The Nilgiris acclaimed to be the "Queen of the Hill Stations" and affectionately known as "OOTY". Its also called Ootacamund or Udhagamandalam. It is the most picturesque and habitable mountains, which forms the nucleus of the Eastern and Western Ghats. Ooty, which is the capital of the District, is the largest and the most important hill station in South India. It is an extensive valley enclosed on all sides but the west by a lofty range of hills.
Various explanations and meanings are offered for the name Ootacamund which is derived from the Toda village above the Government Botanical Garden "Othakamanthu", meaning 'One Stone Village'. Somewhere in 1821, the then Collector of Coimbatore District Mr. John Sullivan who had visited this place on a horse found it more pleasant and salubrious and made the first stone constructed house which is still called the Stone house which is the nucleus of the Government offices and presently occupied by the Government Arts College. The visitor was greeted and welcomed by a native Toda.
Summer and Winter festivals are celebrated and exhibitions are conducted every year to attractive more number of tourists.