madurai to ooty?

rcreeker

I am exploring the idea of going to Ooty from Madurai. Is the best way by train? There is a train leaving madurai at 22:50 and arriving in Coimbatore at 4:45. The train to Mettupalayam leaves at 5:15. Is it pushing one's luck to risk making that connection? Can you book all tickets at once (including the mettuaplayam to ooty) to avoid having to take time buying the ticket for the next leg?

On the other hand is there a better way to get to Mettupalayam? One of the points of this is to take the toy trainto Ooty. We aren't excited about having to spend the night in either Coimbatore or Mettupalayam.

xnarun

I tried to do exactly what you did and my train was late by 25 minutes so I missed the connecting train in Coimbatore to MTP (Nilgiri Exp)

In case you miss the train just come out of the station (Coimbatore) and take a bus (from Gandhipuram (a place in Coimbatore - any auto rickshaw will take you); else just hire a metered call taxi to Coimbatore (It cost me Rs 356 (in Dec 04) ) - prices may have gone up say 20%

It takes about 50 minutes to an hour in a taxi at 5 in the morning. (However it may still be dark - ensure you take a taxi from the booking office - hail a taxi only if you feel confident)

You can book a thru ticket from Madurai to Ooty (but that can be done only a a booking office - not sure how you can do it on the net)

rcreeker

{Posts: 29 I tried to do exactly what you did and my train was late by 25 minutes so I missed the connecting train in Coimbatore to MTP (Nilgiri Exp)}

Thanks XNARUN
Not sure I want to take a cab in the dark!

Any suggestions for a hotel in Madurai?