Ooty - located in the Western Ghats zone at an altitude of 2240 mtrs. It is the headquarters of the Nilgiri District, where the two mountain ranges meet. Udhagamandalam, popularly called as OOTY by the tourist, is the Queen of Hill Stations. Centuries ago this was also called as Oththai-Kal [single stone] Mandu [Mund is a name of Toda Village]. The British started calling it as Ootacamund.
The Coimbatore airport is the closest to the hills at 3.5 hours by road. The Mysore airport is about 4 hours away from Ooty by road and lies to the North of Ooty. The road trip is quite scenic from either airport.
The Nilgiri Express leaves from Chennai at night and reaches Mettupalayam (which Indian Rail spells Metupalaiyam), a small town at the foothills of the Nilgiri early the next morning. The train the Nilgiri Mountain Railway leaves Mettupalayam at 7.10 am.
The hills consequently can be reached from within Tamil Nadu, state of India by travelling up a heavily forested winding road, with many sharp hairpin beds. The road trip from any state is quite scenic, although the Coimbatore-Mettupalayam-Coonoor-Ooty road (i.e. the Tamil Nadu route) is the most travelled and well maintained. All roads to the Nilgiri hills are toll roads, although the tolls are quite nominal.
The best time to visit Ooty is throughout the year. However, the peak season is from October to June when the weather is pleasant and you can get involved in outdoor activities. Ooty can be visited during monsoons (if you don't mind the rain) when the freshly washed surroundings give Ooty an ethereal charm. The annual Tea and Tourism Festival attracts crowds in huge numbers to visit the place and have a great time in this wonderful place.
Nestled amidst Nilgiri hills, Ooty, also known as Udagamandalam, is a hill station in Tamil Nadu which serves as a top-rated tourist destination. Once regarded as the summer headquarters of the East India Company, the Queen of the hills is a picturesque getaway.
Dotted with tea gardens, serene waterfalls, winding country lanes, and charming colonial architecture, Ooty is the perfect respite everyone. Popular among couples and honeymooners, Ooty allures its visitors with the panoramic views of the Nilgiri mountains.
The Nilgiri mountain railway is the steepest track in all of Asia.