Please tell me something about the ooty as a place to visit and how to get good deals for it?

Answer 1

Please visit only in the off season - all hotels give more than 50% discount - try Tamil Nadu Hotel, Charing Cross Hotel, Blue Hills Hotel etc. Also no crowds in off season. Take a tour bus trip to Coonoor sights, Dodabetta and also to Pykara Wenlock downs and Mudumalai WLS. If your budget permits, hire a taxi instead but be warned that even in off season, taxi rates are steep around Rs 1000 per day. Walk in ooty to Botanical Gardens, Lake and in Commercial St. Avalanchi is a good days trip for nature lovers but you require a permit from forest or electricity dept. Must buy - fudge from King Star, home made chocolates, ooty cheese, jams, Bangalore Hot Chips wafers, all bakery products from the numerous bakeries. Toda shawls are pretty but overpriced. Toda style silver jewellery available in Upper bazar rd. Try to do a train ride Ooty - Coonoor - Ooty for beautiful views. Enjoy your trip.

Answer 2

Ooty, short for Ootacamund is a popular hill station in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located in the mountainous range called the Blue Mountains or the Nilgiri Hills. It was founded in the 19th century by the British and served as the summer headquarters of the Madras Presidency. This beautiful city is quite unlike the rest of India marked by rolling hills and plateaus covered with dense vegetations, tea gardens and eucalyptus trees and it draws a swarm of tourists every year. Many portions of the hills are preserved as natural forests and special permits are needed to camp in non camping sites. This hilly region also houses some other smaller towns like Conoor and Kotagiri, which have fewer tourists and cheaper prices. Some of the places of interest around the area are the Ooty Botanical Gardens that promotes and study the various flora in and around the Nilgiris. It is open to the public as a park and is a heaven for birdwatchers. There is also the Doddabetta Peak, which is the highest point of the Nilgiri Hills and offers spectacular views of the hill station. There is another reserved forest area around this peak. A visit to the tea plantation is definitely a must and if possible a visit to the tea factory as well. This quaint hill station is easy to get around in, has no dearth of accommodations, has a plethora of restaurants with a large variety of cuisines to choose from and offers a perfect blend of adventure and relaxation.

Avail some of the most exciting offers ranging from flight deals to hotel accommodations in Ooty on MakeMyTrip.com. Whether you would want to go for budget properties, or easy on the pocket yet luxurious 3 star properties, or go all out on luxury or boutique hotels, MakeMyTrip.com will provide you will a comprehensive list at the click of a button. You can choose from a 3 star Hotel Sinclair’s at less than 1,500 per night or a more extravagant Holiday Inn Gem Park for a little more. Pick your choice and make your trip worthwhile. MakeMyTrip.com also allows you to make your journey to your destination as comfortable as the stay there. You can fly down to Bangalore, Mysore and Coimbatore and pick and choose from many of the connecting flights. Pick the most economical flight best suited to you at your choice of time. It’s as simple as that. If you have a preferred airline, then you can be sure to find what you are looking including cheap airfares on SpiceJet, Air Deccan and GoAir.

Answer 3

Well ooty is a nice place if you like hills and nature ...for best deals i can suggest you one link from where you can get holiday ideas and ask for good deals not only in India but also outside of India pls visit holidayclubindia.net

Answer 4

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Answer 5

its a superb place.....!!! i wish i could visit ooty over 'n' over again!!....duddabeta is a great place in ooty.....da curvy roads....truly heaven on earth...!! don't miss it!!! n don't forget to carry woolen clothes even if its the midddle of summer!! the natural landscapes are itself an example of true beauty.

Answer 6

well i jus visited it last summer n it was simply exhilarating.....the botanical gardens r a must visit.........hte flowers r realy captivating.......then the boat house is a place for the toy train n a good ride on the boat.....shopping is good but quite costly.....well its quite expensive o nthe whole but its worht it

Answer 7

Located in the mountainous range called the Blue Mountains or Nilgiris, Ooty draws a large number of tourists every year. The weather is quite pleasant at a mean of 15 to 20 °C (59 to 68 °F) year round, dropping to lows of 0 °C (32 °F) during winter.

The hill town suffers from rampant commercialization and erosion of natural resources. The tourism industry has placed an enormous strain on the natural resources resulting in pollution, a water shortage, and bad roads. The number of visitors that was about 1,681,000 in 2001, 1,834,000 in 2003, and h 1,725,000 in 2005.

The landscape is quite unlike the rest of India, marked by rolling hills and plateaus covered with dense vegetation, tea gardens, and eucalyptus trees. Many portions of the hills are preserved as natural reserve forests, and special permits are needed to camp outside of campgrounds. Ooty is more of a focal point of attraction for tourists, who also undertake auto tours of the surrounding countryside.

The hilly region also houses smaller towns like Coonoor and Kotagiri. These towns are less than an hour's drive away from Ooty and enjoy the same climate, but have fewer tourists and cheaper prices.

[edit] Places of Historical Interest in the local area

* Ooty Botanical Gardens

The 22 Acre Botanical Garden was laid out in 1847 and is presently maintained by the government of Tamil Nadu. The original purpose of the "Botanical Gardens" was purely academic: to promote and study the various flora in and around Nilgiris. Now, it is open to the public as a park that can be enjoyed by visitors. The Botanical Garden is also a heaven for bird watchers where a variety of birds, both seasonal and year-round residents, can be sighted.

* Stone House

This was the first "Pukka" house in Ooty, built by John Sullivan. It is situated inside the premises of the Government Arts College.

* The Railway Station

The railhead of the Nilgiri Mountain Railway. The station itself is part of this World Heritage Site. Ooty Railway station offers a unique glimpse of the British raj built railways.

* The Ooty Lake & Boat House

This is an artificial lake built by John Sullivan. It used to be much larger than its present size, and encompassed the present bus stand and race course as well as much of the present market.

* The Fernhill Palace, Fernhill

This former palace situated around 1 km from the Ooty bus stand can be visited for an entry fee of Rs 50. It has been converted into a Hotel.

* Kandal Cross Shrine
* St. Stephens Church
* Lawrence School, Lovedale

[edit] Places of Significant Natural Beauty and Protected Natural Areas in the Local Area

Note: Ooty is situated in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Many of the forested areas and water bodies are off limits to most visitors in order to protect this fragile ecosystem. Some areas of the Biosphere Reserve have been earmarked for Tourism Development, and steps are being undertaken to open these areas to visitors whilst conserving the area. Generally tourists are encouraged to observe any local signage and not to enter reserved forests and protected areas. Much of Ooty has already been damaged by rampant commercialisation as a result of tourism. Some steps are being introduced to limit the impact of pollution by tourists in the biosphere reserve such as making the area a plastic-free zone. This largely applies to plastic bags.

* Doddabetta Peak.

The highest point in the Nilgiri Hills, offering spectacular views over the town and district. There is road access to the summit. There is a reserved forest area around the peak.

* Ketti Valley.

There is a view point called "Valley View" on the main Ooty to Coonoor road.

* Wenlock Downs and Sixth Mile.

A popular film shooting area situated in this hilly grassy area.

* Ooty Golf Links.

A forested and grassy area, partially home to a golf course

* Pykara Lake and Pykara falls.

The most accessible of all the nearby lakes. A boathouse and picnic area has been developed to provide access to this area. Most of the remainder of the lake is within a reserved forest and off limits to visitors.

* Kamraj Sagar Lake

On the way to Pykara. A nearby lake bordered by pine forests.

* Mudumalai National Park

Situated at a lower altitude and easily accessible to visitors. It borders the Bandipur National Park in Karnataka

* Mukurthi National Park

A large protected area generally not accessible to visitors. It also contains a lake and peak of the same name.

* Parsons Valley Reservoir

This is the primary water source for the town and is mainly in a reserved forest and is thus largely off-limits to visitors.

* Emerald Lake.

Near the town of the same name. There is a view point near the dam. The rest of the are is mainly in a reserved forest and is largely off-limits to visitors

* Avalanchi Lake

Adjacent to the Emerald lake. This is mainly in a reserved forest and is largely off-limits to visitors

* Porthimund Lake

This is mainly in a reserved forest and is largely off-limits to visitors

* Upper Bhavani Lake.

Most of this is within the Mukurthi National Park (and also largely off limits to visitors)

for hotels and tour booking plz contact http://www.mybudgethotels.com

Answer 8

Ooty, short for Ootacamund (an anglicized name for Udhagamandalam), is a popular hill resort in the state of Tamil Nadu in Southern India.

The name Udhagamandalam is derived from the TODA word "othakal-mund" which means "house in mountains". Ooty stands at 7,347 feet above sea level in the Nilgiri mountain range. It was founded in the 19th century by the British, and served as the summer headquarters of the Madras Presidency (Madras is now Chennai).
[edit] Understand
Located in the mountainous range called the Nilgiris ("Blue Mountains"), it draws swarms of tourists every year. The weather is quite pleasant at a mean of 15-20 C year round, dropping to lows of 0 C during winter. The landscape is marked by rolling hills covered with dense vegetation, smaller hills and plateaus covered with tea gardens, and eaucalyptus trees. Many portions of the hills are preserved as natural reserve forests, and special permits will be needed to camp in noncamp sites. Ooty is not the destination in itself, as much as it is the focal point of attraction. Auto touring the surrounding country side is certainly a must do. Unfortunately, the hill town suffers from overcrowding and erosion of natural resources. Tourism has placed an enormous strain on the natural resources resulting in pollution, water shortage and bad roads.

The hilly region also houses smaller towns like Coonoor and Kotagiri. These smaller towns are a better choice to visit and spend time in, since they are off the beaten path, yet less than 1 hour away from Ooty. They enjoy the same natural climes and prices are a lot cheaper.

[edit] Get in
[edit] By plane
The Coimbatore airport is the closest to the hills at 3-1/2 hours by road. There are flights into Coimbatore from most parts of India including Mumbai (Air Deccan,Indian Airlines,Jet and Go Air),Chennai(Air Deccan, Paramount,Indian Airlines and Jet)and Bangalore. The Mysore airport is about 5 odd hours away from Ooty by road (but Mysore airport is currently closed and only expected to open for light aircraft), and lies to the North of Ooty. The road trip is quite scenic from either airport.

[edit] By train
The hills are connected to Chennai by a nightly train. The Blue Mountain Express leaves from Chennai at night, and reaches Mettupalayam, a small town at the foothills of the Nilgiris early the next morning. The train, a standard diesel powered locomotive continues from Mettupalayam as a small coal powered historic locomotive that is a remnant of Swiss engineered trains imported in the late 1800s. The coal train is much smaller, and can only accommodate a portion of the passengers that disembark at Mettupalayam. A through ticket from Chennai to Ooty will ensure a place in the smaller train, although many prefer the faster route of taking a cab or a bus from Mettupalayam.

The coal train takes a very scenic route, and the pace of travel will let you take in the beautiful scenery at leisure (the journey takes about 5-1/2 hours compared to 2 hours by road). The train uses a rachet and pinion system to haul itself up steep slopes, and also to prevent the train from sliding down when stopping. The train is often pushed from behind as well as pulled from the front by two separate coal engines. There are brakesmen at the rear of every carriage who will apply and release hand powered brakes individually for that carriage. The train often travels only at 5 - 10 Kmph, allowing some adventerous passengers to disembark from the train and walk along the train. This practice is not recommended and can be dangerous, besides there is a good chance that the train will speed up, and you will be unable to get back on board.

Mettupalayam can prove to be a bottle-neck during the peak season of April-June with cabs charging exorbitant rates. The train is often quite regular in this part of the country, and is by far the most comfortable way to get here.

There are other trains from Chennai to Coimbatore. The journey can be continued from Coimbatore by road, a 3-1/2 hour journey.

[edit] By car
The Nilgiris are in Tamil Nadu, but it is quite near the borders of neighboring states Karnataka and Kerala. The hills consequently can be reached from within Tamil Nadu by travelling up a heavily forested winding road, with many sharp hair-pin 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.

There are buses and shared taxi vans that can be boarded from most parts of India to Ooty. Ooty is 284 km from Bangalore by road.

[edit] Get around
Test

[edit] See
Ooty Botanical Gardens
Doddabetta peak
[edit] Do
Most travel agents / hotels conduct guided tour packages that will bundle you into a bus, and tick off the most important and hence crowded "tourist" spots in the area.

Enjoy the weather
Go for long walks and hikes
Visit a tea plantation and if possible a tea factory
Travel the country side in a 4x4
Catch a round of golf at the Gymkhana Golf course (membership or introduction required)
Visit the local Army cantonment - the Madras Regimental Center and the DSSC (Defense Services Staff College)
Visit terrace farmed cabbage fields around Ooty
Visit the Mudumalai forest sanctuary (1-2 days minimum)
Sample the local bakeries (Kingstar bakery near Charing Cross in Ooty sells sinfully delicious chocolate and pistachio fudges)
[edit] Eat
There are various restaurants in Ooty, mostly offering South Indian food, but some offer North Indian food.

One can also obtain some Chinese/Indo-Chinese food from restaurants such as Wang's kitchen and Western food such as pizza and sandwiches from chains like Hot Breads. Do not miss trying Ooty's famous buns, varkis, cakes, and other baked goods, as well as their fruit and nut chocolates.

[edit] Drink
[edit] Sleep
There is no dearth of accommodations, with many hotels and inns that cater to every budget. Accommodations are no more expensive than most cities in India, and the popular Indian hotel chains have a presence here.

Hotel Savoy from the Taj Group is one good option

Another excellent choice is the newly constructed Sherlock Hotel. It is a typical homestay with only about 10 rooms, but the location is magnificent - overlooking the entire valley, and the quality is high (including the food).

Ooty (TamilNadu)
Hotels & Resorts in Ooty

Hotel Grade Rate per couple Plan
Hotel Sinclairs *** Tariff Room, Bed Tea & Breakfast
Hotel Darshan ** Tariff Room only
Hotel Lakeview ** Tariff Room only
The Monarch *** Tariff Room, Bed Tea & Breakfast.
The Sagar Holiday Resort *** Tariff Room only
Holiday Inn * * * Tariff Room only


Package Tours to Bangalore Mysore Ooty

Package Tours to Bangalore, Mysore, Ooty, & Kodaikanal

Ootacamund or Ooty is situated in Nilgiri Mountains near Tri Junction of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. Ooty is the only hill station in India which attracts visitors during all seasons. It has built up a fame as the `all-seasons -hill resort' and the `queen of hill stations'. It is one of the most popular hill resorts in southern India at an elevation of 7216 ft. above sea-level, her moods change with every season, but each of her moods is hospitable to the visitor. Nestling among the hills at a point where the Eastern Ghats meets the Western Ghats, the district headquarter town of Udhagamandalam sprawls along a beautiful plateau. The Eastern Ghats are mighty and attractive while the Western ghats have wooded loveliness. Nature unfolds itself in and around Ooty in a myriad of profiles, each one with a distinctive grandeur and individuality.

This natural charm, several attractions compel the tourist to stay on for extended periods with comfort. The first British came to Ooty in 1812. He was followed by a few hundred European missionaries, educationist and civil servants. Finally, the hill stations attracted many Europeans so much so that it became the summer capital of the then vast Madras presidency, or the present Tamil nadu State, which consisted of 75% of what we call South India today. Soon, Indian princes or Maharajas (who were the ruler of various areas and territories throughout India and industrialists built their palaces and mansions.

The first inhabitants of this land were a tribe called Todas who had been living here long before the British came in the early nineteenth century. But the credit for modernising Udhagamandalam and making it accessible goes to the British who constructed the first railway line in the area and made it the summer capital of the Madras Presidency. Todas antedated all explorers to the Nilgiris by a great margin of time. Mr. John Sullivan discovered Ooty in 1820. He built a permanent house at Nilgiri Hill and this was the beginning. Soon several other British officers built their summer houses. Horses, pony bullock cart and tonga were transportation modes at that time.

Ooty's main industry is oil extraction particularly from the eucalyptus trees introduced during the 19th century, and also from lemon grass, geranium, clove and camphor.

Even today the atmosphere of the Raj lingers in places like the Club where snooker was invented by a subaltern named Neville Chamberlain. The Nilgiri Library with its rare and valuable collection of books on Udhagamandalam and St. Stephen's Church which was Udhagamandalam's first church are reminiscent of the Raj. The cemetery near the church has the oldest British tombstones and includes graves of John Sullivan's wife and daughter, among other prominent personalities.

GENERAL INFORMATION
Altitude: 2240 metres
Temperature (°C): Summer: Max 25, Min 10 Winter: Max 21, Min 0
Best Season: April to June and September to October
STD Code: 0423

PLACES OF INTEREST

Botanical Gardens (2 kms)
Tiger Hill (16 kms)
Dodabetta Peak (10 kms)
Valley View Lake (1 km)
Wilson Fish Farm, St. Stephen Church, Marlimund Lake (5 kms)
Wenlock Downs (2 kms)
Avalanche (15 kms)
Elk Hill, Kalhatti Falls (14 kms)
Snowdon, Glen Morgen (25 kms)
EXCURSIONS

Wellingtion (16 kms)
Kotagiri (29 kms)
Madumalai Wildlife Sanctuary (64 kms)
Coonoor (19 kms)
Bandipur Wildlife Sanctuary (78 kms)
HOW TO GET THERE?

Air: The nearest airport Coimbatore (89 kms) is connected by Indian Airlines' flights with Bombay, Calicut, Chennai and Madurai.

Rail: Ooty is connected by narrow guage train services with Mettupalayam which in turn connected through Chennai & Coimbatore to major cities in India.

Road: Good motorable roads connect Ooty to Bombay- 1320 kms, Bangalore- 290 kms, Calicut- 178 kms, Coimbatore- 89 kms, Coonoor- 19 kms, Kotagiri- 29 kms, Madumalai- 64 kms, Chennai- 535 kms, Mysore- 160 kms, Trivandrum- 498 kms, Tiruchirapally- 302 kms.