Climbing the Nilgiris: The Ooty/Coonoor Ghat Road, 1897 Photo

A 1900 silver print captures the winding ghat road leading to Coonoor and Ooty in the Nilgiri Hills. Long before motor vehicles transformed mountain travel. At the turn of the 20th century, this steep and serpentine route was primarily traversed by bullock carts and horse-drawn carts. It served as a vital lifeline between the plains and the high ranges of South India.

Although the British East India Company defeated the Mysorean Army in 1799 during the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War, the Nilgiris—also known as the Blue Mountains- remained largely unexplored by Europeans for nearly two decades. Dense forests, rugged terrain, and the sheer difficulty of access had kept these highlands isolated.

Led by John Sullivan, the Collector of Coimbatore, the first documented British exploration of the Nilgiris took place in 1819. Accompanied by a small group of assistants and soldiers, Sullivan undertook a challenging trek through steep slopes, thick jungles, and landscapes infested with wildlife. Despite the harsh terrain, the expedition successfully reached the plateau.

What they discovered was strikingly different from the tropical heat of the plains below. The Nilgiris offered a cool, temperate climate, lush grasslands, and rolling hills that closely resembled Europe. Recognising its potential, Sullivan went on to shape the region’s colonial future.

In 1823, Sullivan constructed Stonehouse after purchasing land from the indigenous Toda community. This building is widely recognized as the first modern bungalow in Ooty (Udhagamandalam). During the British period, Ooty evolved into a prominent hill station and eventually became the summer capital of the Madras Presidency. The ghat road, seen in this 1900 photograph, stands as a silent witness to that transformation. Click image to enlarge.