




Escape to a misty mountain paradise where the historic Nilgiri Mountain Railway chugs through tea plantations to deliver you into another era. The Government Botanical Gardens burst with exotic blooms while rowboats drift across the placid surface of Ooty Lake. Once the summer retreat for British officials fleeing coastal heat, this 'Queen of Hill Stations' now welcomes visitors to its colonial-era architecture and bustling Charing Cross market. Venture to nearby Mudumalai National Park for elephant and tiger spotting, or simply sip locally-grown tea while wrapped in mountain fog. The five indigenous tribal communities add cultural depth to a landscape where plastic bags are banned and reusable shopping totes are essential accessories.

