 In 1818, J. C. Whish and N. W. Kindersley, assistants to John Sullivan, then Collector of Coimbatore, visited Ooty and submitted a report to him.Sullivan camped at Dimbhatti, north of Kotagiri in January 1819 and was enthralled by the beauty of the place.He wrote to Thomas Munro,
" ... it resembles Switzerland, more than any country of Europe... the hills beautifully wooded and fine strong spring with running water in every valley."