Ootakamund, Tamil Nadu is a wonderful hill town, which is located in the midst of Nilagiri, or Nilgiri hills. Ootakamund is popularly called Ooty. Presently people also have identified it as Udhagamandalam, Its meaning in Toda language is village of huts.

Climatic condition of Ootakamund, Tamil Nadu is a pleasant one. It rises approximately at 2285 meters above the sea level. In spite of high altitudes no snowfall occurs in the region. One can make visit to Ootakamund, Tamil Nadu at any time between April to June and also September to October. Through out the year myriads of tourists visit the place with lots of joy and enthusiasm. The months of July- August are the monsoon season and it is advisable not to visit the place at that time. Woolens are used to beat the cold. During that time temperature even drops down to 0°c.

Few interesting stories are popular which relate to the growth and development of Ootakamund, Tamil Nadu. John Sullivan , the then British Collector of Coimbatore was one of the people who was fascinated by the beauty of the place. In the year 1822, Sullivan constructed the Stone House. Also a British Army Colony was built. In the year 1821 roadways were built from Sirumugai or Mettupalalam to Kotagiri. Later it saw extension till Ootakamund, Tamil Nadu . Ootakamund was first mentioned as Wotokymund. In the Madras Gazette, published in the year 1821 a mentioning has been made of Ootakamund, Tamil Nadu. It was referred as Wotokymund. In the year 1826 Madras Governor visited the place. It was transformed into a sanatorium. A Parsee from Bombay established the first shop here. Few things followed afterwards. For example in the year 1832, the Church Missionary School was formed. A year before i.e in the year 1822 a hotel was built. Also the first coffee estate was built in the year 1837. The year 1869 was a milestone in the history of the town. On that year Madras Residency declared Oatakamund, Tamil Nadu to be their summer residence. So far as the population of Oatakamund, Tamil Nadu is concerned; it has been enumerated to be 81,763. The counting was given by the Indian Census report, which was published in the year 1991.

Places of Interests in Ootakamund, Tamil Nadu
Beautiful hill station Ootakamund, Tamil Nadu is an ideal destination for tourists and nature lovers. Myriads of tourists who visit Ootakamund, Tamil Nadu every year find ample scope to quench their thirst of beholding nature in full glory.

Botanical Garden is a place of interest of Ootakamund, Tamil Nadu. It was supervised by the `Horticulture Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu`. It houses wide-ranging beautiful plants of foreign origin. In this garden one also can find a garden full with Italian flowers. Huge lawns are in tiptop condition and they provide its tourists to relax and enjoy every moment of their visit. With in the garden premise the "Summer Festivals" are organized every year during the month. At that time the visitors and tourists too get attuned with the mood of fun and festivity. The Flower Show is the special attraction of the festival season. Cultural programmes are feted for the enthusiasts who had shown special interests in conventional classical arts. Performance of the adventure spots like trekking also is an integral part of the festival.

In Ootakamund, Tamil Nadu Government Museum is a special attraction amongst the tourists. Placed on the Mysore Road, The Government Museum has a plethora of varied antiquities like items of the tribal society, details of ecological system of several districts of Tamil Nadu. Few artistic work pieces, which represent sculpture, arts and crafts of the state also are in display here.

Lake
An artificial Lake also has drawn the admiration of the nature freaks and tourers who visit Ootakamund, Tamil Nadu. It was built by John Sullivan, the erstwhile British Collector of Coimbatore. One can bask into the frolic of boating. With due permission from the Assistant Director of Fisheries one can even go for fishing in this lake.

Another interesting place at Ootakamund, Tamil Nadu is the Mudumulai Wildlife Sanctuaries.

Experts say that it is the most significant sanctuary in the whole of Tamil Nadu. Not only that it has a place of prominence amongst other sanctuaries of the southern region as a whole. It was a lush and dense forest tract. It also acts as borders to tow other important sanctuaries of South India. These include the Bandipur National Park in Karnataka and also the Wyanad Sanctuary in Kerala. It is regarded to be the ideal abode for a wide variety of flora and fauna. Especially the animal habitants of this sanctuary are particular attracters of the tourists.The fauna includes Elephant, Gaur, Bonnet, Macaque, Common langur, Tigers and Leopards, Chital, Dhole Panther, Sloth Bear, Python, Barking deer, Four-Hourned- Antelope, Otter, Crocodiles (mugger), giant flying squirrel, Sambhar, Hyena, Wild Dog, Wild Boar, Mouse Deer, Spotted Deer, Jackal, Hare, Porcupine and Mangoose.

Doddabetta
It is the highest peak ( 2623 mts ) in the Nilgiri`s and is 10 Kms from Ooty. It lies at the junction of Western and Eastern Ghats and offer beautiful vista of the Nilgiri Hills ranges. There is a telescope house run by TTDC.

Kotagiri
It is 31 kms. from Udhagamandalam. The climate is very salubrious which is 6503 feet above sea level. The Doddabetta ranges shield Kotagiri, which receives much of its rain from northwest monsoon. One can enjoy a pleasure ride on road flanked by green tea beds on either side.

Rose Garden
It is located just 3/4 kms. away from Charring Cross. It lies with 10 acres of land with 1919 variety of roses..

Art Gallery - Lalith kala Academy
It is situated about 2 Kms, from Udhagamandalam in the main Mysore road. It has various collections of contemporary paintings and sculptures all over from India.

Mini Garden
At about one kilometre distance Tourist can visit this mini garden (Children`s Lake Garden), which is on the way to Boat House. Children`s amusement park is housed here. A snack bar is also available. Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation Limited maintains it.

Ootakamund Club also adds to the list of tourist attraction in Ootakamund, Tamil Nadu. It is quite unique and best maintained amongst the past British clubs. Special treat for the tourists is the Ooty hunt, which still rides to hounds, in pursuit of jackals, is one of the main offerings of the club.

Ooty races are the key attractions of tourists. The Ootacmund Derby is a highlight attracting some of the best jockeys of Indian continent.
Kotagiri is situated almost thirty-one kms from Ootakamund, Tamil Nadu. It rises to a height of nearly 6503 feet above the meal sea level. Its climate is quite good for sustaining a good health condition. Kotagiri is shielded by the Doddabetta mountain ranges act as protective shield, which takes in abundant rainfall from northwest monsoon. A pleasure ride on road laid out by green tea tracts on both the sides enthralls the tourists.

Dodabetta is the most prominent peak of Tamil Nadu. The literal meaning of the word Dodabetta is big mountain. From here one can behold far off places like Coonoor and Wellington. It is one of the tourist attractions of Ootakamund, Tamil Nadu.

Kandal Cross is a tourist spot. It is a full -sized `crucifix` fastened on a large boulder, and a fragmentized form of the `true cross`.

Lying almost twelve kms from Ootakamund, Tamil Nadu, Kalhatti Falls adds to the charm of the tourists as well. It drops down to almost one hundred and thirty one feet.

Near about 26 km from Ooty is Avalanche is another interetsing tourist locale. Those who are fascinated by trout fishing, it is an ideal place for them. It has its location almost twenty-six kms from Ootacamund, Tamil Nadu.

MacIvor`s Bund is a place, which lies almost seven kms from Avalanche. It is one of the locales, which are thronged with tourists from Ootakamund, Tamil Nadu.

Mukurthi National Park is a huge reserved area where no visitor is allowed to enter. It houses Mukerti Peak and also a lake of the same name. The whole park forms an integral part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, which is considered to the first Biosphere Reserve of the country.

The park is qualified by `Montane grasslands` and shrub lands interspersed with shola forests. It is an ideal abode of some of the rare specifies like Royal Bengal Tiger and Asian Elephant. Nilgiri Tahr becomes the chief attraction of the park. Earlier it has been named as Nilgiri Tahr National Park.

As has been mentioned above one finds Mukerti Peak, which rises to a height of approximately 8031 feet above the sea level. It lies just ahead of MacIvor`s Bund. It is one of the magnificent pecks in the whole of southern region. Interestingly, it has a peculiar shape which resembles to that of an `acute angled triangle` with 1 side being vertical. The Mukurthi dam has been constructed at the foothill region. It falls under the scheme of Pykara hydro electricity. The dam stretches out to a distance of nearly thirty-two kms from Ootakamund, Tamil Nadu. One can even reach there by walking up to a distance of nearly nine kms from there.

The Western Catchment is a landmark. It is lush green tract interlarded with `temperate sholas` amidst valleys and depressions.

Glenmorgan is situated almost seventeen kms from Ootakamund, Tamil Nadu. There is a lifting device consisting of a horizontal cylinder turned by a crank on which a cable or rope winds. It is called winch, which has set up by the Electricity Board for transporting staff to the `Singara powerhouse`. While gliding down the slopes, one can catch site of the dense shola forests. Another landmark is the Kundah hydroelectric project, which has been accomplished in the year 1956.

Other areas of attraction around Ooty, are Elk Hill, Parson`s Valley, Kalhatty Falls .

The majestic Fernhill Palace is situated almost one km from the Ooty bus stand. One can catch site of its glory and grandeur in lieu of paying an entry fee. It has become a hotel.

Ketti Valley is an attractive locale for the tourists who visit Ootakamund, Tamil Nadu. The Ketti Valley has gained popularity as the `Switzerland of Southern India` . The reson is its moderate and pleasing climatic condition through out the year. which do not fall into any extremes, during summer and winter. In fact it is the last principal valley which is located on the way to Ootacamund, Tamil Nadu along the Ooty-Coonoor highway. It houses diiferent floral species and offers a slice of nature`s beauty.

Pykara Lake and Pykara falls also is a tourist haven. It is favorite locale for the tourists of Ootakamund, Tamil Nadu. Amongst all the lakes in the vicinity one can reach there most easily. In this region a boathouse and also a picnic spot have sprang up. The remaining areas of this lake fall under the jurisdiction of a reserved forest. Visitors are not permitted in this area.

Wenlock Downs is another tourists attraction. It is a lush green meadow. One also finds gentle and undulating hillocks. Due to its picturesque locale it is ideal for picturization of popular film. Due mentioning may be made of the 2 areas which are located approximately 6 and 9 miles away from Ootakamund, Tamil Nadu to Pykara road, also knwn as Mysore Road. Accordingly they are called "Sixth Mile" and "Ninth Mile".

Kamraj Sagar Lake lies en route to Pykara. Tourists from Ootakamund, Tamil Nadu visit the place in large numbers. Pine tree forests border it.

How to reach Ootacamund, Tamil Nadu
Influx of tourists is a common phenomenon in Ootakamund, Tamil Nadu. In fact it is one of the popular tourist destinations in the whole of Indian subcontinent. It is easily accessible from other places of the region. Means of communication viz rail, airways, roadways are much improved.

Airport at Coimbatore is the closest airport of Ootakamund, Tamil Nadu which stretches to a distance of nearly eighty eight kms . One can board flights of Indian Airlines for various places like Bangalore, Coimbatore, Chennai and Cochin.

Railways also serve the needs and requirements of the people of Ootakamund, Tamil Nadu. It has iys location near about two kms from the City Center. Another important railway station is forty-six km away at Mettupalayam.

One also can take service of a toy train that has established connectivity of Ootakamund, Tamil Nadu with Mettupalayam. Another popular hill station, namely Coonor also is linked with Ootakamund, Tamil Nadu via this toy train. Although riding toy train does not run at fast speed, it is ideal for those who want to enjoy the natural scenery.

Excellent network of roadways has established connectivity of Ootakamund, Tamil Nadu with several cities of the country like Bangalore, Chennai, and Coimbatore.

Accomodation in Ootakamund, Tamil Nadu
Wonderful locales, mountains and lush forest ground have made Ootakamund, Tamil Nadu an ideal destination for tourists and also nature lovers. Its scenic beauty casts a spell of charm in the minds of tourists from foreign locales as well. So in order to cater to the needs of a large of people a multitude of hotels have been built in hook and corner of Ootakamund, Tamil Nadu.

It is to be noted that accommodation of Ootakamund, Tamil Nadu ranges from luxurious hotels to that of low cost guesthouses and lodges, which any one can bear to afford. Taj Savoy Hotel Ooty is a heritage hotel, which offers hi class amenities to its lodgers. Its address is 77, Sylks Road, Ooty - 643001, Tamil Nadu.

Other significant hotels of Ootakamund, Tamil Nadu are as follows:
The Monarch, Ootacamund, Tamil Nadu
Address: Off Havelock Road, Church Hill , Udagamandalam
Holiday Inn Gem Park, Ootacamund, Tamil Nadu
Address: Sheddon Road, , Udagamandalam
Hotel Sinclairs, Ootacamund, Tamil Nadu
Address: Gorishala Road, Post Box No. 81 , Udagamandalam
Fernhill Palace Hotel , Ootacamund, Tamil Nadu
Address: Fernhill Post, , Udagamandalam
Welcome Group Sullivan Court, Ootacamund, Tamil Nadu
123, Selbourne Road, , Udagamandalam
Sterling Holiday Resorts, Elk Hill,
Address: P.B. No. 25, Ranakrishna Mutt Road, Ramakrishna Puram , Udagamandalam
Nahar Hotel
Address: 52 A. Charing Cross, The Nilgiris , Udagamandalam
Velan Hotel Ritz Address: Ritz Road, Bedford, Upper Coonoor, , Udagamandalam
Sterling Holiday Resorts
Address: P.B. No. 73, Kundah House Road, Fernhill, , Udagamandalam