John Sullivan - The Founder of Modern Nilgiris Mountains, South India and who built the first European house in Ooty, Colonial India!!

Navrang India July 01, 2025

Ooty (Udagamandalam or Udagai), nestled in the Nilgiris District of Tamil Nadu, is among South India's most cherished summer retreats. Located 80 km from Coimbatore city in the Nilgiri Hills of  the Western Ghat  mountain range, this serene hill station once served as the summer capital of the Madras Presidency during British rule

 John Sullivan, the founder of modern Nilgiris, S.India www.chennaifirst.in


Sullivan Memorial, near Kotagiri Tamil Nadu, India. thehindu.com

Bangalore Mysore. Ooty Map. www.samsantravels.com

The name “Nilgiris,” meaning “Blue Mountains,” comes from the bluish haze created by the dense vegetation and wildflowers covering the slopes. These mountains are part of the Western Ghats, with several peaks exceeding 6,000 feet. The highest, Doddabetta, stands at 8,650 feet (2,637 meters). Historically, the region was ruled by the Ganga and Hoysala dynasties and was later under Tipu Sultan, who had hidden retreats built here.

Tea plantation.Nilgiri-Dodabeta .Nilgris, Tamil Nadu  indyarocks.com


The man behind Ooty’s transformation was John Sullivan (1788–1855), born in London and grandson of Lawrence Sullivan, Director of the East India Company. He was the son of Stephen Sullivan, British Resident at Thanjavur, and Elizabeth Anne Forde. Appointed Collector of Coimbatore in 1815, he married Henrietta Cecilia Harington in 1820 in Madras.

Sullivan’s first visit to the Nilgiris in January 1819 left him spellbound. From Dimbhatti Valley, he wrote to Governor Sir Thomas Munro describing the region’s alpine charm, likening it to Switzerland. Deeply moved by the landscape, he returned and purchased an acre from the Toda tribe for one rupee in 1822. With their help, he built the first European-style residence in the hills-“Stone House”—by 1823.

He played a pivotal role in shaping the Nilgiris, introducing English vegetables, tea, Cinchona, and teak, and establishing the iconic Ooty Lake. He also helped develop roads connecting Kotagiri, Coonoor, and other settlements.

Old home at ootry  indiavideo.org


The Oak that Sullivan planted outside Stonehouse. thehindu.com

 Sadly, tragedy struck when Sullivan lost both his wife and daughter within weeks. In 1841, grieving and ageing, he returned to England with his remaining eight children. He died in 1855.

Today, the Stone House and a majestic oak tree he planted remain as living reminders of his legacy. The Nilgiris, with their cool climate, botanical gardens, and rolling hills, continue to charm visitors just as they did Sullivan two centuries ago.