Most who visit India love the place, and call it Queen of hill stations.

Ooty was one place that changed the minds of the British, and this happened way back during the British colonization.  The British at that time claimed plots for their own, built houses and lived in the village for several generations.  This is why the area of Ooty developed quickly, as it was the preferred dwelling of the British.

History of Ooty

Unlike the other areas of India, there are no references or proofs that indicate that this town was once under one empire or another.  Instead, the place was utilized by tribes, and the most prominent of them were the Badagas and the Todas.  The Badagas were known for their cultivation of land and farming of crops, while the Todas raised water buffalo.  They were cooperative, trading their goods for the goods of other tribes, and this cooperation was also extended to the invaders when the British came to claim the land.

Tourism in Ooty

Since Ooty was made a residence and not necessarily a land for business, the landscape was done in order to make it pleasant for the people.  Though some changes were made in order to make way for entertainment for the residents, the height of the town itself was good enough to give relief to anyone who came from lower altitudes.  The land was naturally lush, and this was capitalized upon by the first governor of the town, who added improvement after improvement.

One addition that was added by the governor, John Sullivan, is the Ooty lake and boat house.  This is included in most tours because it's a construction wonder.  With the altitude of the area, a lake was still added to the area and filled with water.  It used to be much bigger than it currently is, but at some point it was determined that the space was needed, and the lake was adjusted.   Boats are still present and are used as part of the tour, because there is no better way to take in the scenery than to drift slowly around while enjoying both the view and the climate.

The Ooty Botanical Garden would be another spot that should be toured.  It was primarily made for the study of the unique flora and fauna of the area, but it now is a well maintained park.  It still has the fossils of really old trees, as well as some rare tree species, but bird watching tours use this place frequently, and every May a flower show is held.  The show is unique because rare plant species are what are exhibited.

Some other tours go outside of Ooty to visit natural lakes and reserves. Very popular tourist attraction are the tea plantations that are close to the town.  They used to be within Ooty, but the plants did not thrive in the elevation so the plantations were moved to a lower area.

If a vacation is what is desired, then one can soak in India, and then leave Ooty as the final travel destination, because this is the one place in India where relaxation is easily done.