The Fernhills Palace, Ooty

Fernhills Palace is a mansion in Ooty, Tamil Nadu, spread across roughly 50 acres of woodland with tea gardens and cardamom plantations on the Nilgiri Hills. The building displays European influence with notable Burmese teak finishes and ornate wooden bargeboards throughout its structure.

The house was founded in 1844 by Captain F. Cotton as a private residence and later served as a summer retreat for the Maharaja of Mysore during British rule. Its use by wealthy colonial residents shaped its character and preservation across generations.

The palace blends Gothic architecture with Swiss chalet design, visible in its carved wooden details and decorative papier-mâché ceiling in the ballroom. This mix of European styles reflects the tastes of wealthy colonial residents who built homes in these cool Nilgiri Hills.

The site now functions as a hotel with dining, event spaces, and wedding venues set across the garden grounds. Visitors can explore the property and enjoy outdoor activities in the surrounding landscape.

A striking feature is the indoor badminton court designed like a church structure, showing how colonial residents blended religious architecture with recreation spaces. This unusual design reflects how wealthy builders applied European architectural traditions to everyday activities.