What is the etymology of Ooty?

1 ANSWERS

1. Guest743
   

   The origin of the name Udhagamandalam is obscure. In early times it was called OttaikalMandu: "mund" is the Tamil word for a Todavillage, and the first part is probably a corruption of the local name for the central region of the Nilgiri Plateau. Another likely origin of the stem of the name ("Ootaca") comes from the local language where "Otha-Cal" literally means "Single Stone". This is perhaps a reference to a sacred stone revered by the local Toda people. The name probably changed under British rule from Udhagamandalam to Ootacamund, later shortened to Ooty.

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