Travel To Ooty

rcreeker · Nov 12th, 2005, 05:36

I am trying to figure out how to get to Ooty from Kochi. Is there a train from Kochi to Mettupalayam or do I have to get there some other way. If the train to Ooty from Mettup. leaves at 7 in the morning, do I stay in Mettap. the night before or somewhere else?

iyou · Nov 12th, 2005, 07:29

You get a train to Coimbatore first. We did the same route in 2003 that you've described. We spent the night in a cheap hotel near the station in Coimbatore because the train to Mettapalayam leaves early in the morning.

rcreeker · Nov 12th, 2005, 11:44

I have just discovered that there are retiring rooms at the Combiatore station. Any idea what they might be like? There are trains from Ernakulam that get in late at night. Might be an option for catching the early train to Mettupalayam.

john.sw · Nov 12th, 2005, 17:37

Coimbatore Railway Station is not exactly the Ritz Hotel, and Mettupalayam is as bad!

The trip from Cochin to Ooty by train takes longer than going by car (7½ hours by car), and you will miss some amazing sights and sounds if you go by train.

As you drive from Kochi towards the Nilgiris the countryside changes dramatically! You will start climbing from the sweltering heat of the plains into the cool hills. The roadside stalls selling tender coconut, pottery and clay masks are well worth stoping for. You can buy a clay mask (they put them on building sites to ward off evil) for about Rs.15/- and little clay oil burners for Re.1/-.

As you climb into the Nilgiris along the winding road with about 30 hair-pin bends, you will pass amazing cliffs, jungles, and wild animals at the roadside. The car drive is not to be missed!

The only part of the rail journey that you shouldn't miss is from Coonoor to Ooty on the toy train.

I would suggest that you get a car and driver from Kochi to Coonoor and catch the Ooty train at Coonoor.

Your could get a car to Mettupalayam, but the train journey to Ooty takes 3½ hours...

If you need to arrange a driver from Kochi, please send me a private message and I will put you in touch with a friend (registered travel company) who will provide the car and driver and not rip you off!

vandy · Nov 12th, 2005, 18:08

hi there,reccommendinfo from post number 4 from john,hiring a car and driver
is the way to go,I stayed overnight in mettapalaym in cheap hotel and then
caught train early next morning to ooty whilst my driver met me in ooty when
I arrived,train trip was great,try your best to get to train station early,buy
your own ticket and get seat on left hand side of carriage on way up to get
best views,reccommend sullivan court hotel in ooty,very nice,your driver will
have no problem finding a place to stay,my driver slept in the car parked in
hotel grounds,tip for a suitable car for journey,air-con indica,great little car.

happy travelling
paul vandy

xnarun · Nov 12th, 2005, 19:06

well it kind of depends on the budget you have in mind but some quick suggestions:

1. if you have not one the MTP-ooty rail you should do it - it starts at 0710 and reaches ooty at 1200 hours. The loco is attached at the back of the train as in it pushes the train so if you book a first class seat (8 seats in a coupe) you would actually get the best view of the route and believe me it is worth it.
2. If you decide to give the first class a miss ensure you get a seat on the second class coach of the 60s vintage - you can clearly make them out - they look older and have multiple doors - one for each coupe of 8 seats. sit on the left - most spectacular views there.
3. The MTP-Conoor section is the rack section with a steam loco. the conoor - ooty section is non rack with a normal diesel loco -so that much less fun
4. The waiting rooms in MTP station are rather sad. But if you are not the very choosy variety the retiring rooms in Coimbatore are ok.
5. Board the Nilgiri express coming from Chennai at 0500 hours at Coimbatore to MTP and move from the normal rail to the Mountain rail
6. I have stayed at the Sullivan Court and at the YWCA - the YWCA at Ettines road is very good - and cost a fifth of what Sullivan would.
7. If you doinng sullivan insist on a MAP plan - do not accept EP. They will agree to MAP - they have hardly any guests in Winter (Except of course post Dec 20-Jan 5th)

Do Not miss the railway; if you are a steam rail buff you should do the following

1. the railway yard at MTP is really something with some of the old Swiss engines (some more than a 100 years old) still working. you should meet up with the Engineers - they are quite friendly and would be keen on telling you.
2. the steam shed at conoor is another place well worth a vist.

If you have the time you should get off at Wellington Station (which is next to Conoor between ONR and Ooty); must easily be the most deserted station in India - at times you will be the only person - even the railway authorities come in only when a train comes in (say 30 mins in advance)

Also it is one of those places where you still get card tickets for the journey and the platform.

however be warned that there are no toilets in the train. The toilets at both Hillgrove and Runnymede (bet MTP and conoor) are not the greatest.

LavieQ · Nov 14th, 2005, 06:25

John,

How long does the drive take from Cochin to Ooty? Coimbatore to Ooty? Mettuppalayam to Ooty? Is the ghat road more crowded in season than out-of-season?

Gracias,
LaVieQ

LindaK · Nov 23rd, 2005, 03:42

Regarding the train from Mettupalayam to Ooty, I've seen two different opinions on IndiaMike. One opinion is that the best part is between Ooty and Coonoor. The other opinion is that the best part is between Mettupalayam and Coonoor. What do the rest of you think?

What about catching the train in Ooty or Coonoor to Mettupalayam. What is the schedule? Is it less busy? Is it just as fun / scenic?

john.sw · Nov 23rd, 2005, 04:01

Hi,

Of course it depends on your driver and the traffic, but:

Cochin to Ooty = 7½ hours

Coimbatore to Ooty = 3½ hours

Mettupalayam to Ooty = 2 hours

The train journey is beautiful! The whole point is that you are climbing/descending the Western Ghats, so Coonoor-Ooty or vice versa is pretty, but you only move 1000ft up or down. Do the whole trip from Mettupalayam to Ooty if you have time.

The view is the same going up or down the track. Just make sure you are on the left side going up or the right side of the train going down, to get the best views. It is worth paying a few Rupees more for 1st Class.

The ghat road is more crowded in season than out-of-season.

LavieQ · Nov 23rd, 2005, 10:45

John,

Thanks for the details. It is quite a commute to Coimbatore. However, I'm beginning fantasize about a little house amidst the tea estates. Mmmm...

LaVieQ

steven_ber · Nov 23rd, 2005, 12:25

My memory may not be good, but I seem to remember the stretch between Mettupalayam and Coonoor as being the most scenic.

Where is the place the train stops for water and there seems to be two rivers meeting with loads of tiny waterfalls? I just wanted to get off and spend the day there, but my travel partner was inflexable.

Train 662…Mettupalaiyam…07:10, Coonoor…10:40, Udagamandalam (Ooty)…12:00

Train 661…Ooty…15:00, Coonoor…16:15, Mettupalaiyam…18:35

Distance 46 km.

Mettupalaiyam - Ooty costs: -

FC = Rs 142
II = Rs 27

These are the fares quoted by the Indian Railway website, but I have a feeling the actual fares are about 50% higher.

rcreeker · Nov 23rd, 2005, 12:49

Steven you are amazing! I spent about an hour trying to find that info on the net and only got half of it! Thanks for completing the picture! All we have to do now is decide if we will take the train up to Ooty from madurai and car back to Kochi or the reverse (car from Kochi to Ooty and train down to Madurai).

xnarun · Nov 23rd, 2005, 12:51

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nilgiri_Mountain_Railway (on wikipedia)
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/944 (the world heritage citation)

steven_ber · Nov 23rd, 2005, 12:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcreeker

Steven you are amazing! I spent about an hour trying to find that info on the net and only got half of it! Thanks for completing the picture! All we have to do now is decide if we will take the train up to Ooty from madurai and car back to Kochi or the reverse (car from Kochi to Ooty and train down to Madurai).

All the info is in the 'Train Information' thread (link in post 11 above), though I double checked this morning to make sure there were no changes.

chathuri · Aug 3rd, 2006, 10:32

we are a family of 3 including a kid. we are hoping to explore Mysore and Ooty this August. We would be traveling from Bangalore to Ooty via Mysore and again back to Bangalore. Our kid is used to travel in public transport.

we can spend 4 days. we prefer train when ever possible..my kid is looking fwd to travel in Toy train.

I need advice on
1) transport options (and cost) for following segments.
Bangalore to Ooty
Mysore to Ooty
Ooty to Bangalore

2) Accomodation at Mysore and OOty

From where can i get the Toy train? Is Ooty crowded in August..?is there any out of the way place close to Ooty where we can spend the night?

Nov 12th, 2005, 05:36	#1
rcreeker Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: canada Posts: 75	Travel To Ooty I am trying to figure out how to get to Ooty from Kochi. Is there a train from Kochi to Mettupalayam or do I have to get there some other way. If the train to Ooty from Mettup. leaves at 7 in the morning, do I stay in Mettap. the night before or somewhere else?

Nov 12th, 2005, 07:29	#2
iyou Maha Guru Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon USA Posts: 502	You get a train to Coimbatore first. We did the same route in 2003 that you've described. We spent the night in a cheap hotel near the station in Coimbatore because the train to Mettapalayam leaves early in the morning. __________________ . . . --May a moody baby doom a yam.

Nov 12th, 2005, 11:44	#3
rcreeker Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: canada Posts: 75	train retiring room I have just discovered that there are retiring rooms at the Combiatore station. Any idea what they might be like? There are trains from Ernakulam that get in late at night. Might be an option for catching the early train to Mettupalayam.

Nov 12th, 2005, 17:37	#4
john.sw Up in the hills with my head in the clouds... Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: India/UK Posts: 1,019	Coimbatore Railway Station is not exactly the Ritz Hotel, and Mettupalayam is as bad! The trip from Cochin to Ooty by train takes longer than going by car (7½ hours by car), and you will miss some amazing sights and sounds if you go by train. As you drive from Kochi towards the Nilgiris the countryside changes dramatically! You will start climbing from the sweltering heat of the plains into the cool hills. The roadside stalls selling tender coconut, pottery and clay masks are well worth stoping for. You can buy a clay mask (they put them on building sites to ward off evil) for about Rs.15/- and little clay oil burners for Re.1/-. As you climb into the Nilgiris along the winding road with about 30 hair-pin bends, you will pass amazing cliffs, jungles, and wild animals at the roadside. The car drive is not to be missed! The only part of the rail journey that you shouldn't miss is from Coonoor to Ooty on the toy train. I would suggest that you get a car and driver from Kochi to Coonoor and catch the Ooty train at Coonoor. Your could get a car to Mettupalayam, but the train journey to Ooty takes 3½ hours... If you need to arrange a driver from Kochi, please send me a private message and I will put you in touch with a friend (registered travel company) who will provide the car and driver and not rip you off! Attached Thumbnails __________________ www.nilgiris.asia your guide to the Nilgiris, Ooty, Coonoor, Kotagiri and Gudalur

Nov 12th, 2005, 18:08	#5
vandy Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: perth-australia Posts: 673	travel to ooty hi there,reccommendinfo from post number 4 from john,hiring a car and driver is the way to go,I stayed overnight in mettapalaym in cheap hotel and then caught train early next morning to ooty whilst my driver met me in ooty when I arrived,train trip was great,try your best to get to train station early,buy your own ticket and get seat on left hand side of carriage on way up to get best views,reccommend sullivan court hotel in ooty,very nice,your driver will have no problem finding a place to stay,my driver slept in the car parked in hotel grounds,tip for a suitable car for journey,air-con indica,great little car. happy travelling paul vandy

Nov 12th, 2005, 19:06	#6
xnarun Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Dubai currently Posts: 35	well it kind of depends on the budget you have in mind but some quick suggestions: 1. if you have not one the MTP-ooty rail you should do it - it starts at 0710 and reaches ooty at 1200 hours. The loco is attached at the back of the train as in it pushes the train so if you book a first class seat (8 seats in a coupe) you would actually get the best view of the route and believe me it is worth it. 2. If you decide to give the first class a miss ensure you get a seat on the second class coach of the 60s vintage - you can clearly make them out - they look older and have multiple doors - one for each coupe of 8 seats. sit on the left - most spectacular views there. 3. The MTP-Conoor section is the rack section with a steam loco. the conoor - ooty section is non rack with a normal diesel loco -so that much less fun 4. The waiting rooms in MTP station are rather sad. But if you are not the very choosy variety the retiring rooms in Coimbatore are ok. 5. Board the Nilgiri express coming from Chennai at 0500 hours at Coimbatore to MTP and move from the normal rail to the Mountain rail 6. I have stayed at the Sullivan Court and at the YWCA - the YWCA at Ettines road is very good - and cost a fifth of what Sullivan would. 7. If you doinng sullivan insist on a MAP plan - do not accept EP. They will agree to MAP - they have hardly any guests in Winter (Except of course post Dec 20-Jan 5th) Do Not miss the railway; if you are a steam rail buff you should do the following 1. the railway yard at MTP is really something with some of the old Swiss engines (some more than a 100 years old) still working. you should meet up with the Engineers - they are quite friendly and would be keen on telling you. 2. the steam shed at conoor is another place well worth a vist. If you have the time you should get off at Wellington Station (which is next to Conoor between ONR and Ooty); must easily be the most deserted station in India - at times you will be the only person - even the railway authorities come in only when a train comes in (say 30 mins in advance) Also it is one of those places where you still get card tickets for the journey and the platform. however be warned that there are no toilets in the train. The toilets at both Hillgrove and Runnymede (bet MTP and conoor) are not the greatest.

Nov 14th, 2005, 06:25	#7
LavieQ Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: WA, USA Posts: 75	John, How long does the drive take from Cochin to Ooty? Coimbatore to Ooty? Mettuppalayam to Ooty? Is the ghat road more crowded in season than out-of-season? Gracias, LaVieQ

Nov 23rd, 2005, 03:42	#8
LindaK Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 132	Regarding the train from Mettupalayam to Ooty, I've seen two different opinions on IndiaMike. One opinion is that the best part is between Ooty and Coonoor. The other opinion is that the best part is between Mettupalayam and Coonoor. What do the rest of you think? What about catching the train in Ooty or Coonoor to Mettupalayam. What is the schedule? Is it less busy? Is it just as fun / scenic?

Nov 23rd, 2005, 04:01	#9
john.sw Up in the hills with my head in the clouds... Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: India/UK Posts: 1,019	Hi, Of course it depends on your driver and the traffic, but: Cochin to Ooty = 7½ hours Coimbatore to Ooty = 3½ hours Mettupalayam to Ooty = 2 hours The train journey is beautiful! The whole point is that you are climbing/descending the Western Ghats, so Coonoor-Ooty or vice versa is pretty, but you only move 1000ft up or down. Do the whole trip from Mettupalayam to Ooty if you have time. The view is the same going up or down the track. Just make sure you are on the left side going up or the right side of the train going down, to get the best views. It is worth paying a few Rupees more for 1st Class. The ghat road is more crowded in season than out-of-season.

Nov 23rd, 2005, 10:45	#10
LavieQ Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: WA, USA Posts: 75	John, Thanks for the details. It is quite a commute to Coimbatore. However, I'm beginning fantasize about a little house amidst the tea estates. Mmmm... LaVieQ

Nov 23rd, 2005, 12:25	#11
steven_ber Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: London, England. Posts: 9,243	My memory may not be good, but I seem to remember the stretch between Mettupalayam and Coonoor as being the most scenic. Where is the place the train stops for water and there seems to be two rivers meeting with loads of tiny waterfalls? I just wanted to get off and spend the day there, but my travel partner was inflexable. Train 662…Mettupalaiyam…07:10, Coonoor…10:40, Udagamandalam (Ooty)…12:00 Train 661…Ooty…15:00, Coonoor…16:15, Mettupalaiyam…18:35 Distance 46 km. Mettupalaiyam - Ooty costs: - FC = Rs 142 II = Rs 27 These are the fares quoted by the Indian Railway website, but I have a feeling the actual fares are about 50% higher. __________________ . How to get helpful replies to your transport/Itinerary questions. Train information.

Nov 23rd, 2005, 12:49	#12
rcreeker Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: canada Posts: 75	Steven you are amazing! I spent about an hour trying to find that info on the net and only got half of it! Thanks for completing the picture! All we have to do now is decide if we will take the train up to Ooty from madurai and car back to Kochi or the reverse (car from Kochi to Ooty and train down to Madurai).

Nov 23rd, 2005, 12:51	#13
xnarun Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Dubai currently Posts: 35	some internet posts that may help http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nilgiri_Mountain_Railway (on wikipedia) http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/944 (the world heritage citation)

Aug 3rd, 2006, 10:32	#15
chathuri Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Sri Lanka Posts: 72	Itenary advice from Bangalore to Ooty we are a family of 3 including a kid. we are hoping to explore Mysore and Ooty this August. We would be traveling from Bangalore to Ooty via Mysore and again back to Bangalore. Our kid is used to travel in public transport. we can spend 4 days. we prefer train when ever possible..my kid is looking fwd to travel in Toy train. I need advice on 1) transport options (and cost) for following segments. Bangalore to Ooty Mysore to Ooty Ooty to Bangalore 2) Accomodation at Mysore and OOty From where can i get the Toy train? Is Ooty crowded in August..?is there any out of the way place close to Ooty where we can spend the night?

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