Pondicherry to Ooty

edoq

No, as far as I understand this ticket is still in WL2/3/4
PNR number = 452-4446854

R Murli Dhar

Thanks. That helped check. Sorry it's still waitlisted. But there are many days to go. Since I now have it will check from time to time, and let you know ASIK (as soon as I know)not SIK as in sick

Good wishes.

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snonymous

Dacoit Chief, that's a beautiful photo.

Edoq, I hope you are aware of the present situation in the Nilgiris, please read this report:
http://www.hindu.com/2009/11/12/stor...1254540800.htm
As you can see, the train service is suspended although the authorities will work overtime to try and get it going by the Christmas period.

I hope everything is back to normal by the time you travel, but it would be better if you check.

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Dacoit Chief

Thanks Snonymous, though I have to admit it's not mine. The image is actually a link to an online photo that I google image searched. (It's hosted there not here). Sorry, I tried to go back to give author credit, but I do not know who the author is and cannot edit my post now as it is out of time.

Just thought the pic would be useful for the OP if he had a doubt about the position of FC.

R Murli Dhar

Edoq and other Bloggers. i just travelled nearly upto Mettupalayam. The situation is pretty bad really... not trying to put you off. The roads are terrible from MTP upwards, and I saw very few buses plying that route. As others have pointed, the damage to the rail system is pretty bad really. The roads are a little better though - although the number of buses plying did not seem very high. May be it is not the season as I have been given to understand. I also understand that things are being taken on a war footing. Best of Luck and I will keep you posted, as in the last few days and coming days I seem to be more on the roads. My computer has conked out so you will have to wait (!) for me to get to a browsing center. Good wishes.

Dacoit Chief

I think the train should be running again by the time the OP wants to do his journey! True there is a lot of damage, but I think they will undertake everything on a "war-footing" as you have mentioned!

From what I understand there are no busses going all the way between MTP and Kotagiri! The road is open to light vehicles only! When these roads get bocked, sometimes they have relay busses going as far as the first land slip on the ghat road, and then people walk from there. Sometimes they have other local busses coming down the other side. Maybe that system is going now!

If anyone is interested (or travelling to Nilgiris) I also posted a few other updates on another thread: Is Ooty really worth a visit?

rupesh99

Dear brother/sister,
have you any train pondicherry to madurai? and rameshwaram to pondicherry train? please send me.

Dalex

Hello I'm in Auroville and in the near future would like to go to Ooty for a week or so. I'm not a fan of the trains so will be taking the over night bus. Could some one tell the price for this? Also what you would suggest to do in Ooty. Was wanting to go to an animal sanctuary. Thanks

Dacoit Chief

Hi Dalex. As you are in Auroville, I think there are people on site who have information about the long distance busses that start from Pondicherry. Otherwise, on your next trip in town drop in to travel agency. I am not sure if there are direct Ooty busses running anymore. In any case there are plenty of direct busses going to Coimbatore, and then you can take a local bus from there to Ooty. I had a look on redbus.in, and it lists a few busses for around 300Rs. one way to. Coimbatore.

Have a read through the thread which is linked to higher up on this thread. If you want to see an animal sanctuary, the best one to get to from Ooty is Mudumalai. You can get decent local busses from Ooty.

R Murli Dhar

Since you are not a rail fan, you could take a bus from Pondy to Coimbatore; there are deluxe/AC buses running which would cost you around 300 to 500 INR. From Coimbatore you could take a mofussil bus (which operates every 15 minutes off season) to Ooty. The bus journey begins somewhere around 9.00 p.m. in Pondy arriving at Coimbatore at about 6.30 a.m. or so. Buses to OOty commence around that time only.

The alternative would be to take a train to Madras (Chennai); take the 2671 Cheran Exp or the Nilgiri Express. It's an overnight journey and you could have a comfortable sleep, provided you get the reservation. From Coimbatore on the Cheran, which arrives at 615 the next day, you could take a convenient bus to the mofussil bus stand and take a bus to OOty. The Cheran leaves Madras Central Not EGmore at 22.10 hrs. The Nilgiri leaves at around 2040 hrs and takes you to Mettupalayam straight after a halt at Coimbatore. Mettupalayam is the foothills of the Ooty Hills. From there too buses are available.

As for doing stuff in Ooty, you could visit the famed Botanical Gardens, do some boating, and look at the view from the highest point in the Western Ghats, and of course the tea gardens.

Since you want to look at an animal sanctuary, I would recommend the Mudumalai Wildlife sanctuary, which is fairly close from tours run from there.

Here's the official link to the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary: http://www.forests.tn.nic.in/wildbio...ty/ws_mws.html
As we head into the tourist season, it is imperative you plan in advance.

If you want more info, please feel free to contact me.

Good wishes and good luck.