Ooty Tour Packages

Ooty, also known as Udhagamandalam, is one of the most popular hill stations in the Nilgiris. Famous for its lush greenery, colonial architecture, and pleasant climate, Ooty has been attracting newlyweds and family vacationers for centuries. It has also been a favourite of filmmakers, with many famous movies shot in Ooty’s photogenic locations. Before the British made the hill station their summer retreat, the hills were inhabited by several indigenous tribes like the Todas, Kotas, Irulas, and Kurumbas. Some of these tribes have lived amidst the Nilgriris for thousands of years, making a living by hunting, foraging, and even farming to a small extent.

These tribes had distinct lifestyles and traditions and had an uncanny understanding of the medicinal value of the trees in the Western Ghats.

Call us at +91 9940882200 to learn more about our Ooty tour packages. We also arrange MICE tours and group tours for school and college students.

It wasn’t until John Sullivan, a British officer and the Collector of Coimbatore, built his residence, Stone House, that the region began to gain attention. Encouraged by Ooty’s pleasant climate, John Sullivan introduced European crops and trees, and even tea cultivation in the hills. The Thiashola Estate is the first tea estate in Ooty, established in 1859 to begin commercial tea production.

Over the years, the British, attracted to the verdant greenery, constructed colonial bungalows, churches, and residential schools, including the famous Lawrence School in Lovedale. They also established several social clubs, such as the Ooty Club and the Wellington Gymkhana.

While the British anglicised the town’s original name, Ottakal Mandu, to Ootakamund, it was later renamed to its original name, Udhagamandalam, in 1972.

Ooty is situated at approximately 2,240 metres above sea level, higher than popular hill stations in the Western Ghats, such as Munnar, Coonoor, and Coorg. This makes the hill station cooler than other places, with average temperatures ranging from 5°C to 25°C, depending on the time of the year.

Ooty lies in the Nilgiris Mountain Range, flanked by Wayanad and Mysore to the north, Coimbatore to the south, Malapuram and Palakkad to the west, and Erode and Chamarajanagar to the east.

The Doddabetta Peak in the Nilgiris is the highest in Tamil Nadu. Ooty teems with dense Shola forests, tea plantations, coffee estates, and fruit orchards.

• The Todas, believed to be original inhabitants of the Nilgiris, may have occupied Ooty over 3,500 to 5000 years ago.
• The Irulars, another community native to Nilgiris, likely belong to the Negrito race that migrated from Africa
• The word Ooty is derived from the Toda word Othakal-Mundu, meaning House on the Hills.
• Ooty was the summer capital of the Madras Presidency.
• The Ooty Lake was manmade between 1823 and 1825 and commissioned by John Sullivan.
• Snooker was invented at the Ootacamund Club in 1882.
• The Nilgiris Mountain Railway is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Ooty is home to the Doddabetta Peak, the highest peak in Tamil Nadu.
• Ooty is one of the most filmed locations in India.

• Book accommodations in advance when visiting Ooty.
• Do not choose hotels in the busy and commercialised areas. Look for homestays deep in the woods – the experience is sure to be surreal.
• Be careful when taking the local cab or auto. We suggest negotiating with drivers before starting the journey, as meters aren’t that common.
• Look for online taxi services as they are likely to quote a fixed amount.
• When booking Ooty tour packages during peak season, we suggest you explore offbeat destinations like Kotagiri, Lovedale, and Ketti – they’re magical and not so crowded.
• If you’re travelling by private transport, the government requires tourists to obtain an e-pass during peak season. This is done to prevent overcrowding.
• If you have asthma, wheezing, or other respiratory issues, we suggest you carry an inhaler with you as the high altitude can leave you breathless.
• Ooty weather can be unpredictable – we suggest you carry an umbrella to protect yourself from sudden rainfall and the strong sun’s rays.

Ooty, being part of the Nilgiri Hills, is renowned for its rolling hills and plateaus, which are covered in tea plantations. It is also famous for its picturesque peaks, such as Doddabetta, which stands at 2,637 metres above sea level and is the highest peak in Tamil Nadu. The peak gets its name from a Badaga word and means ‘Big Mountain’. Some of the other stunning viewpoints close to Ooty include Lamb’s Rock in Burliyar, Conoor, and the Kodanad Viewpoint in Kotagiri. The Mukurthi Peak near Ooty is also an excellent viewpoint and a perfect trekking trail for beginners. Call us at +91 9940882200 to include Mukurthi Peak trekking in your Ooty tour packages itinerary.

The rolling hills of Ooty are famous for their verdant plantations, which primarily grow Nilgiri tea, renowned for its floral and fruity flavour. You can stroll through the lush tea estates, breathing the refreshing scent of the fresh tea leaves, watch firsthand how tea leaves are picked, experience how the leaves are processed in factories, and even visit the Tea Museum to learn how the industry developed in the region. Most tea trails also include a tea tasting session, where you can learn about the different variations of the Nilgiri tea, like the Oolong, White, Black, and Winter Frost. Some of the best tea estates to explore in Ooty include the Glenmorgan Tea Estate and the Singara Tea Estate. Call us at +91 9940882200 to include a tea trail in your Ooty tour packages itinerary.

While your Ooty tour packages include luxury hotel accommodations, we suggest staying at one of the many private cottages or homestays offered by local hosts. For one, these cottages are in the heart of Ooty’s little villages where you can interact with the locals, even the indigenous tribes, to gain insight into their lifestyle and traditions.

Enjoy home-cooked meals, learn more about the daily lives of the locals, go on guided tea and estate forest trails, enjoy bonfires at night, gaze into the stars, and explore the hidden gems of Ooty with luxury stays in cottages and home stays.

For a long time, Ooty was the summer capital of the Madras Presidency, attracting British officers and their families who built grand bungalows along their tea and coffee estates, as well as churches and other historical buildings. The Stone Bungalow, locally known as Kal Bangla, is one of the first colonial buildings constructed by John Sullivan. It paved the way for further development, including road construction and rail track.

St Stephen’s Church is one of the oldest churches in Ooty and one of its main attractions, thanks to its stained-glass windows and timber, which was acquired from Tipu Sultan’s Seringapatam.

The Fernhill Royal Palace, built in 1844 by the King of Mysore, is another beautiful house resembling a Swiss chalet. The interiors feature Burmese teak and high-vaulted ceilings, while tea gardens surround the house itself.

The Toda houses, also known as Dogles, are equally fascinating and designed to protect the natives from wild animals. These oval-shaped houses feature tiny sliding doors that require people to crawl through. The walls are made using loose stones while the roof is covered with bamboo and rattan and reinforced with dried grass. The highlight of the house is the beautiful Toda artwork at the entrance.

For a customised Ooty tour packages itinerary that includes a Toda Village tour, call us at +91 9940882200.

The Nilgiri Mountain Railway, popularly known as the Ooty Toy Train, is a one-hour journey that starts from Mettupalayam, travelling across Hillgrove, Coonoor, Wellington, Aruvankadu, Ketti, and Lovedale to Ooty, covering a distance of over 46 km. The picturesque journey takes passengers through the Nilgiri Hills, allowing them to soak in the beauty of the verdant tea plantations, cascading waterfalls, and stunning valleys as it passes over bridge crossings and through tunnels.

Ooty is home to several indigenous tribes, including the Todas, Irulars, Kotas, Kurumbars, and Badagas. You can book a guided tour to the villages of these tribes as part of your Ooty tour packages to learn more about their lifestyle and cultural traditions. Each of these has its unique traditions. For instance, the Todas live in unique, oval-shaped houses in small villages called Munds. A typical Mund comprises over 20 houses and a Toda temple.

The Toda homes are very different from the Kota Villages – the houses are colourful and look like row houses with a common wall between them. Badaga homes, called Hatties, are equally interesting.

You can visit these homes with a local guide as part of your Ooty tour packages. Call us if you’d like to include it in your itinerary.

Ooty experiences a subtropical highland climate, characterised by lower temperatures compared to the surrounding plains. Set strategically amidst the Nilgiris Mountains, Ooty is blessed with lush Shola forests, interspersed with grasslands. The hill station experiences three distinct seasons: summer, monsoon, and winter.

While the weather is pleasant all year round, the town is charming during the summer when it is unbearably hot in the surrounding plains. This makes summer the best time to choose Ooty tour packages.

The average Ooty temperature during summer ranges from 10°C to 25°C, with the days being hot and evenings pleasant and cool. Sometimes, you may experience rainfall in summer. This is the ideal time to book Ooty tour packages if you are looking for vacation destinations that cater to families and children.

The Ooty Summer Festival is held annually in May, attracting tourists from India and around the world. Some prominent activities of the festival include the Ooty Flower Show, which takes place at Botanical Garden and features over 15,000 potted flowers and millions of saplings.

The Ooty Spice Show is another feature of the Summer Festival, along with Fruit Show and Vegetable Show.

Ooty is crowded in the summer; therefore, we recommend booking your Ooty tour packages in advance to ensure good accommodation options. Additionally, you may need to obtain an e-pass when the hill station becomes very crowded.

This is one of the cheapest seasons to book Ooty tour packages. Daytime temperatures range from 16°C to 20°C, while nighttime temperatures range from 10°C to 15°C. While the climate is pleasant, the rains could spoil your plans, preventing you from exploring top attractions like Ooty Lake and the Botanical Garden.

Doddabetta Peak appears lush and beautiful, but trekking can be challenging due to the slippery trails and obscured views. You can, however, explore indoor activities such as visiting the Tea Museum, St. Stephen’s Church, and the Nilgiris Library.

Additionally, we recommend checking the weather if you’ve planned a weekend vacation and are looking for Ooty travel packages.

This is an ideal time to choose Ooty tour packages if you can withstand temperatures that can drop below 5°C. The average temperature can range from 5°C to 20°C during this season. The calm and misty hill station comes alive during winter, especially when it’s foggy and the landscape looks picture-perfect. However, it may rain occasionally, especially in October. The chilly weather is especially a favourite of honeymooners.

The Government Botanical Garden spans 55 acres and is maintained by the Horticultural Department of Tamil Nadu. It was established in 1847 by the Governor of Madras. Today, it welcomes over 20 lakh tourists and features hundreds of exotic trees and plants like the Jacaranda, Magnolia, and Deodar. Some of the different sections within the garden include Lower Garden, Fern House, New Garden, Italian Garden, Japan Garden, Conservatory, Top Garden, Sunken Garden, and different nurseries.

The Government Rose Garden was established in 1897 by the Marquis of Tweeddale and is currently maintained by the Tamil Nadu Horticulture Department. The garden is now home to hundreds of rose varieties, including the hybrid tea roses, polyantha roses, and ramblers. It also hosts the annual Rose Show in the 2nd week of May when the roses are in full bloom.

Doddabetta Peak is the highest peak in Tamil Nadu. It gets its name from the Badaga word for big mountain. The view from the peak is breathtaking, offering a stunning panorama of the Bandipur National Park, Coimbatore, and the highlands of Mysore. The road to the peak is equally fascinating, passing through Shola forests and featuring medicinal plants like Rhododendrons. You can also visit the Doddabetta Tea Factory on the way as you travel towards Kotagiri. Doddabetta is also an excellent place for trekking enthusiasts.

On the way to Doddabetta Peak, we recommend stopping at the Tea Factory and Museum. The factory spans an acre and helps tourists understand the fascinating world of tea production. You will learn about the history of tea making, understand the process, including plucking, sorting, and grading tea leaves, as well as tips on making great tea. The Museum is equally captivating, showcasing an exclusive collection of rare tea samples, antique tea-making equipment, and the evolution of tea over the centuries.

The Pykara Waterfalls are less than an hour from Ooty on the Ooty-Mysore Road. They are famous for their cascading waters, which originate from Mukurthi Peak and fall gracefully into Pykara Lake. The waterfall drops into two sections, falling amidst the dense forest. The surrounding region is renowned for its Toda settlements, who consider the Pykara to be very sacred. Tourists can observe the river’s flow through barricades placed along various viewpoints. The best time to view the waterfalls is around October and November, when the monsoon makes the scenery lush and vibrant.

The Mudumalai Tiger Reserve was established in 1940 and spread over 321 sq. km. It is a continuation of the Bandipur National Park in Karnataka and the Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala. The reserve is home to several wildlife species, including elephants, tigers, gaurs, leopards, wild dogs, over 200 bird species, and more than 50 fish species. You can enjoy a jeep and bus safari, elephant safari, and birdwatching.

Call us at +91 9940882200 to learn more about our Ooty tour packages.

The temple gets its name from the hill on which it is situated. The area was once famous for the sambar deer, which British officers mistook for elk due to their height and appearance. Murugan, also known as Subramanyan, is considered the God of Kurunji land, also referred to as the God of the Hills. He is revered for his valour and is believed to protect the hills and their inhabitants. The Murugan Temple on Elk Hill is renowned for its 40-foot statue of Lord Murugan, which replicates the statue in Batu Caves, Malaysia. It is famous for the Thaipoosam Festival, celebrated to commemorate the day when Murugan received the divine Vel or spear from Goddess Parvathi to slay Soorapadman.

This popular tourist spot is situated in Emerald Village and is nestled among the Nilgiri Mountains. Set against the backdrop of lush tea plantations, Emerald Lake is home to a diverse array of waterfowl, migratory birds, and native fish species. It is also a favourite picnic spot for the locals who visit here for boating and fishing.

This is a popular lake located in Avalanchi village, en route to the Upper Bhavani Reservoir. The lake is renowned for its stunning surroundings and lush greenery. You can visit the lake for trout fishing, stargazing, camping, and trekking.

The Pine Forest is one of the main tourist attractions in Ooty and a popular location for many film shoots. The woodland overlooks Sandynulla Lake and is scented with the aroma of fresh pinecones from the souring pine trees planted by the British for timber. You can enjoy a photography session or try horse riding in the forest.

Ketti Valley is situated 4 km from Ooty and offers a great vantage point, providing a panoramic view of the surrounding Nilgiri Hills. It is home to several villages of the Badaga and Toda tribes who cultivate vegetables and fruits in the valley.

Call +91 9940882200 to include Ketti Valley in your Ooty tour packages itinerary.

Conoor is an hour’s drive from Ooty and the second-largest hill station in the Nilgiri Hills. Before the British arrived, the town was inhabited by the Toda people and is believed to have derived its name from the Badaga word “Kunnu-Oru,” referring to its jagged landscape. It is now renowned for its hill stations and stunning viewpoints, such as Lamb’s Rock and Dolphin’s Nose.

This beautiful hill station derives its name from the Kota tribe and literally translates to “Mountain of the Kotas.” It is less crowded compared to Ooty, but equally scenic, featuring beautiful tea plantations, cascading waterfalls, and panoramic valleys. The Kodanad View Point is one of Kotagiri’s highlights, thanks to scenic hairpin bends and Catherine Falls. Kotagiri is also renowned for its old-world colonial charm, featuring local bakeries and small shops that sell regional produce.

This beautiful colonial-style bungalow is the oldest in Ooty and was constructed by John Sullivan, the British officer credited with developing Ooty. It is locally called Kal Bangala and is over 150 years old. John Sullivan had purchased land from the Todas to build this beautiful house, which later became part of the secretariat. Today, it serves as the residence of the Principal of the Government Arts College. Part of the house is converted into a museum that displays information about the indigenous tribes, including their crafts, jewellery, clothing, and farming implements.

This beautiful hill is approximately 6 km from Ooty and lies at the lower end of the Doddabetta Peak, home to a reservoir that supplies Ooty residents with water throughout the year. Tiger Hill is an excellent spot to witness breathtaking sunrises and sunsets. You can also enjoy a trek to Tiger Hill and spend the night camping.

Call us at +91 9940882200 to include a Tiger Hill camping experience in your Ooty tour packages.

While Ooty is a great place to explore, there are plenty of places around the hill station to extend your Ooty tour packages beyond the usual 2-3 days itinerary. Some of the nearby places you can explore around Ooty include:

Famous For: Tea and coffee estates, waterfalls, spice plantations, scenic lakes, and mountain peaks.

Top Attractions: Edakkal Caves, Thirunelli Temple, Chembra Peak, Pookode Lake, Meenmutty Falls, Sulthan Bathery.

Famous For: Pleasant climate, festivals, sandalwood and rosewood products, heritage monuments, and silk sarees.

Top Attractions: Chamundeshwari Temple, Chamarajendra Zoological Garden, Mysuru Palace, St. Philomena Cathedral, Brindavan Gardens.

Famous For: Pleasant climate, temples, water theme park, waterfalls, nature and wildlife tours.

Top Attractions: Adiyogi Statue, Dhyanalinga Temple, Black Thunder, Siruvani, Marudhamalai Temple, Velliangiri Hills

Famous For: Dense forests, waterfalls, diverse wildlife, lush greenery, elephant camp

Top Attractions: Mudumalai National Park, Theppakadu Elephant Camp, Moyar River, Maravakandy Waterfalls

Famous For: Wildlife sanctuary, rolling hills, sandalwood forests, temples, Tibetan monastery, waterfalls

Top Attractions: Bandipur National Park, Bharachukki Waterfalls, Dzogchen Monastery, Shivanasamudra, BR Hills, Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta

Famous For: Wildlife sanctuary, rolling hills, rivers, and lush green landscapes.

Top Attractions: Nagarhole National Park, Kabini Dam, Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary, Balle Elephant Camp, Kutta Village, Murkal Hills.

Famous For: Scenic landscape, temples, water theme park, river

Top Attractions: Black Thunder Theme Park, Bhavani River, Vanabhadrakali Amman Temple

Famous For: Quaint villages, lush green landscape, waterfalls, temples.

Top Attractions: Valparai Hill Station, Aliyar Dam, Monkey Falls, Anamalai Tiger Reserve, Arulmigu Maasani Amman Temple, Subramanya Swamy Temple

Call us at +91 9940882200 to include these places in your Ooty tour packages itinerary.

Ooty offers numerous activities for tourists to enjoy. Some of the activities you can explore with our Ooty tour packages include trekking to Doddabetta, enjoying a toy train ride on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway, cycling to Masinagudi from Ooty, camping in Avalanche, enjoying bird watching in Kalhatti and Mudumalai, and stargazing in Masinagudi.

Besides shopping for the usual tea varieties, there are plenty of things you can buy in Ooty. For instance, homemade chocolate is very famous in Ooty and is even a popular cottage industry. The Nilgiri Hills are well-known for their Eucalyptus and Gaultheria trees, making these oils a popular souvenir.

You can also buy little trinkets and woollen garments from the little shops in Tibetan Market. The market is a great place to buy cardigans, leather jackets, gloves, and beanies.

And if you are looking for traditional Toda shawls and scarves, also called Puthukuli shawls, from the many Toda Emporiums in Ooty.

Some of the other things you can buy from Ooty include handmade soaps, essential oils, spices, wooden handicrafts, and Varkey.

However, to avoid being cheated, we suggest you shop for them at the many cooperative stores. These don’t look fancy, but you can buy the original goods at the right price.

Call us to learn more about our Ooty tour packages.

Ooty doesn’t have a specific culinary scene, but it does offer a diverse range of flavours to tourists. This includes Tamil and Kerala cuisine, with several restaurants also offering international food. However, there are a few things that make Ooty special. For instance, the Ooty Varkey is a teatime snack introduced during the British colonial period, when British officers brought baking to the region.

Another local favourite is the homemade chocolates. In fact, chocolate making is a popular cottage industry in the region.