Ooty - the capital of the Nilgiri district in Tamil Nadu, is the ideal hill station for tourists to visit on any Tour to Tamil Nadu. Perched high on the wooded slopes of the Nilgiri Hills, Ooty is a scenic delight for the weary eyes of the city dwellers. One of the most popular tourist places in entire India, Ooty is a treasure trove of breathtaking natural beauty. The numerous tourist attractions in Ooty include the verdant hills, cascading waterfalls and sparkling brooks, dense forests, sprawling grasslands and extensive tea gardens.

Sightseeing in Ooty One of the favorite summer resorts of the British, who discovered this picturesque hill station in the early 1800's, Ooty nestled in the Nilgiri hills- one of the oldest hill ranges in India still exudes every bit of its colonial charm even today in its Library, the St.Stephen's Church and cemetery, colonial buildings etc.

The Stone House or the Kal Bangla The erstwhile residence of Mr. John Sullivan, the then Collector of Coimbatore who is credited to have transformed this once quaint town into a thriving summer resort for the British, the Stone House was the first ‘pucca' building/house to have been constructed. The "Kal Bangla", now the Chamber of the Principal of the Government Arts College is one of the important landmarks of Udhagamandalam.

The Government Botanical Gardens Founded in 1847 by the Marquis of Tweedale for purely academic reasons - to promote and study the various flora in and around Nilgiris , these beautifully laid out gardens covering an area of about 55 acres is now looked after by the Horticulture department of the state. The Gardens have well over 650 species of rare plants and trees, including the 20 million year old fossilized tree. Also a haven for the avid bird watchers, the main highlight of the garden is its summer festival and the Flower show held in the month of May.

The Rose Garden which is less than a kilometer from the Charring Cross is another nice place to visit especially in the winters when around more than 1000 varieties of roses are in bloom.

Ooty Lake An irregular 'L' shaped lake that provides ample boating options amidst picturesque settings. The Ooty Lake was constructed during 1823-1825 by John Sullivan. At the end of the lake there is a children's park, a deer park , a mini-garden and local ponies for joy rides.

Doddabetta 10 kms from Ooty is the hill station highest mountain that is always covered with mist. The Doddabetta peak gives a superb view of the entire area and is an excellent place to go for hand gliding.

Kalhatty Falls / Kalahasti Falls 13 kms from Udhagamandalam on the Udhagamandalam - Mysore Kalhatty Ghat road, see the waterfall as the water cascades down to a height of 122m.

Kandal Cross Shrine 3 Kms from the Ooty Railway station is a Roman Catholic Shrine, referred to as the "Calvary of Tamil Nadu". Established in 1933, the shrine is an important pilgrimage center for the Nilgiri Catholics. It is believed that the cross has miraculous powers and can cures the sick, bestow heavenly blessings, peace and joy to the visiting pilgrims and tourists. Its annual feast is held on the 3 rd of May every year and special Novena Prayers and Holy Masses are offered every Friday.

St Stephen's Church Built in the 1820's on the site of an old Toda temple, the St. Stephen's Church is a small Gothic style church whose structure was constructed from the wood that was procured from Tipu Sultans palace at Srirangapatnam. One of Ooty's first colonial structures, the most significant feature of the St. Stephen's Church is its gallery which is worth a visit and its Clock tower which shows the marching forth of time and shows men the right time. There is a graveyard near to the church which contains the grave of John Sullivan and other pioneers of the town.

Fernhill Palace Now a luxury heritage hotel, the Fernhill Palace resembling a Swiss Chalet was once the erstwhile summer residence of the Maharaja of Mysore.