ooty travel ...querry abt conoor and avalanche

mhalder

hello i am going to ooty on sep

MY SCHEDULE IS: AS FAR AS PRESENT PLANNING

DAY 1: reaching ooty around 12 by toy train
afternoon : going to botanical garden and market place within the city

DAY 2: MUDUMALAI & MASINGUDI

DAY 3: conoor


can anyone tell me whether we can cover conoor and avalanche in the same day

if any one have any suggestions which i can consider along with my present plan..please suggest.

Any suggestions will be well appreciated...thanks in advance

pmvelu

Yes, Coonoor could be clubbed with Avalanche in a Day (Avalanche is around 35 kms from Coonoor ). Not sure as if you take a package tour , Avalanche / Kunda / upper Bhavani / Kothagiri is NOT normally included and majority of tour operator will not show interest also and I heard to visit Avalanche and Upper Bhavani we need to take PWD / Forest Dept not sure thou...

From Coonoor, you need to take Mettupalayam road and after 9 kms , you need to take right turn for Avalanche (From this point Avalanche is 27 kms and a big signboard will be there).

And for 3 Days your plan is perfect!
Hope this helps.

snonymous

Ive been many times to Avalanche, in fact it is my favourite destination ever and we make it a point to go every year as far as possible. A one day visit does not do it justice. If you want, you can read my online post about our last trip there at http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog...2060/tpod.html

To stay at Avalanche you need to book the Forest Rest House from DFO office at Ooty. Other than that there is a fancy resort near Emeralde lake. You do not require permission to visit Emeralde lake but you do for Avalanche lake. Both lakes are connected by a bridge [at Emeralde township] near their respective dams. Going over the bridge is the road leading to the Red Hills resort and Parsons valley.

You can take the road [public bus or taxi] from Coonoor to Emeralde, the road condition is not good so it may take much longer than it should. From Ooty to Emeralde is about the same distance via Good Shepherd [Palada] and Ithalar - again by public bus or taxi. This Jan the road was quite good, last year it was not, dont know about right now.

You can stop wherever you like on accessible parts of the Emeralde lake shore, it is pristine, unspoilt and beautiful. Small eating joints serving basic meals / tiffin are there at Emeralde, so if you prefer anything fancier, pack your own lunch.

The road from Coonoor also goes upto Upper Bhavani reservoir, I think about 60km or so. To drive onto the dam, and beyond to Bangi Thappal and the Mukkurthi NP, you require EB or Forest Dept. permission otherwise you can go all the way up there and enjoy the fantastic views. EB and Forest resthouses are available through advance booking. On this road you will see another road on the right going downhill, which leads to Avalanche, it is unmanned on the U.Bhavani end but manned at the Avalanche end. You require permission to go on this road but you could go part of the way 'unofficially' if you want. The road gives access to Lakkidi, Ushi malai peak, a small Bhavani amman kovil, trek route to Kolaribetta etc. Even if you stick to the roads where you do not require permission, there is still plenty to see and enjoy. If doing it as a one day trip, set out early. From Coonoor, you need to take the Coonoor Manjur road, you can see it on the right side when coming downhill on the Ooty Mettupalaiyam road.