Ooty is a popular hill resort in the state of Tamil Nadu in Southern India. Udhagamandalam is the official Tamil name for the town. Ooty is deep within the Nilgiri hills, also known as The Blue Mountains. It is unknown whether this name comes from the blue smoky haze given off by the eucalyputus trees that cover the area, or because of the kurunji flower, which blooms every twelve years giving the slopes a bluish tinge.It was originally a tribal land and was occupied by the Todas along with other tribes who coexisted through specialisation and trade.

A British Collector discovered the hill station and promotedit as a summer resort. Several cottages and clubs were built to house and provide recreational facilities to the British officials. The British developed tea gardens in the hill station. The annual Tea and Tourism Festival attracts crowds in huge numbers.