Things to Do in Ooty: Toy Train, Tea Gardens, Lakes & Nilgiri Views

Ride the Nilgiri Mountain Railway

The Nilgiri Mountain Railway, part of the UNESCO-listed Mountain Railways of India, climbs from Mettupalayam to Ooty via Coonoor, using a rack-and-pinion system on the steepest section. The full journey takes about five hours uphill through tunnels, forests and tea estates. Seats sell out quickly; book early. A shorter ride between Coonoor and Ooty is also possible.

Time needed

About 5 hours for the full ride

Good to know

Book well in advance

Good for

Families, rail lovers

Walk through the Botanical Garden

The Government Botanical Garden, laid out in 1848, has terraced lawns, a fossilised tree trunk, rare plants and a glasshouse. The annual flower show in May draws huge crowds.

Time needed

1.5 hours

Best time

Morning; May for the flower show

See the Rose Garden

The Government Rose Garden, on terraces on Elk Hill, has thousands of rose varieties and is at its best from about April to June.

Best time

April to June

Go boating on Ooty Lake

Ooty Lake, created by John Sullivan in 1824, has rowing, pedal and motor boats, a small train for children and pony rides along the shore.

Good for

Families

See St Stephen's Church and Stone House

St Stephen's Church, built in 1829, is one of the oldest churches in the Nilgiris, with timber said to have come from Tipu Sultan's palace. Stone House, Sullivan's residence and the first bungalow in Ooty, is nearby.

See the view from Doddabetta

Doddabetta, at about 2,637 metres, is the highest peak in the Nilgiris. A road leads almost to the top, where a telescope house looks out over the hills. Mornings are clearest.

Best time

Morning

Visit a tea factory

Tea factories and museums near Doddabetta and in Coonoor show how Nilgiri tea is processed, with tastings and shops. Homemade chocolate, eucalyptus oil and Ooty varkey biscuits are other local buys.

Time needed

1 hour

See Pykara falls and lake

Pykara, about 20 km away, has a waterfall that flows in steps over rocks and a lake with boating, surrounded by grassland and pine. Shooting spots and the pine forest are on the way.

Time needed

Half a day

Visit Avalanche Lake

Avalanche Lake, about 28 km away in shola forest and grassland, is visited through a forest department eco-tourism jeep ride with limited numbers. It is one of the most beautiful and least crowded spots around Ooty.

Good to know

Limited forest department trips

Visit a Toda settlement

The Toda, a pastoral community of the Nilgiris, live in settlements called munds, with distinctive barrel-shaped huts. The Tribal Research Centre Museum near Ooty explains Nilgiri communities; visits to munds should be respectful and guided.

Explore Coonoor

Coonoor, about 20 km away and quieter than Ooty, has Sim's Park, a botanical garden with rare plants, and viewpoints such as Dolphin's Nose and Lamb's Rock over deep valleys and tea estates. The fruit show is held in May.

Time needed

Full day

Visit Kotagiri

Kotagiri, the oldest hill station in the Nilgiris, has quiet tea estates, Catherine Falls and the Kodanad viewpoint over the plains and Moyar valley.

Go on a safari in Mudumalai

Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, about 35 km down steep hairpin bends, has jeep and bus safaris for elephants, gaur, deer and occasionally tigers and leopards. The Theppakadu elephant camp is nearby.

Best time

Morning and late afternoon

See the Pine Forest and Shooting Spot

The pine forest on the Ooty–Thalakunda road has tall trees on a slope running down to a lake, and nearby 9th Mile (Shooting Spot) is a grassy hilltop where many films have been shot.

Good for

Couples, photographers

Visit Emerald Lake

Emerald Lake, in the Silent Valley area, is a quieter reservoir surrounded by tea gardens, good for a picnic and sunrise.

See the Needle Rock viewpoint

Needle Rock viewpoint at Gudalur, on the road to Mudumalai, gives a wide view over the forests and the Mudumalai plains.

See the Deer Park and Thread Garden

The Deer Park beside Ooty Lake and the Thread Garden, with flowers handmade entirely from thread, are easy stops for families.

Good for

Families

Catch the summer festival

In May, the Nilgiris hold a series of shows: the flower show at the Botanical Garden, the rose show, the fruit show at Sim's Park in Coonoor and the vegetable show in Kotagiri. Book stays early.

Best time

May

Summer (March to June)

Peak season, when the plains are hot and Ooty is pleasantly cool. Gardens are in full bloom and the May shows draw large crowds.

Monsoon (July to September)

Heavy rain, mist and green hills. The toy train can be disrupted by landslides, but hotels are quieter and cheaper.

Winter (October to February)

Clear skies and cold nights, with frost in December and January. A lovely time for views and walks.

What are the best things to do in Ooty?

Ride the Nilgiri Mountain Railway, visit the Botanical Garden and Rose Garden, boat on Ooty Lake, see Doddabetta, visit a tea factory, see Pykara and Avalanche Lake, and explore Coonoor, Kotagiri and Mudumalai.

How long is the Ooty toy train ride?

About five hours from Mettupalayam to Ooty uphill. Shorter sections, such as Coonoor to Ooty, are also possible.

How many days are enough for Ooty?

Two to three days.

What is the best time to visit Ooty?

March to June for pleasant weather, and October to December for clear skies and fewer crowds.

Is Ooty good for a family trip?

Yes. The toy train, lake boating, gardens, Doddabetta and nearby wildlife make Ooty one of South India's classic family holidays.

Is Coonoor better than Ooty?

Coonoor is smaller, quieter and greener, with tea estates and viewpoints such as Dolphin's Nose. Ooty has more attractions and activities. Many visitors stay in one and visit the other on a day trip.