Ooty and around

sald

After going through various posts and many with not so great opinions on Ooty, I am still inclined to visit - for 2 main reasons. The train ride and the kurinji blooming after 12 years. Would appreciate any help on these questions:

1. Having gone through the forums, staying in Ooty does not seem to be a good idea considering the crowd and the rush. I was contemplating the Red Hills Resort, some 15kms away from Ooty. Any one stayed there or heard of it?

2. Is the train ride downhill from Ooty to Mettupalayam as exciting as the ride uphill? Well, logically the scenery and views remain the same but is seeing a steam loco mountain train trudging up a not-to-be-missed experience?

Thanks!!

Nick-H

I guess the down-hill ride might be more reliable...

I haven't done the train trip, although I gather it is a not-to-be-missed experience! The road trip is pretty good...

If you want to be warm (depending on the time of year), then don't go all the way up to Ooty; Coonor is just low enough to be comfortable. I went to Ooty in July and found it far too cold for me. (I'm used to Chennai temperatures)

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sald

Cold in July!!! I was thinking of a December trip!!!

jyotirmoy

My vote for Coonor.... stay here walk around.. make a day trip to Ooty.

Vasko

I second Nick. The train trip is not to be missed, it is a fantastic experience (I came down). And yes, it is really quite a shock how cold it is when you come from 30 C to Ooty. I also went in July... daytime was pleasant, but the nights...

mani

December is no problem.
We were in coonoor for one week for christmas in 2004. pleasent during the day and chilly during the night. It is a beautiful time in ooty with the town wearing a festive look.

Was in coonoor again this september, the weather was cool even in the day due to rains.

You will need warm clothes in the evening after sun down when it gets really chilly. but then it really doesnt matter much because by the time its chilly you are in the hotel with your room heater.

hope this is of help
mani

robh

It's 14yrs ago now but I did both the up and down trips by train to Ooty. I can't remember the month i traverlled in but I remember it poured with rain all the time I was in Ooty. If I'm honest, the trip coming down was far nicer because travelling from the chill back to the warm was lovely.
Ok, I'm a softy and prefer the warmth

kullukid

I've taken the train up to Ooty & loved it preferred it to the Shimla one, not sure why people say they don't like Ooty i loved the time i spent there, stayed at Regency Villas old Raj place with antique furniture & all the trimmings real fire in your room etc etc, it's in a quiet location set in it's own grounds with wonderful views. KK

Vasko

kk, I think when people say they don't like Ooty they often may mean that they don't like what the town itself has become: polluted. But how can someone not like the hills around the town itself, they still seem relatively clean...

I had a memorable one day trek there, one of the highlights of my whole time in India. But then again, I can't compare it to other hill stations, because I haven't been... so I may not know of better.

Anyhow, get a room with a heater.

rangss

Seeing a steam mountain train trudging up : Yes...it should not be missed.

Downhill Vs Uphill...I vote for Uphill. It is slower and starts early in the morning.

Downhill: Loco is in the front. Uphill: it is at the back.

Downhill: Rack is not deployed (might be wrong). Uphill: Rack is deployed.

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rab

Even over about 4 hours or so from Mettupalayam I absolutely loved the up train to Ooty and could not wait to take the ride down 2 days later. It's a stunning trip, both ways.

In some ways Ooty is a bit boring but there are some good shops to look at and a really nice botanic garden to walk around for a couple of hours. We liked it a lot on balance. As others have said watch that cold. In November we found it chilly at night.

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sald

Hey, thanks all for the great suggestions. About the train ride, I'll have to make an overnight stop at Coimbatore to take the ride up. Will try and fit that in my plan. Else, it's the ride downhill for me.

Thanks again all!!

TimMakins

Check the status of the railway before you set out. Here is the latest news: 23 Oct 2006...

http://www.hindu.com/2006/10/23/stor...2304720300.htm

Udhagamandalam: Train services between the two hill stations of Coonoor and Mettupalayam on the Nilgiris Mountain Railway (NMR) line have been cancelled with immediate effect up to October 23 due to landslips on the track near Kallar railway station.

According to the Station Manager, Coonoor, G. Saravanan, railway employees were working round-the-clock to clear the track and restore normal traffic in the section.

Tim in England

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icetea

I simply loved Ooty, but then that's maybe also because it was my first experience with Indian hill stations, and I fell in love with the tea plantations and eucalyptus forests. The town itself was rather quiet, clean and full of flowers. We were there maybe in July last year, I think..can't remember exactly, and we stayed in Ooty itself, up on a hill with a beautiful view. The weather was pleasant, maybe a bit chilly in the shade, but that's all, we had no special clothes. There's the rose garden and a nice botanical garden to see, some suicide points with grand views, the telescope spot, the tea plantations, the spot where most movies are shot, with a big eucalyptus forest in the backdrop, all in or within short driving distance from Ooty. Coonoor looked lovey too, more so than Ooty, but we only saw it from the bus.

Nick-H

If anyone is about to go there... Mrs N heard on the TV the other day that there had been 11 cm of rain there over one night a couple of days ago