Situated about 2250 metres in the Nilgiris or Blue Mountain range of South India is the town of Ootachamund, also called by its local name, Udhagamandalam, but still referred to as “Ooty” by locals and others from various parts of India. It has also been given the title of the “Queen of Hill Stations”, and it truly deserves it because of its scenic beauty, salubrious climate, tea gardens and estates.
Queen of Hill Stations
Because of its popularity, Ooty is becoming quite crowded during the hot summer months, with tourists, business persons, and travellers from India and overseas and finding suitable accommodation for families on holiday can become quite stressful. Over the years, home stays have been found to be the best place to stay in Ooty, because it offers families a home away from home, without all the frills and formalities of a hotel. Currently, there are visitors to both Ooty and Coonoor all throughout the year, and finding suitable and reasonably priced accommodation is not difficult, if you plan early. . For visitors who are not averse to staying a little out of the way from the commercial hustle and bustle of Ooty, then these home stays are perfect.
Popular Resort Towns
There are many resorts in Ooty for family holidays; these could include the big chain of holiday resorts like Sterling and Mahindra, but for those who are not members may opt for the many home stays that have now cropped up in both Ooty and Coonoor. These home stays are clean, reasonably priced, surrounded by beautiful vistas, and availability of excellent fresh home-cooked food as part of the package. However, it would be advisable to check in advance whether home-cooked food is part of the package, but usually it is the standard in most home stays. Families and friends going as a group would find home stays to be like an extension of their own homes; it would be a great place to catch up on the latest news, make new friends, and relax to ease the tensions of day-to-day living in the hustle and bustle of daily work.
Family-Oriented Home Stays
Around 20 kms down the road from Ooty is another tea garden city called Coonoor, which is smaller but still as popular today as it was during British times. With the growing demand for good quality home stays and resorts in Ooty for family, many individuals are now in the process of building new, modern, and spacious houses which are well-insulated against inclement weather and are well-appointed with good quality fixtures and fittings. Many are constructed specifically to highlight the views from the rooms of most of these homes to beautiful verdant flower gardens, tea plantations, and breathtaking mountain views. The peak season in Ooty and Coonoor is between April and June with room rates higher than off-season rates.
For travellers wishing to experience the ultimate hill station lifestyle, but without the usual crowds then opt for a home stay in Ooty or Coonoor.
Martin Wynn
