Located in the Western Ghats at a height of 7500 feet, Ooty, formally Udagamandalam, is the headquarters of the Nilgiri district. Ooty was originally a tribal land occupied by the Todas along with some other minor tribes. The Nilgiri territory came into possession of East India Company as part of the ceded lands, held by Tipu Sultan. In 1818, Wish and Kindersley, Assistant and Second Assistant respectively to the Collector of Coimbatore John Sullivan visited this spot and submitted their positive report to him. John Sullivan later began the construction of his bungalow at Dim Bhatti, the first European dwelling on the hills. Ooty served as the summer capital of the Madras Presidency and other small kingdoms, much visited by British during the colonial days. Its stunning beauty and splendid green deep valleys inspired the British to name it ‘Queen of hill stations’. Sullivan later developed the town and encouraged the plantation of tea, cinchona, and teak trees. The largest of its type in the country, the Rose Garden is a sprawling area located at an altitude exceeding 2000 metres. Situated in the gradients of the Elk hill, it is spread over 4 hectares. Managed by the Tamil Nadu Horticulture Department, this garden is the evidence of Ooty's unique climatic disposition. There are more than 20,000 varieties of roses here. The Botanical Gardens was laid out in 1847, designed by the architect William Graham McIvor under the supervision of George Hay, the then Governor of Madras. The original purpose of the Botanical Gardens was to promote and study the various flora in and around Nilgiris. Now, it is open to the public as a park that can be enjoyed by visitors. Situated at an altitude of 2623 metres, Doddabetta is regarded as one of the highest peaks in South India, which lies at the junction of the Western and Eastern Ghats. The area surrounding Doddabetta is mostly forested. Sholas cover the hollows of its slopes. Tall rhododendron trees, flowering sub-alpine shrubs and herbs are common, even very near the peak. One can have a magnificent panoramic view of the landscape, beautiful valley, plains of Coimbatore and the flat highlands of Mysore from the view point. Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation manages a Telescope House here which enables the visitors to get a better view. The Ooty lake covers an area of around 65 acres was constructed by John Sullivan in the year 1824. The highlight of Ooty Lake is the opportunity of boating and walking through the lakeside surrounded by Eucalyptus trees. The boat house located next to the lake allows you to enjoy different types of boating viz paddle boats, motor boats and row boats. Located in the Emerald village, the Emerald lake is a scenic paradise amongst places to visit in Ooty. This region and the regions surrounding the lake are natural habitats of numerous birds belonging to various species. Located in Upper Bazar Road, St Stephen’s Church is one of the popular places to visit in Ooty and displays amazing architectural charm. This is one of the oldest churches of the region that features painted window glasses, wooden elephants procured from palace of Tipu Sultan and plaques of colonial era. The Toy Train, also known as Nilgiri Mountain Railway Toy Train, is the important activity in the hill station. Inaugurated in the year 1899, it has continued to charms its visitors with equal zest winding its way through the best of the hill. The Toy Train covers a distance of total 46 km in a span of 5 hours and takes one through a truly spectacular journey filled with picturesque views on the way. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2005. As the train passes through the stunning gorge, the dancing sunlight above and dream-like drizzling makes it the experience of a lifetime. Apart from offering a beautiful journey, the uniqueness of the trip lies in the astonishing fact that the rail system is the steepest in Asia.