Royal Travels News

The Nilgiri Hills that surround the town of Ooty is responsible for its scenic beauty. The hills are also called the Blue Mountains. Some people believe that the origin of this name is because of the Kurunji flowers that bloom once every 12 years in the valley. These flowers are blue in color and impart a bluish tinge to the hills when they bloom.The history of the town can be traced back to the tribe of Todas, who occupied it before the East India Company took over the reins of the place in the beginning of 19th century.Ooty has a pleasant climate throughout the year thanks to its location. However, winters do tend to be a little colder than is usual for south India.

The influence of British culture as well as architecture can be seen in the town. In fact, many tourists have noted that the hill station is reminiscent of a quaint English village. This is perhaps the reason the town’s maximum economy is generated by the business of tourism.
The British were so impressed by the climate as well as by the scenic beauty of the place that they named Ooty the ‘Queen of Hill Stations’. For them, it was like finding a hidden treasure because they could not tolerate the hot and humid climate of the other towns in southern India.
They were so eager to stake their claim over the region that they also raised the Madras Regiment in the nearby town of Wellington. To this day Wellington remains the center of the Madras Regiment.This increased the popularity of Ooty as a summer/ weekend getaway among the British. The town has also had the distinction of being the summer capital of the The British East India Company also took over the development of Ooty and started growing tea, teak and chinchona on the Nilgiris.
Many splendid tea and coffee plantation estates now exist in and around Ooty.
 

Ooty has an old world charm that remains unmatched even to this day. When you walk around in Ooty, you will be transported to ancient times by simply looking at the architecture and designs of some of the buildings in Ooty. They will remind you an era gone by. Ooty has no history to fall back upon. Its rise started with the coming of the British. However, even in these past two centuries the town has created enough history to make up for the one that it never had or that which has been lost to us.
For the modern world, the history of Ooty starts with the settling in of the British, mainly the soldiers, in this exotic land. The deep influence that the British had on the place is clearly visible as soon as one enters the town. The art and architecture of the buildings, the designs and the style of construction of the houses, all are reminiscent of the British era.

The cultural practices of the British are deeply ingrained in the lives of the local people irrespective of their religious beliefs. The local cuisine has also borrowed heavily from the English dishes. As a result, you get the best food in Ooty that is an amalgamation of English herbs and Indian spices.
The British, along with the hardworking local population, helped Ooty achieve the success that it enjoys today. This rich cultural diversity could have existed only in Ooty. Hence, today it would be wrong to say that Ooty has no historical past, or it holds no historical significance in the development of India.

Royal Travels News