The train chugs out from near Mettupalayam and winds its way around the verdant greens, passing through many tunnels. Halfway uphill, if you put your hands out, you can actually feel the mist. And you get one of the best views of the valley. Welcome to Ooty, the Queen of Hills, the Scotland of the East!
History
Ooty has a rich slice of British pre-independence days associated with it. The rolling slopes and the flowers were first brought to the public?read retreat for the British officers stationed in Madras?when the ghat road between Coonoor and Kallar was extended to Udagamandalam. This track sort of connected Ooty with Madras and from then on, the hill station has seen a steady stream of travellers.

Names like John Sullivan, the then collector of Coimbatore, and Colonel GV Law evoke nostalgia among old-timers to this day. Some of Ooty?s street names still stand testimony to these stalwarts. Today, Ooty is well known for its botanical gardens, educational institutions, and if one ventures out of the tourist guide book, some virgin landscape.

How to Reach
Air

The nearest airport Coimbatore is about 90 km away and is serviced by flights to Bangalore and Chennai. From Coimbatore, there are frequent buses as well as private cabs that will readily ferry you up hills to Ooty.

Rail
The Blue Mountain Express from Mettupalayam (46 km away) is the only train that reaches Ooty. The train, known locally as the matchstick train is a sight in itself. It is a small blue steam engine powered meter gauge train, with engines in the front and rear. Make sure to check this train out. It chugs up hill for a major part of its journey and has a special ratchet and pinion track in the middle in addition to the normal sets of rails. When the matchbox train passes through the tunnels, it gets excitingly dark and everyone in the train gives a roar of appreciation, and then comes light again. It?s such an experience that people actually wait for the next tunnel! Mettupalayam is connected to Coimbatore and Chennai along the broad gauge lines.

Road
Ooty is well connected by road to Coimbatore (90 km), Bangalore (290 km) and Calicut (187 km). There are good luxury buses, as well as cabs. Chennai is a difficult 535 km away; trains are a better option from here. You can also hire a taxi or drive up hills in your own car, if you do like to take things at your own pace.

What to see
Lakes and Gardens
Ooty Lake
Boating is most popular in this artificial lake dredged out as an irrigation tank by John Sullivan, the first collector of Ooty. The garden, snack bars, and pony rides ensure there?s plenty of crowd around here.

Rose Garden
Roses, roses and more roses. That is the famed rose garden. Ever heard of black and green roses? Well, this rose garden has them. Keep your cameras ready, for folks back home may think you are pulling a fast one! The roses here come in all fragrance and have over 2,000 varieties; this is the largest collection one can find in the country today.

Botanical GardensThe famed Botanical Garden in Ooty is home to some rare species of trees and herbs. Don?t miss the million year-old tree fossil kept here. A rare sight indeed.

Museums
Government Museum: Set up in 1989, it showcases arts and artifacts of the local Toda tribe. It?s open 10.00 am to 1 pm and 2 pm to 5 pm, all days except Fridays and second Saturdays.

Hills
If you think that Ooty is one of the highest points, we would like to correct you! At a height of 2,623 metres, Doddabetta Peak is the highest point in that part of the hills. It is about 10kms form Ooty town centre. Yes, do take a trip to the mist covered summit of Doddabetta, on a relatively clear day the view it offers is amazing! You can see the plains of Coimbatore out there in a distance and also the Mysore Plateau

Religious Places
St. Stevens Church
Founded in the 1820s, this is one of the first colonial structures in Ooty. The cemetery has the graves many of Ooty?s famous names.

Kandal Cross
Catholics believe the church has a relic of the True Cross on which Jesus was crucified, and they say it can cure the sick.

Union and Holy Trinity Churches
The two churches contain beautiful stained glass windows. There are plaques listing the battalions that frequented the church. The quiet cemetery is also worth a visit.

Palace
Fernhill Palace
The erstwhile summer residence of the Maharaja of Mysore, Fernhill Palace resembles a Swiss chalet. It is now a heritage hotel.

Festivals
Ooty seems to have a festival for every season. Come May and it?s time for the Summer Festival and the famous flower show. Tea and Tourism Fest happens in January. The popular religious fests are Taipoosam in the Elk Hill Murugan Temple in February, and the Ooty Mariamman Fest in April.
Kidding around
Kamaraj Sagar (Sandy Nallah Reservoir): An ideal picnic spot on the slopes of the Wenlock Downs, the reservoir offers excellent fishing opportunities. If lucky, you can see the shooting of a film, since the idyllic setting is a favourite with southern filmmakers.

For Adventure Freaks
If ready for a bit of adventure, the hills beckon.

Trekking: There are numerous trekking trails going up from Ooty. For more info as well as for hiring guides, contact the Nilgiri Wildlife and Environment Association (Mount Stewart Hill, Tel: 447167.

Hang Gliding: The district tourism department organises hang gliding courses between March and May every year. The tourist office on Charing Cross would be the place to contact for more information.

Fishing: Trout, carp and trench fishing is possible once you get a license from the Assistant Director of Fisheries.
Shopping
Ootys famous buys are tea, fruits, spices, tribal art and hand-made chocolates. Charing Cross, resembling an English town square, is the beginning of the main shopping area. A reliable place for picking up handicrafts is Poompuhar, the TN state emporium. You will find it on Commercial Road. Do take home the home made chocolates, they are really yummy and come in all shapes and sizes!