About OOTY

Ooty, officially known as Udagamandalam and formerly called Ootacamund, is a picturesque hill town in Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiris district. Located 86 km northwest of Coimbatore, it serves as the district headquarters and is fondly referred to as the "Queen of Hill Stations." Nestled in the scenic Nilgiri Hills, Ooty is a popular tourist destination known for its serene landscapes and pleasant climate.

Historically home to the Toda people, Ooty came under the control of the East India Company in the 18th century and later became the summer capital of the Madras Presidency. Today, its economy thrives on tourism and agriculture. The town is well-connected to the plains via the Nilgiri Ghat Roads and the iconic Nilgiri Mountain Railway, making it an ideal getaway for travelers.

a man riding a skateboard down the side of a ramp

Etymology

The region now known as Ooty was historically called Ottakal Mandu, derived from the Tamil words Otha-Cal, meaning "single stone," and the Toda word Mandu, meaning "village." This name referenced a sacred stone revered by the Toda people, the area's original inhabitants. Over time, Ottakal Mandu evolved into Udagamandalam, which the British anglicized to Ootacamund. The name was later shortened to the widely recognized "Ooty."

The earliest known written mention of Ooty appears as Wotokymund in a March 1821 letter to the Madras Gazette. The town is located in the Nilgiri Hills, which translates to "blue mountains," named after the Kurunji flower that once blanketed the slopes with its striking bluish hue.

History

The Nilgiri Hills are first mentioned in the Tamil Sangam epic Silappathikaram, dating back to the 5th or 6th century CE. Historically, the region was inhabited by indigenous tribes such as the Badagas, Todas, Kotas, Irulas, and Kurumbas. Over the centuries, it came under the rule of prominent Tamil kingdoms, including the Cheras, Cholas, and Pandyas.

The Todas are specifically mentioned in a 1117 CE record from Hoysala King Vishnuvardhana and his general Punisa. The Nilgiris were later governed by various dynasties such as the Pallavas, Satavahanas, Gangas, Kadambas, Rashtrakutas, Hoysalas, and the Vijayanagara Empire. In the 18th century, Tipu Sultan captured the Nilgiris, but the region fell under British control in 1799, becoming part of the Coimbatore district in the Madras Presidency.

Geography

Ooty, nestled in the Nilgiri Hills, is part of the Western Ghats within the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. The Moyar River in the north separates it from Karnataka, while the Palghat Gap divides it from the Anaimalai and Palani Hills to the south. Situated at an elevation of 2,240 meters (7,350 feet) above sea level, Ooty spans a total area of 30.36 km² (11.72 sq mi). Nearby, Doddabetta, the highest peak in the Nilgiris, rises to 2,623 meters (8,606 feet) and is located just 10 km (6.2 mi) from the town.

Ooty Lake, an artificial lake spanning 65 acres (26 ha), was created in 1824 and remains a popular attraction. The Pykara River, originating at Mukurthi Peak, is about 19 km (12 mi) from Ooty. It features a series of cascades, including the renowned Pykara Falls, with heights of 55 meters (180 ft) and 61 meters (200 ft). Other scenic spots include the Kamaraj Sagar Dam (10 km from Ooty), Emerald Lake, Avalanche Lake, and Porthimund Lake, offering tranquil escapes in the region.

Climate

Ooty experiences a subtropical highland climate (Cwb) as classified by the Köppen climate system. Its high altitude ensures cooler temperatures compared to the surrounding plains, with summer averages ranging from 10°C to 25°C (50°F to 77°F) and winter averages from 0°C to 21°C (32°F to 70°F). The highest temperature recorded in Ooty is 28.5°C (83.3°F), while the lowest is −5.1°C (22.8°F).

The town receives significant rainfall during both the South-West and North-East monsoon seasons, with an annual average precipitation of approximately 1,100 mm (43 inches). This temperate climate makes Ooty a popular destination for year-round visitors seeking pleasant weather.

Biodiversity and Wildlife

Ooty is a part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, India’s largest protected forest area, established as a reserve in 1986 and recognized under UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programme. The region, located within the South Western Ghats montane rainforests ecoregion, boasts rich biodiversity.

Mudumalai National Park and Tiger Reserve, situated 31 km (19 mi) northwest of Ooty, was established in 1940 as India’s first wildlife sanctuary. The Nilgiris are home to thousands of plant species, including rare medicinal and endemic flowering plants. Shola forests, found above 1,800 m (5,900 ft), feature stunted evergreen trees adorned with epiphytes, while native meadows and grasslands once dominated the hillsides, with forests thriving in the valleys.

Demographics

As per the 2011 Census, Udagamandalam (Ooty) had a population of 88,430, with a higher-than-average sex ratio of 1,053 females per 1,000 males, compared to the national average of 929. The town included 7,781 children under the age of six, comprising 3,915 boys and 3,866 girls. Scheduled Castes made up 28.98% of the population, while Scheduled Tribes accounted for 0.30%.

The city boasted an impressive literacy rate of 90.2%, significantly above the national average of 72.99%. Udagamandalam consisted of 23,235 households and a workforce of 35,981 individuals, including cultivators, agricultural laborers, household industry workers, and other professionals. Religious demographics revealed that 64.36% of the population were Hindus, followed by Christians (21.25%), Muslims (13.37%), and smaller proportions of Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and others.

Tamil is the official language, widely spoken alongside native languages like Badaga, Paniya, Irula, and Kurumba. Due to its status as a tourist hotspot and proximity to Kerala and Karnataka, languages such as Malayalam, Kannada, and English are also commonly understood. According to the census, Tamil was spoken by 88,896 residents in the Udagamandalam taluk, followed by Badaga with 41,213 speakers and Kannada with 27,070 speakers.

Administration and Politics

Ooty serves as the administrative headquarters of the Nilgiris district. The town falls under the Udagamandalam Assembly constituency, which is part of the Nilgiris Lok Sabha constituency. Governance is managed by the Udagamandalam Municipality, established in 1866, with the town divided into 36 wards.

The municipality oversees essential services, including water supply, sewage management, and the maintenance of public infrastructure, ensuring smooth civic operations in this prominent hill station.

Economy

Ooty is a key market town supporting the surrounding agricultural region. Major crops grown include vegetables like potatoes, carrots, cabbage, and cauliflower, as well as fruits such as peaches, plums, pears, and strawberries. A daily wholesale auction for these products takes place at the Ooty Municipal Market.

Dairy farming is an integral part of the local economy, with a cooperative dairy producing cheese and skimmed milk powder. The region is also known for floriculture, sericulture, mushroom cultivation, and its renowned Nilgiri tea—a unique variety of black tea cultivated in the area.

The town is home to the Human Biologicals Institute, established in 1999, which specializes in vaccine production. Additionally, the outskirts host manufacturing industries in Ketti (needle production) and Aruvankadu (cordite manufacturing), further contributing to Ooty’s economy.

Transport

Road Connectivity

Ooty is well-connected through the Nilgiri Ghat Roads and is located on National Highway 181 (NH 181). The town's roads are maintained by the municipality, and public bus services are operated by the Coimbatore division of the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC). Long-distance connectivity is provided by SETC, KSRTC (Karnataka), and KSRTC (Kerala), linking Ooty to major towns in Tamil Nadu and neighboring states.

Rail Connectivity

The Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre-gauge railway connecting Udagamandalam (Ooty) to Mettupalayam. Established by the Nilgiri Railway Company in 1885, the first section from Mettupalayam to Coonoor was inaugurated on 15 June 1899, with the line to Ooty completed in 1908. Initially managed by Madras Railway and later by South Indian Railway, the NMR is now operated by the Southern Railway zone. It features India's only rack railway, with steam locomotives running between Coonoor and Ooty.

Air Connectivity

The nearest airport to Ooty is Coimbatore International Airport, located 96 km (60 miles) away. It offers regular domestic flights and international services to destinations like Sharjah, Colombo, and Singapore.

Ooty also has three helipads—one at Theettukal and two at Kodanad. The Theettukal helipad is approved by the Airports Authority of India for defense and VIP services. Plans for commercial helicopter services by Pawan Hans with Bell 407 were proposed but later shelved.

Tourism

Ooty offers a variety of attractions for tourists, with the Ooty Lake being one of the most popular. The boat house alongside the lake provides boating facilities, making it a major tourist destination. Boating is also available at Pykara Falls and the Pykara Dam.

The Government Botanical Garden, established in 1842, showcases a diverse collection of indigenous and exotic plants. It hosts an annual flower show in May and features a 20-million-year-old fossilized tree. At an altitude of 2,200 meters (7,200 feet), the Government Rose Garden is the largest of its kind in India, with over 20,000 rose varieties across 2,800 cultivars.

A Deer Park, established in 1986, lies near Ooty Lake and is the second-highest zoo in India. Traditional Toda dogles (huts) can be found on the hills above the botanical garden, and a Tribal Museum, located 10 km (6.2 mi) from the town, showcases rare tribal artifacts and photographs, as well as anthropological and archaeological exhibits.

Historical landmarks include the Stone House, the first bungalow in Ooty, and St. Stephen’s Church, built in 1829, one of the oldest churches in the Nilgiris. St. Thomas Church, established in 1871, is known for its many famous graves, including that of William Patrick Adam, topped by a pillar monument dedicated to St. Thomas, the tallest structure in Ooty.

For tea enthusiasts, a tea factory and museum spread over nearly 1 acre (0.40 ha) offers an insight into the tea production process and machinery.

The Ooty Radio Telescope, completed in 1970, is part of the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA) under the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) and is funded by the Government of India.