This fascinating
hill station
of Ooty
has a glorious
history.
Ooty is
the short
form for
its original
name ottakkalmandu
the meaning
of which
can be translated
from Tamil
as the village
built of
a single
stone. The
current
official
name is
udagamandalam.
The history
of Ooty
reveals
that this
beautiful
place was
discovered
by the British
in the year
1819 by
the then
collector
of Coimbatore
John Sullivan.
This was
as a result
of a project
wherein
he was asked
to construct
a bridle
path uphill
Sirumugai
to Kotagiri.
According
to the history
of Ooty,
the place
was originally
under the
control
of the tribals
called Todas.
Ever since
its discovery,
it has been
a favorite
holiday
destination
for the
British
and for
the others.
Huge tea
plantations
and factories
came to
be established
here and
the hill
is covered
with greenery.
Ooty is
part of
a group
of mountains
called the
Nilgiris
or the Blue
Mountains
and is the
capital
of the district
of the Nilgiris.
The metalled
ghat road
from Kallar
to Conoor
which connects
Chennai
to ooty
was mainly
constructed
by Colonel
G.V. Law
in 1871.
It was later
extended
to Ooty.
The road
is still
named after
Law. The
British
realized
he natural
charm of
the hill
station
and treated
this place
with a lot
of affection.
It was their
favorite
destination
for leisure
and holiday.
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