Nestled in the brilliant green hills of the Nilgiris, Ooty or Udhagamandalam, is one of the favourite summer retreats of people in South India.Orchards of peaches and plums, terraced tea plantations, and eucalyptus, pine and wattle lining the landscape… a typical hill station in many ways. Founded by the British in the early part of the 19th century, Ooty is home to many Britishers who have fallen in love with this hill station where they discovered a little bit of England. "…such beautiful English rain, such delicious English mud" is how Lord Lytton-Viceroy of India from 1876-1880 described Ooty to his wife! The British influence is visible in the handrolled cigars, chocolate and cheese one enjoys here. You also have the popular derby, and 'hunt' held annually. A hill station with a landscape perpetually enveloped in mist, Ooty's beauty has a timeless appeal.

Udhagamandalam, The "Queen of hill station" is the capital of Nilgiri district. It is one of the best tourist resorts.Nilgiris is called as "Blue Mountains".The name Nila, we know to have been used over 800 years ago since,the King of the Hoysalas Vishnu Vardhana, who ruled from 1104 to 1141 A.D. seized the Nilgiris Plateau.His general Ponisia recorded this fact in 1117 A.D. with mention of Todas. The name Nilgiri was due to the blue haze which envelopes the range with most distant hills of considerable size.

Botanical Gardens:
Established in the year 1847, this 22 hectare picturesque garden is maintained by the Horticultural Department of the state. There are about 650 flora species that are being nurtured in this garden. There is a fossil of a tree here as well, which is believed to be more than 20 million years old. The place also hosts the annual summer festival in May in which various flower shows and various cultural programmes are held to showcase the whole range of repertoire of the botanical gardens and the local people.