Udhagamandalam, commonly referred as Ooty is a popular hill station in Nilgiri district of Tamilnadu. 17 kms from Ooty is Coonoor, a picturesque destination. We will provide you a complete guide on how to reach these cute towns, places to see and stay on your own. Join us on a journey through misty tea gardens, fragrant eucalyptus forests and soothing skies virtually!
How to reach Ooty & Coonoor?
If you are travelling by flight, nearest airport is Coimbatore.
If you are travelling by road, you can opt for car or bus based on your preferences. Buses are available from cities such as Bangalore, Chennai, Coimbatore, Mysore and Kozhikode.
We would recommend travelling in your own vehicle or renting a car in Bangalore or Coimbatore. We did a road trip from Bangalore and here is the route we followed to reach Ooty:
Route 1: Bangalore – Mysore – Bandipura – Masinagudi – Ooty (This is one way route only)
The other two routes:
Route 2: Bangalore – Mysore – Bandipur – Mudumalai – Gudalur – Ooty
Route 3: Bangalore – Krishnagiri – Dharmapuri – Metter – Mettupalayam – Ooty (Longest route)
Places to stay in Ooty & Coonoor
There are plenty of options available from budget to luxury in both Ooty and Coonoor. However prices tend to fluctuate based on season, so it is highly recommended to book your stays in advance during peak season.
* Wildvibes Ooty for those who like a peaceful getaway
* Hotel Mayor Sudarshan for a budget stay
* Destiny the farm resort for a luxury stay. It is situated close to Avalanche lake
* Ghar homestay, Coonoor for a homely and pocket friendly accommodation
* Nature resorts for semi to luxury stay
4-day Itinerary
We would recommend at least 4 days to explore Ooty & Coonoor and here is the itinerary we followed:
Day 1 :
Start early from Bangalore and have breakfast in Mysore highway. You can spot wild animals in Bandipur and Masinagudi on the way. Reach Ooty by 12pm and have lunch. We suggest having lunch at Earl’s secret cafe, Kings Cliff in Ooty.
We booked our accommodation with Wildvibes Ooty as we wanted to take it slow on the first day. Ooty can get really crowded especially during weekends and peak season, so we highly recommend staying in a peaceful location for you to soak in the beauty of Ooty.
Day 2:
Spend the first half of your day chilling in the hotel/resort. Have your lunch in Ooty town and start towards Coonoor. You will find many tea estates and tea factories on the way. Make sure to visit one!
You can visit dolphin’s nose viewpoint in the evening. If you stay in Ghar homestay, they will provide you the location to a hidden cliff point. Do not miss the sunset near this homestay!
Day 3:
Start early from Coonoor towards Upper Bhavani dam and lake. Visit Avalanche lake after this. Pack some snacks and food as you may not find good food options on the way. Reach Ooty by evening and visit the popular Ooty lake. Visit chocolate factory or a chocolate shop to try some Ooty chocolates. We recommend Moddy’s chocolates. Stroll around Ooty market shopping and have dinner in Ooty town. We stayed at Hotel Mayura Sudarshan which is inside Karnataka Siri Horticulture garden.
Day 4:
Have breakfast in Ooty and visit Pykara lake and falls on the way back. Start back to Bangalore through Mudumalai lake
As we bid adieu to the beautiful landscapes of Ooty and Coonoor, our hearts were filled with memories of amazing sunrise and sunsets, scenic tea plantations and warm hospitality of the Nilgiri hills. As we carry these moments with us, we hope this inspires you to travel to these hill stations of Tamilnadu. Until we meet again, happy travels!