Ooty is the colloquial name for Ootacamund or Udhagamandalam, a destination in the state of Tamil Nadu in the south of India. Dubbed the ‘Queen of Hill Stations’ by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Ooty covers an area of over 36 square kilometres and is home to the Dodabetta peak, the highest point in South India.

Ooty’s fame and popularity lies squarely in its natural beauty, which encompasses stunning landscapes, lush green forest reserves and sprawling national parks. Few visitors come expecting any more than this and few leave the destination without agreeing 100 per cent that this is truly one of the most aesthetically pleasing destinations in the country in terms of natural scenery.

The Nilgiris district in which Ooty is located is home to a large selection of tea plantations, making this officially ‘tea country’ and the ideal place to sample some local brews as well as check out the massive and quite awesome plots on which tea plants stretch for as far as the eye can see.

While Ooty does not offer a vast selection of cultural attractions, other destinations in the Nilgiris district are home to temples and mosques of interest, giving those visitors who are prepared to travel a little the chance to see something other than just rolling mountains and flora-rich landscapes.

Though Ooty attracts plenty of visitors, it is far from being commercially spoilt and still retains its unique hill station charm and pleasant natural ambience. Accommodation is plentiful but tastefully designed and carefully positioned so as not to impinge on the very aspect of the town that attracts visitors.

Getting to this scenic destination is a little challenging but not terribly so; necessitating for most visitors, an international flight to a large airport such as Chennai, Mumbai or Bangalore, followed by a connecting flight to Coimbatore and then a train journey to Ooty. Alternatively, visitors already in the country can take the bus or the train from a large number of Indian cities.

Ooty is ideal as a weekend or short break destination as part of a travelling holiday, offering the chance to spend a relaxing few days and presenting a genuinely soothing alternative to the hectic spectacle that many large Indian cities are witness to.

In ancient times, the hills of the Nilgiris district initially belonged to the Chera empire but later fell under the control of the Ganga dynasty and subsequently the Hoysala empire, the latter being ruled by King Vishnuvardhana. Tipu Sultan of the Kingdom of Mysore was next to enjoy a period of control with his power eventually relinquished to the British in the 18^th century.

John Sullivan, the governor of Coimbatore (a province in neighbouring proximity to the area now known as Ooty) moved into the picture after the British had taken control. He took a great liking to the climate and natural beauty and decided to make home here, taking the land off the hands of the natives for scandalously low figures.

The British Raj subsequently made quick work of shaping the region with large numbers of British citizens contributing to efforts of development. As Ooty took shape, it became attractive to Indian politicians, becoming the summer residence of the Madras Presidency. This inspired further development of the area with the building of a viable road network and what was for the time a modern railway system. Development was pursued via a combination of the enterprise of the British and the finances of the Madras government. This comfortable agreement was sustained for some time, allowing Ooty to develop into the destination it is today.

Ooty is located in the state of Tamil Nadu which, as a rule, experiences a climate that is tropical in nature with relatively small seasonal variations in temperatures. The summer runs from April through till June and experiences some hot temperatures with highs regularly hitting the 40ºC mark. Chances of rain during the summer are moderate with the likelihood rising at the tail end of the season.

Summer peters out slowly and the winter cannot be said to have officially arrived until November. Surprisingly, unlike much of India, Ooty has no major wet season in between summer and winter, with most of its rain coming from the northeast monsoons and falling between October and December. The winter season is the coolest time of year with temperatures averaging around 20ºC, making this by far the best time of year to make a trip to Ooty.

The summer season is simply too hot for most people, unless they are well acclimatised to high temperatures and hence visitor figures at this time of year are low. Whatever the season, the sun is hot enough to cause unpleasant short-term effects and serious long-term demalogical effects if proper care is not taken. It’s advisable therefore, to cover up completely in the hotter periods, opting for long-sleeved tops and long-legged trousers of light cotton material if exposure to the sun is likely to be prolonged. In the winter, a sunscreen with a high SPF is generally sufficient. Outfits exposing too much skin are culturally inappropriate, so visitors are wise to dress modestly.