(89 kms. from Coimbatore. 300 kms. from Bangalore via Mysore)
The Nilgiris of the south are a class by themselves. They contain excellent summer resorts such as Coonoor and Kotagiri.
The chain of mountains lies between Mysore in the north and Coimbatore in the south. The highest point is at an altitude of 2619 metres. Udagamandalam, popularly called Ooty is known as the Queen of the Hill Stations. It nestles on the Nilgiri range – at an altitude of 2286 metres. The extraordinary scenic beauty of this place matched by the salubrious climate makes it a most favoured hill station in the south. The rolling meadows, lush gardens and placid lakes are all reminiscent of the British. Ooty still retains something Indian in its cottages and stone arches, and offers many profiles of nature, each imbued with a distinctive grandeur. The original inhabitants of Ooty were Todas, a colourful pastoral tribe. Other forest tribes found around the Nilgiris are Kotas, Kurubas, Irulas and Panias. Perhaps no other hill station has so much to offer as Qoty does. There are quite a number of interesting places to see in this region.