By Jaanu

A visit to the mountains of rural South India offered some of the most breathtaking views I’ve ever seen. I attempted to capture some of these moments by camera. Tamil Nadu is a southern state of India. To the eastern and southern borders is the vast Indian Ocean, dividing the coastline into popular ports like Madras, the capital, and Mahabalipuram, a UNESCO World Heritage site. To the west of the state, however, extends mountainous and rich greenery that blends into the border of Kerala and Karnataka. The Nilgiri Hills are a mountainous region with an abrupt rise in elevation from the surrounding plains regions. The weather here is very cool and conducive to cultivation of tea, coffee, and vegetables. The Nilgiris are sparsely populated and home to many tribal communities. While it is impossible to do these scenic landscapes justice, here is a slice of the Nilgiri district, in Tamil Nadu, through my eyes.

Villagers in the town of Ooty, where Navin and I had the blessing to stay, didn’t shop at grocery stores. The village is home to a central market with sells everything from whole grains and chili peppers (pictured), to shoes, clothes, eggs (also pictured), glass bangles, baskets, local artwork, rugs— the list goes on infinitely. It’s no mean feat to keep the shops running amidst the rain and mist of the mountains, but the shopkeepers still find energy to haggle.

 

 

 

Art is everywhere in the Nilgiris, often inspired by animals. The Western Ghas are full of wildlife, most notably home to tigers, tahrs, bears, leopards, elephants, and an endless army of monkeys (spritely macaques and black-faced Nilgiri langurs).

 

           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In many ways, the region sustains itself. There is a lovely reliance on local agriculture, goods, and services. We arrived in Ooty for research and clinical observership at the only private hospital in the town with access to specialist care: BS Hospital, in the center of the city. The only neurosurgeon in the region arrives to step in during emergencies when paged, and it takes him 3 hours to arrive at the hospital because of how isolated and winding the mountain roads can be. Despite the challenges of living there, residents love their community. It’s incredibly tightly knit, and even a few weeks’ stay introduced us to dozens of new friends. Indian hospitality was spectacular to experience.

 

             

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ooty is one of India’s hill stations, numbering among Darjeeling and Shimla as a cool escape for British colonialists stationed in the hot Indian summers. It is unlike any other part of Tamil Nadu which I had seen and was a magical retreat to one of the most beautiful parts of South India. Travel there and I can guarantee you won’t forget it. ⛰️