Ooty Travel Guide: Best Time To Visit, Top Attractions, Famous Food, Restaurants & How To Reach

Explore Ooty: Best Time To Visit, Must-See Places, Local Cuisine & Travel Tips

Ooty is the most famous town in India. It is considered a resort town in the Western Ghats Mountains in southern India's Tamil Nadu State. While planning a journey to Ooty, travelers will notice immense beauty, which will help them make their trip memorable. There are enough activities for the tourists to engage in the beauty of this town. Ooty is one of the largest hill stations in India, which attracts the attention of tourists who come here from all over India and also from abroad. In addition, this hill station has various exciting sites that you should consider if you are planning to travel for a vacation. Also, there will be other tourist places surrounding Ooty, and they will be enough to make a memorable travel trip on a pocket-friendly budget. The tourists can also discover various lakes, landscapes, finger-licking food options, and restaurants that can help in making a convenient travel package to Ooty.

What is the best time to visit Ooty?

While planning a journey to Ooty, you may look for different aspects to get clarity before traveling to this hilltop destination. So, the first aspect that every tourist will look for in Ooty travel is the preferred weather conditions. Thus, considering that, the best time to travel to Ooty is in the summer months, between March and June. The weather conditions in Ooty are going to be relatively moderate, ranging from 15 degrees Celsius to 25 degrees Celsius. So, in addition to that, you should note that the days here are going to be relatively warmer, and nights are going to be quite cooler; in total, it is going to be ideal for sightseeing. 

Which are the best places to visit in Ooty?

As soon as you plan to have a vacation to a marvelous destination, Ooty, you need to understand that after knowing the proper information regarding the weather conditions, you are supposed to get along with the nearby places of Ooty, which will be according to your traveling preferences. You can read the following section list to collect information about top-notch places in Ooty. 

• Toy Trains: Ooty is the best hill station or hilltop known for the Nilgiri Mountain Railway Toy Train, and travelers will indeed be attracted to this site. After boarding the toy train, you will watch the beautiful scenery consisting of forests, tunnels, slopes, fog, and birds. Moreover, the Toy Train ride is available every day. 
• Ooty Lake: Sometimes, most travelers will be very interested in exploring the lakes or rivers, so in terms of that, if you are planning to visit Ooty, then you are going to experience the breathtaking view of the lakes. However, there are many lakes in Ooty, but the most famous and well-known one is Ooty Lake. It has been shaped in the shape of an "L." The operating hours at Ooty Lake are from 9 AM to 6 PM 
• Ooty Rose Garden: If you plan to travel to Ooty, you will become familiar with the Ooty Rose Garden. Thus, the beautiful gardens of this hill station will come up as one of the best places to visit because here, tourists will see the best flower shows and encounter a variety of rose species, too. The hours of operation are 9 AM to 6 PM, Sunday through Monday.
• Dolphin's Nose: Ooty is a hilltop and the best vacation spot, which attracts the attention of the tourists because of its marvelous sites, and one of them is Dolphin's Nose. While you visit Dolphin's Nose Point, you get the opportunity to trek and capture the astonishing views. The operating hours of Dolphin's Nose Point are 9 AM to 6 PM every day. 
• Kalhatti Falls: When traveling with family or friends and wanting to find the best spot for picnics, Kalhatti Falls is the best alternative. The visiting hours of Kalhatti Falls are from 8 AM to 6 PM every day.

What are the essential things to remember about Ooty?

When you plan to travel to Ooty, you are supposed to consider some important factors that are essential for every tourist to keep in mind. Now, if you want to collect general details to consider while visiting Ooty, read the following list of points for better reference. 

• As Ooty is a hill station, tourists should carry extra woolen clothes, hoodies, and shawls to stay comfortable in changing weather. 
• Suppose you are planning to go for a trek, then you are required to pack light backpacks accordingly. 
• Another important factor to consider while planning to travel to Ooty is that you will need to pack a small medical kit for any emergency. 
• Lastly, try to avoid traveling to Ooty in the rainy season. It might be risky for tourists because the roads are slippery, and accidents are common. 

List of Famous Foods in Ooty

While planning a trip to Ooty, a tourist may have to get along with various things for a hassle-free journey, and one of them is regarding the food options available in the desired destination. Therefore, tourists may find various finger-licking food options in Ooty that will blow your mind, and some of the names of foods are mentioned below. 

• Kaima Idli 
• Avial 
• Kozhi Varutharachathu
• Chicken Chettinad
• Neer Dosa

Some of the most Famous Restaurants in Ooty:

If you are planning to travel to Ooty, you should understand that exploring this place is incomplete without having the taste of the mouth-watering food here. To get familiar with some of the famous restaurants in Ooty, which will help you understand their cuisines and dishes. 

• The Charm Hillside Cafe: Were you looking for the best places to visit in Ooty for food? Then Charm Hillside Cafe will be one of the best hillside cafes offering beautiful landscapes with garden settings. You are offered the perfect blend of Chinese and South Indian Cuisine, and you are going to have the best views and dishes. 
• The Periodic Table & Le Cafe: The Periodic Table & Le Cafe is also one of the best restaurants that offers its customers the best dishes and cuisines. This restaurant's specialty is fried idlis, chicken 65, and Gobi Manchurian, along with other necessary flavors and options in food. 
• Sugar Dribble Cafe: Sugar Dribble Cafe will be one of the best restaurants in Ooty and the best place to visit and eat. The specialty that is going to be offered to tourists is a complete fusion of Indian and Chinese foods. 
• Willys Cafe: If you are very fond of non-veg food, Willys Cafe in Ooty is the best choice for Tandoori Chicken and Aromatic Biryani. In addition, Willy's Cafe is also quite famous for vegetarian cuisine, and you will enjoy your trip comfortably. 
• Ooty Coffee House: Ooty Coffee House is famous locally and among tourists. Its popularity is because tourists can enjoy savoring authentic dishes here. In addition, tourists will get the best coffee to sip and make their travel to Ooty successful, as the environment and views will be the best to watch.

What are the best things to shop in Ooty?

As soon as you visit Ooty and have almost completed your trip, you want to shop for the famous things there to make a lifetime memory. Thus, below is a list that enables you to know what to shop for in Ooty.

• Spices: Tourists in Ooty can shop for the best quality organic spices, such as cloves, nutmeg, pepper, and cardamom. 
• Chocolates: If you are a chocolate lover, then Ooty is a place you should visit because you will get many industries producing handmade chocolates here. The places where you are going to shop for handmade chocolates in Ooty are King Star Confectioners and The Modern Store. 
• Woollen Products: In Ooty, travelers will also find the best woolen products and shop for woolen clothing. "The Tibetan Walk-in" market is where tourists shop for various woolen hoodies and traditional shawls.
• Tea: Tea plantations are also going to be quite popular in Ooty, and in that case, commercial places will be filled with various products, including tea, Kashmiri shops, government outlets, and many more products like Khadi. 
• Souvenirs: Lastly, if you are in search of shawls, handicrafts, and eucalyptus essential oil, then you are required to visit the area around Ooty Lake, which is the best place from which you can get the best shopping for the products. 

How to reach Ooty with the best set of modes? 

If you plan to travel to Ooty, then your primary concern could be the transportation to this place. Furthermore, when your concern is regarding bus, train, and air travel to reach Ooty, you must get along with the following section information, and you will get the details accordingly. 

• Bus: One amazing way to travel to Ooty is by road, so you will select private or local buses. When you board the bus, the connecting cities or places are Bangalore, Chennai, and Mysore. The highways that will help you connect and reach Ooty are NH 209 and NH 275, and the time taken to reach Ooty is around 7-8 hours.
• Train: Another convenient option for tourists to reach Ooty or the nearest railway station is Mettupalyam. After you reach Ooty, you will hire a private cab and avail of local bus services.  
• Air: If you select air to reach Ooty, you should hire a private car or get a cab to reach your desired destination. Taxis and buses will be available for tourists to reach their destination from the Coimbatore Airport because this option makes traveling to the preferred route much more accessible.

Why is Ooty so famous in India? 

Ooty Town is well-known and quite famous among tourists because of its beauty, which gives it the tag of "Queen of Hill Stations." This place is so much adored because of its beautiful mountains, lakes, gardens, and forests. Tourists will also notice some of the best architectural views in Ooty town to explore, and then, at last, your visit to Ooty will be complete with the best experiences. 

How much does it cost to travel to Ooty?

The complete budget for travel to Ooty will depend on how many days you plan to visit. The cost will range from Rs. 15,000/—to Rs. 30,000/-. Moreover, the stay and food costs might be the game-changer, and you may pay extra charges for your stay.