Cold mountain

HIT THE ROAD

Udhagai, born with a British accent in 1819 as Ooty, is the self-proclaimed Queen Of The Nilgiris. Although the scenic hill-station has been badly ravaged by tourist hordes over the years, there is still a lot going for it.

Great weather for most of the year, crisp, clean air and some vestiges of the Raj era make it a good place to spend a few days. The Botanical Gardens are truly superb and are best seen in spring, when everything is a riot of colour. You could take a walk up Elk Hill, stopping for a packed lunch en route.

The golf course is also superbly maintained and has an old hunting lodge tucked away in the grounds. Take the road going up near Chellaram's store and you'll see the elegant red brick Nilgiri Library. Essentially, avoid the tourist traps and chart your own course.

Ooty is about 300 km from Bangalore via Mysore and Gudalur. You could also go via Kalhatty, which is shorter but has 36 extremely tight hairpin bends. Accommodation is plentiful, ranging from the Taj Savoy (Ph: 0423-2444142) to the Youth Hostel (Ph: 0423-2443665).

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