Ooty - Queen of the Nilgiris
Ooty, often referred to as Udagamandalam, is a popular hill station in Tamil Nadu that is tucked away within the Nilgiri hills. The Queen of the Hills is a charming retreat that was formerly thought to be the East India Company's summer headquarters.
Ooty is the ideal getaway for everyone, with its attractive colonial buildings, peaceful waterfalls, winding country lanes, and tea gardens. Ooty is a popular destination for honeymooners and couples because of the expansive views of the Nilgiri mountains.
Asia's steepest railway is the Nilgiri Mountain Railway. Do you recall the popular song "Chaiyya Chaiyya," in which Malaika Arora and Shahrukh Khan matched steps atop a train? Do you recall the magnificent locations when the train meandered through verdant foliage? Yes, the Nilgiri Mountains and the Nilgiri Mountain Railways were there the entire time.
Best time to visit Ooty
The best time to visit Ooty is throughout the year as the weather is pleasant and great for sightseeing. The temperature usually ranges from 5-15 degrees throughout the year with colder nights. 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.
How to Reach Ooty
The closest airport to the hills is in Coimbatore, which is 3.5 hours away by vehicle. North of Ooty, the Mysore airport is served by Kingfisher Airlines' daily ATR service, and is approximately 4 hours' drive from Ooty. The drive from either airport is really picturesque.
The Nilgiri Express departs from Chennai at night and arrives at Mettupalayam, a small town at the foothills of the Nilgiris, early the next morning (Indian Rail spells it Metupalaiyam). At 7.10 am, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway train departs Mettupalayam.