Popularly
referred to as
"Queen of Hill Stations". Ooty
(Udhagamandalam) is located at a height of 2,286 mts. (7,500 feet). Akin to
the nectar of the Gods is the Camellia Sinensis a bush that gives fragrant
amber ambrosia - a refresher and stimulizer. In other words, Tea. Commercial
Plantations came into existence in the Niligiris around 1853, though tea
plants were thriving in Tamilnadu earlier to this.
Pack your bags
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.
Behold this magic
All along the hill slopes in the Nilgiri Mountains, you will find that
omnipresent, glossy, stout bush with fragrant white or pink flowers and a
melodious name camellia (Camellia thea). Tea, brought to the Nilgiris in the
1860s, is amongst India's most prominent plantation crops, what with the
country being the world's largest producer, consumer and exporter of black
tea. This is perhaps why the slopes of the Nilgiris, all round Ooty, Coonoor
and the like, seem to have tea bushes almost like a second skin.
Processed tender leaves and leaf buds compose the tea of commerce. This
agro-industry flourishes on the hillsides of the Nilgiris and experts say
that tea growing at a higher elevation would have a flavor superior to that
growing at lower heights. This flavor and distinctive character of the
popular beverage is from essential oils and alkaloids present in the plant.
But then, all this is after a long manufacturing process that is carried out
in industrial units on the plantation itself or nearby. From harvesting to
curing, rolling and fermentation, to drying and grading, the process is
delicate and tedious. There are minor variations depending on the kind of
tea being produced. The delicacy of the job of picking 'two leaves and a
bud' is perhaps testified by the fact that pickers are always women or
children.
What
to shop
Eucalyptus oil, Honey, Cinchona products, coffee and Tea are some of the
good buys. Most of the shops are open from 9 am to 12 noon and from 3 pm to
8pm. Toda Showroom sells silver and tribal shawls. Municipal Market and
Coop. Super Market and Upper and Lower Bazaar Roads are the main shopping
areas of Ooty. Poompuhar and Kairali Emporia can also be visited.
Accommodation options
There has been a mushroom growth of hotels and lodges in Ooty in recent
years. Both Indian and Western style accommodation and food are available.
Prior booking is advisable, especially during the summer months. It is also
possible to get paying guest accommodations through brokers haunting the bus
stand/railway station.
