clear and ready.
• Mimimum 15 Cents to be taken
• Rate for Aruvankadu Property:

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By Aakash Shah

Introduction

Ooty which is a part of Tamil Nadu, South India is by far one of the most sought after and beautiful hill stations of the south. It is no wonder why it is popularly also called as the ‘queen of hill stations’. Known to very few, Ooty was originally called Udhagamadalam and sometimes even Ootacamund. Ooty is only a short form for Ootacamund. Ooty is located at a height of about 8000 feet above sea level and is a part of the famous Nilgiri mountain ranges in south India. Just like many other hill stations in India, Ooty was also founded by the British in the beginning of the 19th century. The place had served as a summer retreat for the British in the old days. The weather is mostly pleasant all year round however it could drop to as low as aero degree Celsius in the winters. The place attracts tourists all year round and has always been a favourite hot spot to many. The beautiful landscapes, tea gardens, little huts and cottages surrounding the mountainous regions and the ever rising mist among the greens make Ooty a little paradise of the south.

It was the establishment of the tea gardens and estates that popularized Ooty as a famous holiday destination. The dense forests and huge acres and hectares of beautiful evergreen tea gardens adorn the lengths and breadths of Ooty. It is very unfortunate to know that apart from the natural beauty of the place, the hill towns today suffer from overcrowding, pollution, water shortage, bad roads and erosion. However, the places surrounding the town are still untouched. The virgin land has much to explore with its protected forests, stunning landscapes and picture perfect views from the majestic hills above.

Getting there

Ooty is accessible to tourists by plane, rail and road. Whatever the means of travel may be, once you get there the fresh smell of the breeze and the cool air will freshen your senses as if the distance you travelled was barely anything at all.

By Air: The closest airport to Ooty is at Coimbatore which is approximately a 3 hour drive. There are frequent flights to Coimbatore from almost every part of the country. Air India, Jet Airways, Go air, Paramount and Air Deccan are a few airlines that can be named. You also have the option to fly to Bangalore and drive down to Ooty which is approximately a 6 hour drive. The road trip from any of these places is quite scenic as the roads that take you to Ooty are mostly through dense forests and good roads.

By Train: Train Number 2671, the Nilgiri Express leaves to Mettupalayam which is a little town on the foothills of the Nilgiris from Chennai. Since this is only a night journey, most of the scenic adventures are lost. However, a good nap before you reach there is always a good idea. From Mettupalayam one can either choose to drive to Ooty are take another diesel powered mini train which is over 200 years old and takes a longer time to reach its destination. During peak season cab drivers and other transport vendors charge tourists an exorbitant price to take them to Ooty. You also have the option to go to Coimbatore by rail and then drive down to Ooty which is again a 3 hour drive.

By Road: Though Ooty is located in Tamil Nadu, Ooty is very close to the Karnataka and Kerala border. From Bangalore Ooty is only about 280 kilometres away and the roads are very well maintained. The Bangalore-Mysore highway that was recently built is an excellent road and gets you to Mysore pretty fast. From Mysore one can travel through Bandipur which is protected forest before reaching Ooty. The winding roads and the scenic landscapes make this an excellent experience. If you are lucky you may spot some of the animals that live around this region like the spotted dear, elephants, tigers and monkeys. There are many Dhabas and restaurants on the way, so you can always stop on the way to grab a quick bite or relax. You also have the option to travel by bus or hire a cab or a mini bus that have frequent shuttles to Ooty and back. Travel by road is most preferred as the roads are good, the drive beautiful and the expense affordable.

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