Toda Temple Ooty: Guide to the Toda Tribal Village

Updated on March 15, 2026

When we travel, we often try to spot some unique experience. Since Ooty or Udagamandalam is a city we had already travelled to as kids and had seen the touristy places, we were more interested in gaining a different kid of experience this time. So while doing further research, we came across the Toda temple and the history behind it. We found both the history and the place very charming and decided to make it part of our Ooty itinerary. Let’s begin?

About the Todas

The Todas are a tribe that have lived in Tamilnadu along with the other tribes such as Kurumbas and Badagas.

The Toda people of the Nilgiri Hills are one of the most culturally distinct tribal groups in India. While many travelers see their unique barrel-shaped houses, the “hidden” layers of their culture are even more fascinating.

The Todas speak a Dravidian language that is highly specialized and has been isolated for so long that it branched off from the Proto-South Dravidian line thousands of years ago. It is famous among linguists for its complex consonant sounds.

Toda settlements

The Toda settlements are called munds and these are barrel or rainbow shaped huts.

These traditional huts were built using rattan, bamboo, and thatch, held together with sophisticated lashing Another interesting aspect is that no metal nails are used in the construction of these huts.

Getting there

There is one such mund with a temple in their traditional half-barrel shape at the top of the hills that form the Botanical Garden campus in Ooty. A smaller model of the temple is at the entrance of the Botanical Garden and it is also where one can buy Toda-made handicraft items.

The trek to the top of the Botanical Garden is scenic and is best taken at a leisurely pace as the last stretch involves quite steep slopes. The below snapshot shows the path we took. It is a pretty simple trek and our 4 year old was able to walk quite comfortably for the most part. The innumerable varieties of plants and flowers along the short trek also made it very enjoyable.

The view of the Toda temple nestled among the surrounding hills with a tea estate in the backdrop is worth it. The Toda temple is built within a circular wall of stacked stones with a break for the entrance.

Structure of the Toda temple

The temple itself is a structure made of arched bamboo for the side walls, stacked thatch for the roofing and dressed stone with murals make up the front and rear walls with a small opening that acts as the entrance.

The entrance that requires one to crawl is for protection from wild animals.

The Todas are traditionally buffalo farmers with dairy produce as their main source of income. We were told that the temple is opened during special occasions only and not on a daily basis.

The calm, serene atmosphere, the simple hut amidst all the greenery and mountains around will definitely make you want to spend some time here.

Please note that only priests are allowed entry in the temple and others can see it from the outside only.

Our Journey from the Heights to the Foothills

While our time at the Toda Mund was about high-altitude culture, the Nilgiri foothills offer a total shift in energy. On a separate trip, we traded the cool tea estates for the raw wilderness of Masinagudi.

Read our Masinagudi Weekend Guide

Pukhoor: The “Reverse” Embroidery

If you appreciate craft, the Toda embroidery (Pukhoor) is a masterpiece of geometry.

Hand-Woven Precision: It is done by craftsmen using red and black wool on white cotton.

The Twist: It is worked from the back of the fabric to create a design on the front that looks like it was woven into the cloth rather than stitched on top.

GI Tag: The craft is so unique it has received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag, meaning it can’t be replicated elsewhere.

I bought a beautiful scarf/stole from one of the Toda shops and its been 6 years now. The embroidery has stood the test of time and is still as beautiful.

toda tribes in ooty and their occupation

A similar rustic experience that we had was while we travelled to Tripura and visited the sculptures at Devtamura. The raw and authentic feeling of Toda was similar but closer to home.

What Other Travelers Ask

Can tourists enter the Toda huts?

Tourists generally cannot enter the toda huts as they are considered sacred (if it is the temple) or private residences.

Where is the most accessible Toda village in Ooty?

The village near the Ooty Botanical Garden which we visited is the most accessible for travelers.

What is unique about Toda architecture?

The huts (Dogles) are barrel-shaped with no windows and very small entrances to protect against the cold and the wildlife.

Is it respectful to take photos?

Yes, but it is highly recommended to engage with the locals and ask before photographing people or temple interiors. There were the village kids running around who actually guided us about where to leave the slippers, taking photos, etc!