Ooty (Udhagamandalam)
A hill station in the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu, known for tea estates, eucalyptus forest and the Nilgiri Mountain Railway.
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Ooty, officially Udhagamandalam, is a hill station in the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu, in southern India, at about 2,240 meters. Tea estates line the slopes around town. Its best-known route is the Nilgiri Mountain Railway, a narrow-gauge rack railway that climbs from Mettupalayam through forest, bridges and tunnels. The line is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Ooty suits families, train fans and anyone who wants cooler weather than the plains. Common first stops are the Government Botanical Garden, Ooty Lake and the tea estates. Two to three days covers the town and the nearby hills. Coimbatore is the usual road gateway, and travelers from Mysuru also come by road. The cooler months are the most comfortable. The southwest monsoon brings heavy rain from about June to September, so pack a rain layer.
Ooty (Udhagamandalam) in five
- Book the Nilgiri Mountain Railway earlyThe heritage train from Mettupalayam climbs to Coonoor and Ooty, and tickets sell out ahead of weekends and school holidays. Book through the official railway portal and check the day's timetable.
- Choose April to June or September to NovemberSummer brings crowds and a flower show in May, while the autumn months are quieter and often clearer. The winter nights can be cold, and the northeast monsoon brings rain.
- Fly to Coimbatore, then ride 3 hours upCoimbatore airport is the nearest big gateway, with taxis and buses up the ghat road via Coonoor. Allow extra time on weekends when traffic is heavy.
- Link Ooty with Mysuru by roadThe forest road passes through reserve land with night-traffic restrictions, so leave in the morning. It is a scenic way to join the Karnataka and Tamil Nadu legs.Mysuru
- Decide between Ooty and MunnarMunnar has wider tea estates and Kerala access; Ooty has the train, a larger town and Tamil Nadu links. Pick one rather than both unless you have time.Munnar
Things to do in Ooty (Udhagamandalam)
See all attractions in Ooty (Udhagamandalam)
Need to know
- Airport
- Coimbatore, about 3 hours by road
- Getting there
- Toy train from Mettupalayam, or road from Coimbatore or Mysuru
- Getting around
- Autos, taxis and walking in the center
- Best base
- Near the lake or botanical garden for walkability
- Time needed
- 2 days; 3 with Coonoor and a tea estate
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryClear9 rainy daysHigh20°Low11°Cold nightsJanuaryClear
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 52 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold nights
- FebruaryClear4 rainy daysHigh22°Low11°Dry, clearFebruaryClear
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 21 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, clear
- MarchPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh23°Low13°Mild, busyMarchPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 59 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, busy
- AprilRain12 rainy daysHigh24°Low14°Peak seasonAprilRain
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 80 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Peak season
- MayRain26 rainy daysHigh22°Low15°Flower showMayRain
Poor
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 256 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Flower show
- JuneRain23 rainy daysHigh21°Low15°MonsoonJuneRain
Poor
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 210 mm
- Rainy days
- 23
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Monsoon
- JulyRain26 rainy daysHigh20°Low14°Cool, wetJulyRain
Poor
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 250 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, wet
- AugustRain25 rainy daysHigh20°Low14°Cool, wetAugustRain
Poor
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 279 mm
- Rainy days
- 25
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, wet
- SeptemberRain23 rainy daysHigh21°Low14°ClearingSeptemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 194 mm
- Rainy days
- 23
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Clearing
- OctoberRain25 rainy daysHigh20°Low14°NE monsoonOctoberRain
Poor
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 327 mm
- Rainy days
- 25
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
NE monsoon
- NovemberRain21 rainy daysHigh20°Low13°Rain, coolNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 182 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain, cool
- DecemberPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh20°Low12°Cold nightsDecemberPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 103 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold nights
Average daily high and low in Ooty, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Ooty (Udhagamandalam)
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
17
- Feels like
- 19°
- Humidity
- 93%
- Wind
- 4 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 98%
Ooty (Udhagamandalam)
02:06 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today19°13°98%Tuesday: Rain. High 19°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 98%.
- Wed18°13°100%Wednesday: Rain. High 18°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Thu19°13°95%Thursday: Drizzle. High 19°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 95%.
- Fri19°13°86%Friday: Drizzle. High 19°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 86%.
- Sat19°13°86%Saturday: Drizzle. High 19°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 86%.
- Sun18°12°76%Sunday: Drizzle. High 18°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 76%.
Updated 11:42 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 95.08 INR
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
What's on in Ooty (Udhagamandalam)
Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city
Events calendarEvery year
- JanMakaravilakkuKerala, a day trip
- Aug–SepOnamKerala, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Coonoorabout 1 hour by road or trainA quieter tea town on the toy train line.
- Mysuruabout 4 hours by roadA palace city, usually a one-way leg.Read the guide
- Munnarabout 6–7 hours by roadKerala's tea hills on a long cross-state route.Read the guide
Before you go to Ooty (Udhagamandalam)
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Rules for Ooty (Udhagamandalam), checked
- Foreign nationals need an Indian visa or e-Visa before arrival; check your eligibility and permitted entry points on the official portal.Source
- Bonnet macaques in town and at viewpoints grab food from open bags; keep snacks zipped and do not feed the monkeys.
- Check the Nilgiri Mountain Railway timetable and book seats through IRCTC or a station counter before travel; seats can sell out.Source
- Drinking alcohol in public is prohibited in Tamil Nadu; keep it to licensed bars, hotels and shops, and out of public view.
Plan around Ooty (Udhagamandalam)
Kerala's tea-hill alternative
Read the guideMysuruA palace city 4 hours north-west
Read the guidePuducherryThe French-quarter coast on a Tamil Nadu loop
Read the guideTamil NaduTemples, coast and hills
Read the guideAll of IndiaRegions and how to plan a trip
Read the guideIndia e-VisaApply online before you fly to Chennai or Coimbatore
Read the guideOoty (Udhagamandalam) FAQ
Is Ooty worth visiting?
Yes for the toy train, the cool air and the tea country, though the town itself is crowded in season. Coonoor is calmer if you want quiet.
How many days do you need in Ooty?
Two days cover the botanical garden, the lake and a tea estate. Add a third for Coonoor or a Nilgiri walk.
What is the best time to visit Ooty?
March to June has pleasant days and the May flower show. September to November is quieter. December and January bring cold nights.
Can you go to Ooty by toy train?
Yes, on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway from Mettupalayam, and the ride takes several hours. Book ahead; it is a slow scenic ride, not a quick transfer.
How far is Ooty from Mysuru?
About 125 km by road, roughly 4 hours in clear traffic. The forest stretch has night restrictions, so leave in daylight.