Tips & Information for the tourists - Ooty, Tamil Nadu

Carry sufficient amount of woolens with you while planning a trip to Ooty.
Taxis are easily available roaming in the city itself.

Top Things to Do

With so much stunning nature around, there are a lot of outdoor activities in Ooty to occupy your time and keep your blood pumping. Additionally, the slew of nature parks and tea plantations are ideal for those who prefer a tame day relaxing or walking slowly and taking in the temperate climate of Ooty and its surrounds. Traditional massage is another great way to unwind and of course, you should make time to sample the local cuisine.

Make an overnight excursion to the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary. While you can explore the sanctuary in a day, it is much more fun to take it in at a leisurely pace, and even enjoy a night or two at one of the parks guest houses. With 322 Sq.km to explore, you will find there is plenty to see.

Sample goods at the local bakeries. Ooty is home to some great little bakeries where visitors can sit down to enjoy some sweet treats alongside a cup of traditional frothy Indian coffee.

Sample the wonders of Ayurvedic. The ancient approach to medicine and good health known as Ayurvedic can be sampled at number of the top hotels in Ooty. Enjoy a complete system detox with a week of panchakarma, or opt for a single session of the relaxing shirodhara or an invigorating garshana massage.

Take a trip on the mountain train of Ooty. Offering some unique perspectives of the region, the Ooty mountain train begins its journey at Mettupalayam, some 46 kilometres southeast of Ooty, winding its way leisurely across the scenic landscape of the Nilgiris district. The unusual thing about the train is that its engine is at the back, effectively meaning it is pushed as opposed to being pulled.

Visit a tea plantation. The Nilgiris region is famous for its tea and many of the areas around Ooty are carpeted with the lush greenery of tea plantations. Tours are possible, some of which also include onsite tea factories with shops at which visitors can purchase some of the freshly processed teas.

Visit Coonoor and Wellington. Offering scenery that is as stunning as that of Ooty, Coonoor and Wellington are destinations visitable via a daytrip but are best enjoyed on an overnight excursion. There are plenty of tea plantations to visit in both of these places.

Visit Ketti Valley. Sometimes dubbed the 'Switzerland of Southern India' due to its temperate weather conditions it enjoys across the seasons, Ketti Valley is an exceedingly picturesque location offering plenty of opportunities for getting out and enjoying the authentic back-to-nature feeling. Additionally, the valley is home to the famous Needle Industries India, makers of the internationally-known 'Pony Needles.