Can you suggest a good fun stopover for kids when I return to Bangalore from Ooty

While going from Bangalore ill go early in the morning so the kids ( 2 daughters aged 8 and 12 ) will sleep half the way

I dont think my kids would tolerate a 8 hour drive ( is it 8 hours without any stops ? ) on the fourth day, so i was thinking of leaving on the 3rd day itself and stopping somewhere overnight. But i dont just want a stopover, id like some camp or tent or anyplace quaint.

One choice is Madumalai, i could leave ooty in the afternoon on 3rd day, reach madumalai by evening, and do a night safari, so i wake up late on the fourth day and leave. Can anybody elaborate here

Another choice is another place closer to Bangalore. Not Mysore because we are not into heritage stuff. Its either nature or activities.

A third choice ( which i prefer ) would be to chill in Ooty itself, leave early on fourth day and stopover in some nature camp for a few hours on route to Bangalore.

Any suggestions ?

Srirangapatnam (roughly 20/30? miles from Mysore, between Mysore and Bangalore) with a visit to the Ranganathittu (sp?) bird sanctuary early in the morning. Only thing is, I don't know if this is a good time for the birds. (If it is, it is worth it)

Karnataka tourism has a hotel. Nothing much and not terribly clean, but it is on the bank of a river and quiet. Other hotels there too, but for location the tourism hotel is better.

Hi Kanwar,

From Bangalore to Ooty in Cab it will take close to 6 1/2 hours. (ask cab wallah to take the shortcut from Mudumalai to ooty Via kalhatty Ghat road). This will reduce around 35 kms of Hill Driving.


ooty to Mudumalai is 32 kms (in Short cut road) and ghat Road is around 20 kms only . Hence you can be in Mudumalai NP in flat 60minutes from ooty.

There is Mudumalai NP, Bandipur NP enroute and with kids on board My suggestion is to go for Day Safari ( Timings 6-9 am and 3-6 pm and one trip in common Forest dept Vehicle will take close to 1 Hour 15 Minutes and costs around 100Rs/head). This will be more than enough as even though there are many a forest dept guesthouses in both Mudumalai and Bandipur , many will be suitable for groups and adventorous types .


Just for a night stay outside ooty, you can opt for Masinagudi/Bokkapuram Area(it's 4 kms before mudumalai when you come from ooty) and here there are "N" number of guesthouses/resorts and this place is just on the foothills of Nilgiri Mountain ranges. Nothing much to see but you will get clear and nice view of Nilgiris and many a resorts out here take a short trek onto the Slopes of Nilgiris and it will be interesting and different.

Hope this is of some help.

Velu

Hi Kanwar,

From Bangalore to Ooty in Cab it will take close to 6 1/2 hours. (ask cab wallah to take the shortcut from Mudumalai to ooty Via kalhatty Ghat road). This will reduce around 35 kms of Hill Driving.


ooty to Mudumalai is 32 kms (in Short cut road) and ghat Road is around 20 kms only . Hence you can be in Mudumalai NP in flat 60minutes from ooty.

There is Mudumalai NP, Bandipur NP enroute and with kids on board My suggestion is to go for Day Safari ( Timings 6-9 am and 3-6 pm and one trip in common Forest dept Vehicle will take close to 1 Hour 15 Minutes and costs around 100Rs/head). This will be more than enough as even though there are many a forest dept guesthouses in both Mudumalai and Bandipur , many will be suitable for groups and adventorous types .


Just for a night stay outside ooty, you can opt for Masinagudi/Bokkapuram Area(it's 4 kms before mudumalai when you come from ooty) and here there are "N" number of guesthouses/resorts and this place is just on the foothills of Nilgiri Mountain ranges. Nothing much to see but you will get clear and nice view of Nilgiris and many a resorts out here take a short trek onto the Slopes of Nilgiris and it will be interesting and different.

Hope this is of some help.

P.S:- Not sure when you are planning this trip as ooty will be good and least crowded in Nov-Feb Timeframe (With Dec-jan the best). March-June15th will be peak season with huge crowd. July-Sep will have chances of Rains

Velu

Thanks PM Velu, youve been pretty helpful

Ill be travelling next month, i dont mind the rains, as it also means a lot of greenery

Have a Safe and fantastic trip ahead Kunwar !

Regards
Velu