Ooty is fairly bereft of purpose-built attractions for young visitors and is far more of an adult visitor destination than anything else. However, the beautiful landscape is something that people of all ages will enjoy. Parents taking their kids on a family holiday here or a short trip as a part of a tour of the region, will find a small selection of possibilities for entertaining children.

Hotel playgrounds, swimming pools and organised events
Many of Ooty’s top hotels offer activities for young guests; so if you are travelling with little ones, it is worth checking what facilities are on offer before you make your reservation. The Taj Savoy offers a children’s playground and an indoor playroom while the Holiday Inn Gem Park Hotel has a children's swimming pool and playground. Most of the reputable hotels also have games rooms with billiards, snooker, pool, etc.

Jolly World
Although not necessarily comparable with Western theme parks, Jolly World in Ooty is perhaps worth a trip if you have young children (under 12 years), as its small selection of rides and games are geared towards the littlest ones. The park is located at the Lake Boat House.

Ooty Children’s Park
Located at the eastern end of the lake, this park is not really geared towards children; however, its wide-open spaces and pleasant natural beauty can be appreciated by all visitors young and old. A boating lake also provides some fun for the little ones with pedal boats.

Tamil Nadu beaches
If you are prepared to travel some distance from Ooty, then you can take advantage of some of the scenic beaches on offer in the state of Tamil Nadu. Some are close enough perhaps to permit daytrips while others might necessitate overnight excursions. Top beaches in the region include: Muttukkadu, Kanyakumari, Rameswaram, Mandapam, Covelong and the Kurusadai Islands.

Ooty has a fairly decent selection of culturally interesting sights and structures. It is possible to appreciate everything from fine gardens to old churches and religious landmarks. Additionally, if you are prepared to travel a little out of the city to Kalpetta or Coimbatore, you can see some magnificent old Jain and Hindu temples.

Glass Temple
Located in Kalpetta, this Jain temple is dedicated to Shree Parshwanath Swami and is notable for its interior mirrors which capture and reflect the temple’s extensive collection of religious icons. Also of note in the same region is the Puliyar Mala Jain Temple that is dedicated to Anantha Natha Swami.

Government Museum
Located at Mysore road, this interesting facility features a collection of artefacts of tribal origin as well as artworks in a variety of media hailing from the state of Tamil Nadu. According to its mission statement, the museum which was founded in 1989, is about educating the people of the Nilgiris district and its visitors about the history and heritage of the area.

Kandal Cross Shrine
This interesting religious landmark is Roman Catholic in origin and is popularly considered to portray the ‘Jerusalem of the East’ or, according to locals, the ‘Calvary of Tamil Nadu’.

Lawrence School
Of historical interest, the Lawrence School in Lovedale is named after Sir Henry Montgomery Lawrence, the man responsible for the idea behind this and three other educational establishments of the same ilk. The school was originally intended to provide education to children of British Army members serving in Tamil Nadu and to orphans of British soldiers and officers killed in action. The collection of schools was known as the Lawrence Asylum; two of the facilities of which were established during Lawrence’s lifetime and the remaining two built as a legacy of his concept following his death in the mid 19^th century. The school at Ooty was in the latter category, having been built in 1858.

Maruthamalai Temple
An hour or so of travelling and you reach the city of Coimbatore where this historically interesting temple can be found just 9 kilometres northwest of the centre. The temple’s name is taken from ‘Maruthamalai Andavar’ meaning ‘Master of Hills’.

Ooty Botanical Gardens
The government owned botanical gardens were initially laid out back in 1847 and are currently maintained by the state’s horticulture department. Covering some 22 hectares, the gardens are home to more than 650 species of plants and trees among which is a fossilised tree that experts have estimated to date back over 20 million years. The ideal place for nature lovers, the botanical gardens offer sights of rare and unusual plant life and some lovely flower specimens. In May, the facility plays host to a wonderful summer festival offering a plethora of cultural activities.

Perur Temple
Also in Coimbatore is this Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva with its Garba graha (sanctum sanctorum) that was constructed by Karikala Chola in the early days of the region’s Christian era.

Stone House
John Sullivan, the man responsible for kick-starting Ooty’s development, was also responsible for the building of this stone house (known as Kal Bangla by local tribe members), which became the residence of the principal of the Government Art College.

St Stephen’s Church
Constructed in 1820, St Stephen’s is Ooty’s first-ever church and is notable for its gallery, clock tower and collection of tubular bells. It is popularly held that the wood used in the church’s construction was removed from the Lal Bagh Palace of Tipu Sultan following his ultimate defeat.

Varambetta Mosque
Located in neighbouring Kalpetta, this is the oldest mosque in the Wayanad district, having been built more than three centuries ago.

Ooty’s cuisine hardly differs from that which is fairly firmly established across Tamil Nadu comprising of dishes of both a vegetarian and non-vegetarian nature. Essential ingredients in vegetarian dishes include coconut, tamarind and asafoetida, while garam masala is common to meat-free and meat-based creations and coconut oil is used as the chief cooking agent.

Breakfast in Ooty often includes dosa (rice and lentil flour pancakes); pongal (mashed lentils with rice, cashew nuts, pepper, cumin and ghee) and vada (doughnuts made from lentil flour). Lunch meanwhile is generally a selection of vegetable curry dishes served with rice, various chutneys and hot broth. Alternatively mutton, chicken or fish can be eaten at lunchtime. Evening meals are not dissimilar, generally comprising rice and vegetarian or non-vegetarian curry-style dishes accompanied by crisp papads and various kinds of roti (flat bread).

Ooty has some great places to eat out and it’s worthwhile paying that little bit extra for the slightly more upmarket venues sometimes. Among the town’s reputable establishments, Hills Palace, the Tandoor Mahal and Chandan Vihar are notable for local cuisine. The restaurants of the town’s big hotels are generally fairly safe bets, offering good selections of local, national and international dishes. Chinese food is also popular in Ooty with Chinkos Chinese Restaurant among the better restaurants serving oriental cuisine.

As far as shops are concerned, Ooty is pretty well-equipped, offering a good selection of both small independent local traders and upmarket outlets in shopping arcades. In the former category, visitors will find shops selling a vast selection of locally made handcrafted products with everything from jewellery and clothing, to artworks such as pottery items, paintings and stone crafts. Additionally, tribal crafts capturing something of the town’s past can also be found. Good places to shop for handicrafts include Poompuhar of Tamil Nadu Handicrafts and Kairali of Kerala Handicrafts; both located close to the supermarkets at Charring Cross.

Products that are exclusive to the Nilgiris region include tea, coffee, natural oils and indigenous fruit species. Tea in particular is very representative of the region and can make for a good gift for family and friends back home (customs rules of some countries may prohibit the importing of organic produce, so be sure to check first and declare such goods on arrival). For branded and designer goods, try the shopping arcades in Ooty’s reputable hotels.

Although Ooty has a relatively short list of outdoor activities on offer, its winter weather combined with its wonderful scenery, lush forest areas and variety of terrain, make it a destination where a plethora of sports could be pursued. Rock climbing, mountain biking and kayaking are among the possibilities if you have the gear and the know-how.

Angling
Fishing is a popular Ooty past-time and avid anglers enjoy carp, goad trout and mixed water fishing at the town’s various lakes, streams and waterways. Fishing licences are necessary and can be obtained from the Assistant Director of Fisheries.

Golf
Golf is available at the Gymkhana golf course, an 18-hole facility which is normally open to members only; however, non-members may play as guests provided they are given a member referral. Clubs, bags and caddies are all available for hire.

Hang-gliding
The Department of Tourism facilitates the pursuit of hang-gliding in Ooty by helping to organise courses during the months of March, April and May each year. Inquire at hotels or tourist information offices for more details.

Swimming
Many of the town’s top hotels have their own pools, offering opportunities for a pleasant paddle or a few serious laps depending on your mood. Since pools get busy in the hot weather, it’s wise to hit them in early morning if you really want a good uninterrupted swim session.

Trekking
The Nilgiris region is just perfect for lovers of hiking and trekking, offering not only an interesting mix of smooth and challenging terrain but also some impressive landscapes and natural scenery. Trekking is the ideal way to see a side of Ooty and Nilgiris that most visitors tend to miss. A base camp at Parsons Valley is a good place to begin trekking with various routes and trails available within the Western Ghats.