Coordinates: 11.40° N 76.70° E Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...

Udhagamandalam
Udhagamandalam
State  - District(s)	Tamil Nadu  - The Nilgiris
Coordinates	11.40° N 76.70° E
Area  - Elevation	- 2213 m
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Population (2001)  - Density	93,921  -
Codes  - Postal  - Telephone  - Vehicle	- 643 00x  - +0423  - TN 43

Ooty pronunciation (help· info), short for Ootacamund pronunciation (help· info) (the official name is Udhagamandalam, sometimes abbreviated to Udhagai), is a city, a municipality and the district capital of The Nilgiris district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Image File history File links India-locator-map-blank. ... Image File history File links Red_pog. ... India is subdivided into twenty-eight states and seven union territories; the states and territories are themselves further subdivided. ... The divisions of a district. ... Tamil Nadu (தமிழ் நாடு, Land of the Tamils) is a state at the southern tip of India. ... The Nilgiris District The Nilgiris The Nilgiris District is in the Indian states of Tamil Nadu. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ... Area is a physical quantity expressing the size of a part of a surface. ... Basic Definition In geography, the elevation of a geographic location is its height above mean sea level (or some other fixed point). ... A time zone is a region of the Earth that has adopted the same standard time, usually referred to as the local time. ... Indian Standard Time (IST) is the time zone for India. ... 2001 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and also: The International Year of the Volunteer The United Nations Year of Dialogue Among Civilizations Events January January 1 - A black monolith measuring approximately nine feet tall appears in Seattles Magnuson Park, placed by an anonymous... Population density by country, 2006 Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. ... The Indian Postal services employ a 6 digit postal code known as a Postal Index Number (similar to the 5 digit ZIP Codes in USA) that is spanned and geopolitically ordered across the nation. ... Licence plates on the back of a taxi in Kolkata. ... Image File history File links Ooty. ... Image File history File links Ootacamund. ... A municipality is an administrative entity composed of a clearly defined territory and its population and commonly referring to a city, town, or village, or a small grouping of them. ... The Nilgiris District The Nilgiris The Nilgiris District is in the Indian states of Tamil Nadu. ... India is subdivided into twenty-eight states and seven union territories; the states and territories are themselves further subdivided. ... Tamil Nadu (தமிழ் நாடு, Land of the Tamils) is a state at the southern tip of India. ...

It is a popular hill station located in the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu State, Southern India. The origin of the name Ootacamund is obscure, but "mund" is the Badaga word for a Toda village, and it is probably a corruption of the Badaga name for the central region of the Nilgiri Plateau. ^[1] Another likely origin of the stem of the name ("Ootaca") comes from the local language Tamil where "Otta-Cal" literally means "Single Stone". This is perhaps a reference to a sacred stone revered by the local Toda people. Udhagamandalam is a more recent official Tamil name for the town. Ooty stands at an approximate height of 7,440 feet (2,268 metres) above sea level. Kalimpong town as viewed from a distant hill. ... Map of The Nilgiris district The Nilgiris or Blue Mountains are a range of mountains and a district in the south-Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. ... Tamil Nadu (தமிழ் நாடு, Land of the Tamils) is a state at the southern tip of India. ... South India is a linguistic-cultural region of India that comprises the four Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Pondicherry, whose inhabitants are collectively referred to as South Indians. ... Badaga is a tribal language spoken by the Badagas in southern India. ... Toda (Japanese: 戸田市; -shi) is a city located in Saitama, Japan. ... The Toda people are a small pastoral tribe of Southern India who live only on the Nilgiri hills. ... A foot (plural: feet or foot;[1] symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, ′ – a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... metre or meter, see meter (disambiguation) The metre is the basic unit of length in the International System of Units. ...

History

Front of Ootacamund Club, 1905.

The Nilgiri Hills were part of Hoysala empire under king Vishnuvardhana in the 12th century. They then became part of the Kingdom of Mysore of Tipu Sultan who later surrendered them to the British in the 18th century. Image File history File links Ooty_club. ... A teapicker at work in the Nilgiris Nigiris Hills It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into The Nilgiris District. ... The Hoysala Empire ruled part of southern India from 1000 to 1346. ... Vishnuvardhana (Kannada: ವಿಷ್ಣುವರ್ಧನ) (1108-1152), was a king of the Hoysala Empire in what is today the Indian state of Karnataka. ... (11th century - 12th century - 13th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 12th century was that century which lasted from 1101 to 1200. ... Flag of former princely state of Mysore. ... A potrait of Tippu Sultan by Edward Orme (1774 -1822). ... (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ...

John Sullivan, the British governor of neighbouring Coimbatore province, liked the climate of this forested land, and occupied it by taking land from the native tribes (Toda, Irumba and Badaga); often buying up many square kilometres in a day for the price of a few meals. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Coimbatore   (Tamil: கோயம்பத்தூர்), also known as Kovai (Tamil: கோவை), is a major industrial city in India. ... The Toda (Tudavar) people are a tribe living in the Nilgiri Mountains of Tamil Nadu in southern India. ... The Badagas are an indigenous people inhabiting the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu, southern India. ...

The hills were developed rapidly under the British Raj because they were almost entirely owned by private British citizens, unlike the rest of India. Ooty served as the summer capital of the Madras Presidency, and had winding hill roads and a complicated rack railway system built by influential and enterprising British citizens with venture capital from the Madras government. The flag of British India Map of British India, 1855 The British Raj (Raj in Hindi meaning Rule from Sanskrit Rajya) refers to the British rule between 1858 and 1947 of the Indian Subcontinent, or present-day India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Myanmar, during the period whereby these lands were under... Madras Presidency, also known as Madras Province and known officially as Presidency of Fort St. ... Track with Von Roll system rack. ...

It is believed the Blue Mountains appear so because of the vast Nilgiri forest surrounding them.

Tourism

Tea gardens in Ooty

Tea gardens in Ooty

Located in the mountainous range called the Blue Mountains or Nilgiris, Ooty draws a very large number of tourists every year. The weather is quite pleasant at a mean of 15 to 20 °C (59 to 68 °F) year round, dropping to lows of 0 °C (32 °F) during winter. Image File history File links Ooty tea gardens in Tamil Nadu, India. ... Image File history File links Ooty tea gardens in Tamil Nadu, India. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1584x990, 956 KB) Summary I, RMehra, took this picture in Ooty in October 2001 Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Ootacamund Metadata This file contains additional... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1584x990, 956 KB) Summary I, RMehra, took this picture in Ooty in October 2001 Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Ootacamund Metadata This file contains additional...

The hill town suffers from rampant commercialization and erosion of natural resources. The tourism industry has placed an enormous strain on the natural resources resulting in pollution, a water shortage, and bad roads. The number of visitors that was about 1,681,000 in 2001, 1,834,000 in 2003, and h 1,725,000 in 2005.

The landscape is quite unlike the rest of India, marked by rolling hills and plateaus covered with dense vegetation, tea gardens, and eucalyptus trees. Many portions of the hills are preserved as natural reserve forests, and special permits are needed to camp outside of campgrounds. Ooty is not the destination in itself, as much as it is the focal point of attraction. Auto touring the surrounding countryside is a favourite activity.

The hilly region also houses smaller towns like Coonoor and Kotagiri. These towns are less than an hour's drive away from Ooty and enjoy the same climate, but have fewer tourists and cheaper prices. The bustling and chaotic Coonoor bazaar - the clock tower above the bus terminus can be seen in the distance. ... Kotagiri is a serene town in the Nilgiris Hills, 33 km away from Mettupalayam, in Tamil Nadu, India. ...

Places of Historical Interest in the local area

• Ooty Botanical Gardens

The 22 Acre Botanical Garden was laid out in 1847 and is presently maintained by the government of Tamil Nadu. The original purpose of the "Botanical Gardens" was purely academic: to promote and study the various flora in and around Nilgiris. Now, it is open to the public as a park that can be enjoyed by visitors. The Botanical Garden is also a heaven for bird watchers where a variety of birds, both seasonal and year-round residents, can be sighted. In the past it has been subjected to unauthorised entry and thus a compound would also be erected as part of the facelift which shall be given to the garden, work commencing from July 2006. Garden managers are hopeful that the 160-year-old garden, which was initially a vegetable garden, might be listed as a World Heritage Site. The Ooty Botanical Gardens, Ootacmund, Tamilnadu state, India, was laid out in 1847. ... A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that has been nominated and confirmed for inclusion on the list maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 State...

• Stone House

This was the first "Pukka" house in Ooty, built by John Sullivan. It is situated inside the premises of the Government Arts College. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

• The Railway Station

The railhead of the Nilgiri Mountain Railway. The station itself is part of this World Heritage Site. Ooty Railway station offers a unique glimpse of the British raj built railways. A typical Nilgiri train on the rack section The Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR) connects the town of Mettupalayam with the hill station of Ooty (correctly Udhagamandalam), in the Nilgiri Hills of southern India. ... A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that has been nominated and confirmed for inclusion on the list maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 State...

• The Ooty Lake & Boat House

This is an artificial lake built by John Sullivan. It used to be much larger than its present size, and encompassed the present bus stand and race course as well as much of the present market. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

• The Fernhill Palace, Fernhill

This former palace situated around 1 km from the Ooty bus stand can be visited for an entry fee of Rs 50. It has been converted into a Hotel.

• Kandal Cross Shrine
• St. Stephens Church
• Lawrence School, Lovedale

The Lawrence School, Lovedale (near Ootacamund ), Tamilnadu, Lawrence had mooted the idea about the establishment of a chain of schools with a view to provide education to the children of the deceased and serving soldiers and officers of the British army. ...

Places of Significant Natural Beauty and Protected Natural Areas in the Local Area

Note: Ooty is situated in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Many of the forested areas and water bodies are off limits to most visitors in order to protect this fragile ecosystem. Some areas of the Biosphere Reserve have been earmarked for Tourism Development, and steps are being undertaken to open these areas to visitors whilst conserving the area. Generally tourists are encouraged to observe any local signage and not to enter reserved forests and protected areas. Much of Ooty has already been damaged by rampant commercialisation as a result of tourism. Some steps are being introduced to limit the impact of pollution by tourists in the biosphere reserve such as making the area a plastic-free zone. This largely applies to plastic bags. The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve is an International Biosphere Reserve located in the Western Ghats and Nilgiri Hills ranges of southern India. ...

• Doddabetta Peak.

The highest point in the Nilgiri Hills, offering spectacular views over the town and district. There is road access to the summit. There is a reserved forest area around the peak. Doddabetta is the highest mountain in The Nilgiris, at 2623 meters. ...

• Ketti Valley.

There is a view point called "Valley View" on the main Ooty to Coonoor road. Ketti is a town nestled in a large valley of the same name. ... The bustling and chaotic Coonoor bazaar - the clock tower above the bus terminus can be seen in the distance. ...

• Wenlock Downs and Sixth Mile.

A popular film shooting area situated in this hilly grassy area.

• Ooty Golf Links.

A forested and grassy area, partially home to a golf course

• Pykara Lake and Pykara falls.

The most accessible of all the nearby lakes. A boathouse and picnic area has been developed to provide access to this area. Most of the remainder of the lake is within a reserved forest and off limits to visitors.

• Kamraj Sagar Lake

On the way to Pykara. A nearby lake bordered by pine forests.

• Mudumalai National Park

Situated at a lower altitude and easily accessible to visitors. It borders the Bandipur National Park in Karnataka // Location and geography The Mudumalai sanctuary lies on the northern and north-western side of the Nilgiri (Blue Mountains), about 80 km north-west of Coimbatore in the extreme north-western corner of Tamil Nadu, on the interstate boundaries with Karnataka and Kerala states in southern India. ... Bandipur National Park is one of Indias best known sanctuaries, and is an important Project Tiger reserve. ... Karnātakā   (Kannada: ಕನಾ೯ಟಕ) (IPA: ) is one of the four southern states of India. ...

• Mukurthi National Park

A large protected area generally not accessible to visitors. It also contains a lake and peak of the same name. A national park found in the state of Tamil Nadu in India. ...

• Parsons Valley Reservoir

This is the primary water source for the town and is mainly in a reserved forest and is thus largely off-limits to visitors.

• Emerald Lake.

Near the town of the same name. There is a view point near the dam. The rest of the are is mainly in a reserved forest and is largely off-limits to visitors

• Avalanchi Lake

Adjacent to the Emerald lake. This is mainly in a reserved forest and is largely off-limits to visitors

• Porthimund Lake

This is mainly in a reserved forest and is largely off-limits to visitors

• Upper Bhavani Lake.

Most of this is within the Mukurthi National Park (and also largely off limits to visitors) A national park found in the state of Tamil Nadu in India. ...

Getting there

By Road Transport

Ooty is connected by road to travellers from the states of Tamilnadu, Kerala and Karnataka. There are five main accepted Nilgiri Ghat Roads which all lead to Ooty. Tamil Nadu (தமிழ் நாடு, Land of the Tamils) is a state at the southern tip of India. ...   (IPA: ; , Written as േകരളം in the native language Malayalam) is a state on the Western Coast of south-western India. ... Karnātakā   (Kannada: ಕನಾ೯ಟಕ) (IPA: ) is one of the four southern states of India. ... Many Ghat Roads can be found in the Nilgiris District of Tamil Nadu, Southern India. ...

But Karnataka-Ooty road is in really bad condition. Infact nowadays Ooty is known as Queen of potholes.Travelling by road can be really tiring and sometimes dangerous too.The government of tamilnadu is not looking towards bad road conditions.

Ooty, being district capital has the most frequent bus connections from nearby large towns in the district (such as Coonoor, Kotagiri and Gudalur). There are bus connections to most villages in the district via one of three towns. There are also frequent bus connections to the nearest mainline railheads of Mettupalayam and Coimbatore. The bustling and chaotic Coonoor bazaar - the clock tower above the bus terminus can be seen in the distance. ... Kotagiri is a serene town in the Nilgiris Hills, 33 km away from Mettupalayam, in Tamil Nadu, India. ... Gudalur is picturesque green carpeted valley on the way to Ooty from Mysore. ... Mettupalayam is a city and a municipality in Coimbatore district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. ... Coimbatore   (Tamil: கோயம்பத்தூர்), also known as Kovai (Tamil: கோவை), is a major industrial city in India. ...

As Ooty is in Tamilnadu state most direct bus connections are from towns in this state: Tamil Nadu (தமிழ் நாடு, Land of the Tamils) is a state at the southern tip of India. ...

• Medium haul origins: Erode, Salem, Sathyamangalam, Karur and Dindigul
• Long haul express routes from: Chennai, Thiruchirapalli, Madurai, Thanjavur and Kanyakumari.

There are several buses from the nearest large main cities of Mysore and Kozhikode (in the two bordering states). Direct buses can be boarded for Ooty from many other parts of Karnataka, and Kerala including local connections to Palghat and Sultans Battery in Kerala as well as Gundlupet in Karnataka. The capital cities of these two states (Bangalore and Thiruvananthapuram respectively) are also connected via direct bus links. Erode (pronounced e-road, where ஈரோடை by time became as ஈரோடு in Tamil) is a city in the state of Tamilnadu, India. ... The word Salem can have many meanings. ... Sathyamangalam or Satyamangalam is a town in Tamil Nadu state of southern India. ... Karur (Tamil : கரூர் ) is a town and a municipality in Karur district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. ... Dindigul is a city and municipality in the Tamil Nadu state of southern India. ... Chennai   (Tamil: ), formerly known as Madras  , is the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu and is Indias fourth largest metropolitan city. ... Tiruchirapalli (also spelled Tiruchchirappalli, commonly known as Tiruchi or Trichy, formerly known as Trichinopoly under British rule) is a city situated on the banks of the Kaveri river, centrally located in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. ... Madurai   (மதுைர in Tamil; IPA: ) is a city[] and a municipal corporation with a population of more than 0. ... Tanjore redirects here. ... Kanyakumari   is a town in Kanyakumari district in the Tamil Nadu state of India. ... Mysore   or MaisÅ«ru (Kannada: ಮೈಸೂರು) is the second largest city in the Indian state of Karnataka. ... For the district with the same name, see Kozhikode District. ... Karnātakā   (Kannada: ಕನಾ೯ಟಕ) (IPA: ) is one of the four southern states of India. ...   (IPA: ; , Written as േകരളം in the native language Malayalam) is a state on the Western Coast of south-western India. ... Palakkad is a district in Indian state Kerala, bordering to Tamil Nadu, Malappuram, and Thrissur. ... Gundlupet is a town in Chamarajanagar district in the Indian state of Karnataka. ... Bangalore (proposed to be renamed as Bengalooru or Bengaluru) (Kannada: ; pronunciation: in Kannada and in English) is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. ... Thiruvananthapuram   (Malayalam: തിരുവനന്തപുരം TiruvanÅ­ntapuraṁ), formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. ...

By Train

Ooty is connected to Chennai (formally Madras) by a nightly train. The Nilgiri Express leaves from Chennai at night, and reaches Mettupalayam, a small town at the foothills of the Blue Mountains early the next morning. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is an experience that is more than just a mode of transport as the journey through the scenic valley and hills make it breathtaking. A through ticket from Madras to Ooty will ensure a place on the smaller train, although many prefer the faster route of taking a cab or a bus from Mettupalayam. There are other trains from Chennai to Coimbatore. Railway from Coimbatore junction (CBE) to Metupalaiyam(MTP) is Broad gauge , but only one train (Nilgiri Express) runs on this section, which reduces tourism potential of Ooty.It would be convenient if Coimbatore express (1013) was extended to Metupalaiyam or Metupalaiyam was directly connected to Trivandrum (TVC). Chennai   (Tamil: ), formerly known as Madras  , is the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu and is Indias fourth largest metropolitan city. ... Mettupalayam is a city and a municipality in Coimbatore district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. ... A typical Nilgiri train on the rack section The Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR) connects the town of Mettupalayam with the hill station of Ooty (correctly Udhagamandalam), in the Nilgiri Hills of southern India. ... UNESCO logo UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established in 1945. ... A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that has been nominated and confirmed for inclusion on the list maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 State... Chennai   (Tamil: ), formerly known as Madras  , is the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu and is Indias fourth largest metropolitan city. ... Coimbatore   (Tamil: கோயம்பத்தூர்), also known as Kovai (Tamil: கோவை), is a major industrial city in India. ...

Mettupalayam can prove to be a bottleneck during the peak season of April-June.

By Plane

The Coimbatore airport is the closest to the hills at about 3 hours by road. There are flights into Coimbatore from most parts of India. The Mysore airport is about 5 hours away from Ooty by road, and lies to the North of Ooty. The road trip is quite scenic from either airport. Coimbatore   (Tamil: கோயம்பத்தூர்), also known as Kovai (Tamil: கோவை), is a major industrial city in India. ... Coimbatore   (Tamil: கோயம்பத்தூர்), also known as Kovai (Tamil: கோவை), is a major industrial city in India. ... Mysore   or MaisÅ«ru (Kannada: ಮೈಸೂರು) is the second largest city in the Indian state of Karnataka. ...

Educational Institutions

Schools

• GHSS,Ooty
• Hebron School, Ooty
• Breeks All India Hr. Sec. School
• Breeks Memorial School
• Laidlaw Memorial School, Ketti
• The Lawrence School, Lovedale, Ooty unofficial site
• Kendriya Vidyalaya, Indunagar, Ooty
• Good Shepherd International School
• St. Hilda's School
• Nazareth Convent School
• Rex Higher Secondary School
• Woodside School
• Kingsbury Montessori School
• St Joseph's Higher Secondary School, Ooty
• Blue Mountains School, Ootacamund
• JSS Public School
• Infant Jesus school, Kandal Cross, Ooty
• Nilgiris Matriculation School

The Hebron School in Udhagamandalam, the hill-station former known as Ooty, Tamilnadu, is a residential facility operated by a Protestant trust mainly to educate the children of Evangelical Protestant missionaries on the field. ... Breeks Memorial School Breeks Memorial School is an Indian school, located in Charing Cross, Ooty, in the state of Tamil Nadu in the south of India. ...

Colleges

• CSI College of Engineering
• Government Arts College
• Emerald Heights College
• Monarch International College of Hotel Management
• JSS College of Pharmacy
• Swiss MeritInn College of Hotel Management
• Merit International Institute of Tech.
• Tribal research CentreTamil University

Demographics

As of 2001 India census^GRIndia, Udhagamandalam had a population of 93,921. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Udhagamandalam has an average literacy rate of 80%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 84%, and female literacy is 75%. In Udhagamandalam, 9% of the population is under 6 years of age. 2001 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and also: The International Year of the Volunteer The United Nations Year of Dialogue Among Civilizations Events January January 1 - A black monolith measuring approximately nine feet tall appears in Seattles Magnuson Park, placed by an anonymous... 1870 US Census for New York City A census is the process of obtaining information about every member of a population (not necessarily a human population). ...

References

1. ^ Sir Frederick Price Ootacamund, A History (Madras: Govt. Press) 1908 pp14-15

External links

• Ootacamund travel guide from Wikitravel

Wikitravel is a project to create an open content, complete, up-to-date, and reliable world-wide travel guide. ...

	State of Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu Topics | History | Politics | Tamil people
Capital	Chennai
Districts	Chennai • Coimbatore • Cuddalore • Dharmapuri • Dindigul • Erode • Kanchipuram • Kanyakumari • Karur • Krishnagiri • Madurai • Nagapattinam • Namakkal • Perambalur • Pudukkottai • Ramanathapuram • Salem • Sivaganga • Thanjavur • The Nilgiris • Theni • Thoothukudi • Tiruchirapalli • Tirunelveli • Tiruvallur • Tiruvannamalai • Tiruvarur • Vellore • Viluppuram • Virudhunagar
Major cities	Alandur • Avadi • Ambattur • Chennai • Coimbatore • Cuddalore • Dindigul • Erode • Kancheepuram • Karur • Kumbakonam • Madurai • Nagercoil • Neyveli • Pallavaram • Pudukkottai • Rajapalayam • Salem • Tiruchirapalli • Tirunelveli • Tambaram • Thoothukudi • Tiruppur • Tiruvannamalai • Thanjavur • Tiruvottiyur • Vellore