Need to beat the heat? Welcome to the cool Lavender Hues of Ootacamund or Udhagamandalam, still popularly known as Ooty. Standing high at 7,349 feet above sea level in the Nilgiris, Ooty is the uncrowned Queen of southern hill resorts of India. The erstwhile British township of Ooty is a big draw for the tourists. The breathtakingly beautiful Blue Mountains are the perfect backdrop for the cool summers.

The visit to the hill resort promises to be happy for all the travelers. The 19th century creation of the British acted as the summer head quarters of the Madras government. The beautiful botanical garden offers the sprawling maze of greens and blooms. They are home to the manicured and planned trees, shrubs and herbs. The purity in the air adds to the beauty of the flowers.

While at the hill resort enjoying the cool breezes check out the Ooty Lake. Though it goes without saying that it is the sheer beauty of the place that attracts thousands of tourists year after year to the hill resort of Ooty. The lake is the hub of tourist activities. At the nearby boathouse the rowboats and the motorboats can be hire for unwinding. Besides boating simply watching the soothing sunset in an experience of a lifetime. Adjacent to the lake is a large graveyard of St. Thomas church that was built way back in 1870. Here the huge pillar surmounted by a cross, over the grave of William Patrick Adam, the Governor of Madras Presidency, who died in Ooty in 1881 will not fail to catch your eye. It boasts of being the tallest memorial of Ooty.

The hill resort offers an amazing array of tourist destinations as well as ample scope for the long lovely nature walks. The 36 square miles of Ooty is the perfect summer retreat for people of all ages. You may indulge in sport and adventure activities ranging from hiking and riding to trout fishing and snooker.

Besides the adventure seekers the hill resort of Ooty is a heaven on Earth for honeymooners and the film industry. The picture perfect settings, the serenity of the surroundings is simply put out of the world. For the science freaks Ooty houses the largest radio telescope in India. The Indian jockeys are attracted to the Ootacamund Derby that celebrates the racing season at Ooty. The nature lovers may plan their trip in the first week of May when Ooty hosts the famous annual flower show. You may check out the market around the Charing Cross road junction or try a hand at Golf at the greens of the Ooty Gymkhana Golf Club.

The renowned hill resort is situated at the junction of the three southern Indian states namely, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka. You may plan your trip to the hill resort any time of the year as Ooty experiences a cool summer at 25 degrees and is almost freezing in the winters.

The hill resort of Ooty is well connected through air, rail and road with all the important towns of Tamilnadu, Kerala and Karnataka. The nearest airport happens to be at Coimbatore at a distance of 105 kms. Indian Airlines has flights to Coimbatore from Bangalore, Cochin, Thiruvannathapuram and Chennai. The beautiful views offered by the train journey to Ooty surpass the comfort of the plane. The marvelous mountains of Nilgiris lend the beauty of the forests throughout the journey aboard the Blue Mountain Express or the Tea Garden Express. You may even opt for the regular bus routes from Bangalore (300 km), Mysore (170 km), Coimbatore (105 km), Calicut (187 km) and Cochin (281 km). There are ample modes of transportation locally in the city and range of hotels to cater to the needs of all the tourists.

So what are you waiting for? Pack your bag and get ready for the most ravishing retreat this summer at the southern hills.