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Weather Conditions in Ooty
A popular tourist spot in South India is Ooty, which is in Tamil Nadu. This beautiful and green hill station is not too far from cities such as Coimbatore, Chennai or even Bangalore. It’s no wonder then that people try to come here even for just a weekend. The drive up to Ooty is quite glorious with the steep winding roads offering excellent views of the valleys and verdant forests around. The Nilgiris mountains where it is located is an excellent sightseeing spot for various reasons such as the lake, the botanical gardens and the Rose Garden.
To be able to enjoy the beautiful sights of this hill station properly, you have to make sure you know the best time to visit Ooty. Since it is a hill station, not all times are suitable for visitors. Some seasons are best left alone when the Western Ghats can be tricky and dangerous. Here’s a season-wise look at the best time to go to Ooty.
In the summer months from March to June, Ooty is breath-takingly beautiful. Summers are mild with the average temperature ranging between 23 and 31 degrees Celsius. People love to take the toy train and get off at Ooty or simply go on it for a pleasure ride. Summer is also the time when you will find a lot of tourists, so popular spots like Doddabetta Peak and Botanical Gardens will be quite crowded. If you don’t mind the throngs of people who are here to get away from the sheer busyness of their city lives and enjoy some of the fresh, clean air, then summer is indeed the best season to go to Ooty.
Summer is one of the most pleasant seasons to visit Ooty as the weather is perfect for sightseeing and there are lots of places to visit. If you happen to come to Ooty during summer, it would be a good idea to bring summery cottons because the days can get quite warm. However, do remember to carry some light jackets or sweaters too because the nights can be chilly and if you’re not used to any sort of cold weather, you’ll be shivering away! Also, do wear sunscreen in summers because although the sun does not seem to be as intense as it is in the cities, it is just as harmful, and you have to protect against UV rays.
Monsoon months in Ooty are from July to September. Monsoon in the hills can be quite dramatic and with the skies wide open, don’t be too surprised to see lightning flashes cleaving the sky during a thunderstorm. But monsoon is also the time when the rains wash away everything, turning Ooty and its surroundings a gorgeous lush green. Rain is often intermittent so there are chances of some excellent sunshine as well, so you can certainly accomplish visits to places like Emerald Lake or Wenlock Downs during this time. If you do come to Ooty during the monsoons, do remember to carry an umbrella, sturdy shoes and rain coats.
While the rains lower the temperature slightly, this is still not one of the ideal or best time to travel to Ooty because monsoon in the hills can be quite tricky. The roads are steep and curving and it can be difficult to navigate if the roads are slippery and wet. Reaching Ooty by road is one of the most popular ways to get here and it’s not advisable to drive here if you are not comfortable navigating slippery roads. You might also want to reconsider taking a bus because of the high risks involved.
Ooty’s winter lasts from October to March. The temperature often goes below 15 degrees and if you love the cold, you’ll love visiting this gorgeous hill station in the winter. There are plenty of reasons why winter is the best time to go to Ooty. If you love tea, then you will surely love the many tea gardens here, bright and emerald green in the winter sunshine. During winter, the tea and tourism festival is also held here, so you can enjoy the numerous different varieties that are grown in and around the tea estates.
Tea is indeed quite a big deal here and is one of the most favourite beverages of locals as well as visitors. The three-day festival is held between January and February, displaying different sorts of tea leaves, and tea stalls for those who want to sample the different tastes. The festival also has charming performances and cultural shows and tea can be quite an interesting gift for your friends and family back home. Apart from this, winter is an excellent time to visit the various places such as Botanical Gardens, Doddabetta Peak, Pykara Lake and the Ooty Rose Garden. If you don’t mind chilly weather, you will surely enjoy winter here and it could be the best time to visit Ooty for you. Remember to pack warm clothes such as shawls and sweaters which you will surely need here to combat the chilly evenings. If you haven’t brought any along, you can pick up some lovely soft sweaters and pullovers from the main market where these are sold at reasonable rates.
If you have decided which is the best time to visit Ooty, then do take a moment to see the SOTC website for some excellent offers and deals on Ooty holiday packages.
