Ooty, nestled high in the Nilgiri hills of southern India, is a magical oasis for tourists seeking a piece of paradise.
Where will you find local markets that sell you exotica amidst rolling green hills and bright blue skies? Exotica like fresh flowers and locally made oils, handicrafts, antiques, jewellery, spices, chillies, tea, coffee, and yummy chocolate? Right out of a fictional book one might think, but you have it right here in a romantically named misty-eyed hill station in Tamil Nadu called Ooty.
Ooty, or Udhagamandalam, was a summer resort built by the British in 1819 and has since become one of India’s most popular tourist destinations. You can be sure that Ooty weather is welcoming, cool and refreshing all through the year.
Ooty is known for its beautiful landscape, which is highlighted by rolling hills, lush tea plantations, and a cool climate. Ooty tourist places also boast a number of historic sites, including the Ooty Botanical Gardens and St. Stephen’s Church, both of which were built in the early 19th century. Naturally, Ooty is an architectural delight.
The city’s buildings are a mix of modern and colonial styles, while the numerous tea plantations offer a glimpse into the area’s history. The major attraction is the stone buildings of Doddabeta, which were built by Chinese artisans in the 19th century and feature intricate carvings and detailed designs. All in all, the city is a wonderful reflection of its unique history and culture.
The Things to Do in Ooty List offer an array of experiences for visitors, from exploring its colonial architecture to enjoying its delicious cuisine and shopping for the most unusual exotica you can think of.
Ooty is a wonderland of exotic things to buy
Ooty is a wonderland of exotic things to buy! From the local flower market, you can get beautiful blooms like roses, carnations, orchids, and lilies. There are also locally made oils such as coconut oil, almond oil and essential oils that are perfect for skin care and aromatherapy. Handicrafts and antiques from local artisans are a great way to add character to your home.
You can also find beautiful jewellery made of gold, silver or copper with intricate designs. Chillies, tea, and coffee are some staple items you’ll find here that are perfect for taking back home as souvenirs. And don’t forget the chocolates, flavours, and spices as well.
1The Tibetan Market, located just opposite the Botanical Gardens, in Ooty, is a one-stop shop for all your shopping needs. It offers a variety of traditional and modern items, including clothing, jewellery, handicrafts, souvenirs, spices and food items. The market is bustling with activity; vendors selling colourful wares to locals and tourists alike create an atmosphere of vibrancy and excitement.
The shops in the market are arranged in a lively bazaar-style layout, offering plenty of opportunities to explore and discover unique items at great prices. The variety of goods available is sure to leave you spoilt for choice! You can also find Tibetan singing bowls, hand-carved masks, prayer flags, beads, hand-painted wood, and many other items from Tibetan culture in the market.
Famous street shopping spots in Ooty
Charring Cross
Located in the heart of the city, Charring Cross is one of the most famous street shopping spots in Ooty. It has a colonial architecture with brightly coloured shops and winding lanes lined with stalls selling all kinds of goodies like jewellery, handicrafts, and other souvenirs. The area also houses some interesting restaurants offering delicious local cuisines that are bound to tantalize your taste buds.
Commercial Street
This popular commercial hub of Ooty is known for its variety of items. From authentic leather bags to ethnic sarees and from traditional jewellery to handmade artefacts, this place has it all! There are a number of quaint eateries along the way where you can indulge in some delicious treats. Hand-made chocolate and handicrafts are great buys here.
Raja Complex
Located in the heart of Ooty, Raja Complex is an amalgamation of shops ranging from readymade garments to artificial jewellery and handicrafts to traditional items. It’s a great place if you want to pick up souvenirs for your friends and family at very reasonable rates.
Olavakkode Market
Located near the Botanical Garden, this market sells a variety of spices, fruits, and vegetables that are truly unique to the area. The prices here are also highly affordable so it makes for a great bargain shopping spot! You can also find some interesting local artefacts here that make for excellent gifts as well as home decor items.
Balamandir Market
Located near the Church of Immaculate Conception, this bustling market is a great place to pick up some traditional Ooty handicrafts and souvenirs at highly reasonable rates. It’s also a great spot to indulge in some lip-smacking local delicacies that are bound to tantalize your taste buds!
Kavaani Shopping Centre
This shopping centre has everything from fashionable garments to ethnic jewellery, home decor items, accessories, and more! It’s a one-stop shop for all kinds of shopping needs without burning a hole in your pocket. You can also get some delicious snacks here while you browse through the various merchandise.
Regal Market
This iconic market of Ooty is known for its wide variety of items like spices, handicrafts, apparel, and souvenirs. It is also a great spot to pick up some authentic local specialities like jams and honey at highly affordable prices.
Botanical Garden Shopping Centre
Located close to the iconic Botanical Garden of Ooty, this shopping centre has some unique items like herbal medicines and Ayurvedic products that make for excellent gifts. You can also find some delicious traditional snacks here that are bound to tantalize your taste buds!
Mayikadu Market
This bustling market offers an incredible range of merchandise from beautiful sarees to traditional jewellery and from authentic leather bags to handmade artefacts. It’s a great place to find some unique souvenirs for yourself or your loved ones at very affordable prices.
Stone House Market
This picturesque street market is known for its flock of colourful shops selling all kinds of goodies like spices, fruits, vegetables, readymade garments, home decor items, accessories, and more! It’s a great spot for bargain hunters who are looking for quality products at throwaway prices.
With its vibrant street markets and stunning architecture, Ooty is undoubtedly one of the best places in India to indulge in some delightful shopping escapades! And while we are enjoying the vibrant street shopping, there is no way to escape the tempting aromas of food outlets lining the street markets.
Explore the Food culture of Ooty
Ooty is renowned for its sublime cuisine and unique flavours. Traditional dishes include spicy fish curry, masala dosa (thin pancake with potato stuffing), and pongal (a rice dish cooked with pepper). Tea is also a mainstay of the cuisine here; Ooty is home to some of India’s finest tea plantations and more on that later.
Popular desserts and sweet treats in the area
Try Jangiri, a classic sweet dish made from urad dal batter, deep-fried into crispy circles and then soaked in sugar syrup.
Halwa is a popular dessert made with wheat flour, almonds, cashew nuts, ghee, cardamom powder, and sugar.
A great sweet with a cup of Ooty’s famed tea is the laddus (round sweets made of gram flour, ghee, and sugar) and the famous chikki (a nut brittle).
One of the most popular dishes from Ooty is Avial.
This is a traditional Tamil dish made with vegetables cooked in coconut oil, chilli powder, and yoghurt or tamarind juice. This delectable dish tastes great served over rice or dosas.
A popular local dish is Chicken Chettinad
This is a savoury and spicy dish made with chicken cooked in an aromatic gravy of spices such as cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, cumin seeds, curry leaves, garlic, and chilli powder. This popular dish can be enjoyed with rotis or rice.
Kozhi Varutharachathu is another popular traditional dish from Ooty.
This is made with chicken marinated in a variety of spices and then fried or roasted till it’s golden brown. This delicious dish can be eaten with dosa or paratha.
Murukku is a famous snack from Ooty – crunchy, deep-fried spirals made with rice flour, besan, and chilli powder.
It’s a great snack to have in the evenings along with tea or coffee.
Tea tourism in Ooty
If you’re a tea lover and looking for an immersive experience that blends culture and adventure, then let us take you on a journey to Ooty’s tea gardens in south India. Nestled amid lush rolling hills of eucalyptus trees, the beautiful landscaped around Ooty’s tea gardens is the perfect destination for anyone seeking a unique exploration of tea tourism.
From its time-honoured traditions of harvesting and production to the breathtaking plantation views, Ooty is home to some of India’s most exquisite teas.
Come dive into the world of Indian tea with us as we explore this remarkable region and sample some delicious cups!
Tea lovers can explore the rustic charm of local tea gardens and plantations, learning about traditional methods of cultivation and processing. Visitors can sample some of the finest teas in India, take part in a traditional tea party, or enjoy an evening of local entertainment at some tourist places in Ooty . The many tea estates provide guesthouses and bungalows to accommodate travellers seeking a more immersive experience.
Ooty is also home to some of the most popular tea festivals and cultural gatherings in South India.
The annual Nilgiri Tea Festival in Tamil Nadu is a colourful celebration of tea culture that the whole family can enjoy.
Here, guests can sample and purchase fragrant teas from around the world, take part in traditional games, listen to music performances, and learn about tea production.
Tea tourism in Ooty offers an unbeatable combination of sightseeing opportunities and culinary experiences.
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