Coimbatore to Ooty - A Memorable Trip Through the Nilgiris

Bustling with thousands of tourists every year, the quintessential and pleasing hill station of Ooty in Tamil Nadu is one of the most popular destinations in the region. Traditionally known as Ootacamund or Udhagamandalam, Ooty is a hill station in South India that was inhabited by native ethnic tribes, Bagada and Toda in the 18th century.  Ooty became a part of the Madras Presidency and summer capital of East India Company post-colonization. Also known as the “queen of hill station”, Ooty is one of the finest hill stations in India and makes it an ever-growing tourist destination among travellers from all over the world. Ooty is also very well-connected to another popular holiday destination in South India, Coimbatore, which is the second-largest city in Tamil Nadu. A trip from Coimbatore to Ooty through the Nilgiris is a magical experience and is full of surprises and abundant beauty. Let us know in detail how you can plan a trip from Coimbatore to Ooty and places to visit in Ooty for an unforgettable experience.

How to Reach from Coimbatore to Ooty?

The distance between Coimbatore to Ooty is roughly 90 km and is filled with joyous routes with many beautiful hairpin bends. Popularly known as the “Manchester of South India”, Coimbatore is known for its cotton fields, educational institutions, textile industry and numerous historical monuments from the colonial era. To reach Ooty, travellers can prefer any route via road, rail or air from Coimbatore.

Coimbatore to Ooty via Road Route

There are various ghat routes from Coimbatore to Ooty and has around fifteen hairpin bends that you can find majorly in the Himalayan route. Two major roads that connect Coimbatore to Ooty are via NH181 and via Mettupalayam-Kotagiri Road. First, you need to consider your location in Coimbatore and then choose a road route that suits you the best. No matter which route you take, you are surely going to experience the best vacation to Ooty while enjoying an abundance of natural beauty en route. Some of the popular places between Coimbatore and Ooty where you can take a sightseeing tour halt are Ramayana Theme Park in Periyanaickenpalayam, Black Thunder Water Theme Park in Mettupalayam, Kattery Park in Coonoor, Karamadai Ranganathar Temple in Karamadai and much more.

Coimbatore to Ooty via Rail Route

Ooty being a hill station has no direct trains that connect it to Coimbatore. However, you can take a train from Coimbatore to Mettupalayam and then take a toy train, taxi or Tamil Nadu tourism buses to reach Ooty. There are eight trains that connect Coimbatore to Ooty, and three trains that run every day. You can book your train tickets from Coimbatore to Ooty via Mettupalayam depending on your plan and enjoy the beautiful scenery throughout the route.

Coimbatore to Ooty via Air Route

Ooty being a mountainous region does not have an airport. The nearest airport to Ooty is Coimbatore International Airport from where you can choose to reach Ooty either via roadways or railways. There are a lot of private taxi services and Tamil Nadu tours and travels buses that take you from Coimbatore to Ooty at fair prices.

Best Time to Visit Ooty

Because of Ooty’s cool and pleasant climate, the hill station is frequented by tourists all throughout the year. There are a lot of popular honeymoon places in Ooty if you are planning for a honeymoon trip to Ooty in South India. The summer months in Ooty is from May to September which is the best time to visit Ooty, as all the major tourist attractions are open during this time of the year. The exotic flora that is found in the hill station of Ooty is in full bloom during summers. The monsoon months in Ooty is aesthetically peaceful as the place receives mild to moderate rainfall during monsoon season. The winters in Ooty is cold and the nights during this season can get extremely cold. You can cover the Ooty sightseeing during the daytime and return back to your accommodation to enjoy the peaceful night while enjoying a fresh cup of coffee.

Places to Visit in Ooty

To plunge yourself into perfect solace and serenity, Ooty is home to some of the best places in India. After a trip to the beautiful hill station of Tamil Nadu, Ooty, you will be left will countless memories of natural beauty, gushing waters, picturesque plantations, remarkable ancient monuments and so much more. Here is a list of the top five places to visit in Ooty.

1. Emerald Lake

The Emerald Lake got its name from the beautiful green mountains that surround the lake. Emerald Lake is a picturesque picnic spot for bird watching, animal sightseeing, witnessing aquatic life and much more. You can also do trekking to the nearby tea plantations to experience the sunrise and sunset in the beautiful green valley.

2. Avalanche Lake

As the name itself suggests, Avalanche Lake is the result of a gigantic avalanche that took place in the region in early 1823. Avalanche Lake is one of the major important tourist destinations of Ooty and the scenic view that the spot reflects will make you fall in love with the place instantly. The entire region of Avalanche Lake is filled with exotic blooming flowers like Orchids, Magnolias and rhododendrons that lifts the beauty of the place even more.

3. Fernhill Palace

Built way back in 1844 on over 50 acres of land, the Fernhill Palace was once the royal residence of the Maharaja of Mysore. Today, the property is one of the popular resorts in Ooty that is frequented by many travellers throughout the year to experience the royal beauty of the Fernhill Palace.

 4. Doddabetta Peak

Doddabetta which means ‘Big Hills’ in the Kannada language is another popular tourist destination in Ooty. Doddabetta Peak is the highest peak in the Nilgiris with breathtaking panoramic views of the mountains and valleys. There is a telescope on the watchtower at Doddabetta Peak from where you can enjoy the views of the landscape of Ooty.

 5. Dolphin’s Nose

Set amidst the blue mountains of Nilgiris, the point came to be as Dolphin’s Nose because the attraction looks exactly like a Dolphin’s nose. It is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Ooty and is perched at 1,500 m above sea level with endless beauty and a wide variety of flora surrounding the place.

Things to Do in Ooty

Ooty undisputably is one of the best places for exciting adventures, relaxing on the lap of nature, memorable sightseeing, colourful shopping streets and so much more. Ooty is also one of the preferred honeymoon destinations in India. Here is a list of what you can do in your Ooty honeymoon package.

1. Take a Toy Train Ride

One of the best things that you can do on your trip to Ooty is take a toy train ride which is operational from Mettupalayam to Ooty. The entire journey from Mettupalayam to Ooty is absolutely spectacular and the journey makes its way through 250 bridges and 16 tunnels.

2. Enjoy the Tea Plantation Trip

Ooty is world-renowned for its tea plantations and the entire hill station is filled with a variety of flourishing tea gardens. Take a tour of the lush green tea plantations for an enlightening experience on your Ooty trip and explore the major hub of tea plantations in India.

3. Taste the Handmade Chocolates

Shopping for handmade chocolates is one of the famous things to do in Ooty. There are many shops in Ooty where you can shop from a variety of handmade chocolates that are sold by weight.

4. Taste the Local Delicacy

Varkey is a very popular delicacy of Ooty which is made of wheat, butter and sugar. Varkey is served majorly with tea or coffee at any bakery or cafe in Ooty. Apart from this, there are several other local delicacies that you can enjoy on your Ooty trip.

What things to Pack?

Before you pack your bags for a trip to Ooty, here is a list of things that you keep handy with you.

1. Woollens

Ooty remains cold throughout the year, and the nights can become from moderate to extreme cold. It is advisable to pack a warm jacket and socks for chilly nights.

2. Umbrella

The hill station can experience sudden rain showers, so it is advisable to keep an umbrella handy to shield yourself from unexpected rains.

3. Comfortable Pair of Shoes

There are a lot of high and low planes at Ooty which needs comfortable pair of shoes to explore the hill station at its full. Carry a pair of comfortable shoes and slippers before packing for Ooty.

Ooty has everything to offer anyone and is one of the most beautiful places in India that will make you come back for more. Book your Ooty tour package from a wide range of options from Veena World and enjoy your holiday vacation to the quintessential and beautiful places of South India.