Coonoor-Ooty-Kotagiri

enidhi

Planning for a 2-3 days trip to Ooty, Coonoor & Kotagiri from Bangalore. Will be renting a car from Bangalore.

Need inputs on following questions:
1. We’re planning to rent some tents and sleeping bags and set up camp in some nice place instead of staying in hotels- Is there any nice specific place ideal for camping in or around Coonoor? (we need a place where vehicle can go) Will camping be safe? Should we take someone’s permission?

2. What is the ideal time to explore places of tourist interest in Coonoor and Kotagiri? Our initial idea is to spend one day for Ooty, one day for Coonoor+Kotagiri and use third day as buffer- either stay in coonoor if we like the place, or use it to visit some other place enroute to Bangalore- say Nagarahole/Nanjanagud etc

Any other related info, tips, suggestions also welcome

Thanks in advance

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capt_mahajan

The Kotagiri/Conoor stretch has many such places. I suggest find a tea estate en route and ask their permission. Although we didn't camp, we went into a few tea estates that were very peaceful and green, and would be ideal for your purpose.

It is very nice after the monsoons.

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pmvelu

Hi Enidhi,

On Day 1 :- Ooty Local !

On Day 2:-

Coonoor [ Coonoor have a Day worth of places to visit and you could include Kundah --> This drive will be refreshing and NOT-AT-ALL-touristy circuit with Kms and kms of Tea Plantations and at the end of it you can see Kundah Dam and a lone EB station.For this, From coonoor, travel towards mettupalaiyam and after 3 to4 kms , there will be a right turn and that's the road and kundah is 32 kms in wonderful scenic road]. In Kundah nothing much to see and it's for scenic views only and From here, you can catch ooty road [Road is average for few KMs and around 7 kms this will be exceptionally steep ] and then roads become normal and good and you will travel Via Typical Nilgiri Villages] and you can go to Avalanche also [By taking detour at a place 2 kms before Emerald and this road you can use only if you have Sumo kind of vehicle] and once you are done with Avalanche you can backtrack to the same main road and ooty is around 25 kms only --> All this will take a day for sure

On day 3:-

From ooty, You can have a Drive Towards Kothagiri and in my view, nothing much is in Kothagiri to see but all through this Circuit , you will be riding with Tea Plantations in both sides of the road [It's all through] and it's one nice scenic drive

If you start by Post lunch , you can take Gudalur road [I assume ,you will take Bangalore-Mysore-Gundlupet-Bandipura-Theppakad-Masinadugi-Kalghatti-ooty while going] and enroute you have some beautiful View points [ 1 is the View of Gudalut itself from ooty-Gudalur road and there is around 200 metres stretch [ around 12 kms before gudalur] which is breathtaking and Fantastic vies of Gudalur town and also frog hill view [This is around 4 kms before Gudalur]


And on your other Question on Tents, Not sure on that part but my sugesstion is just you can enquire with any of the plantations there for this possiblity and it might not be an advisable option considering the Weather over there in Nilgiris !.

And Hotel Tamilnadu's TTDC Youth hostel is budget option Or Deluxe Double toom in the same hotel [ 700 Rs/ Day] is worth and comfortable with Car parking space !

In Ooty, Try out "Hotel Saravanas[ For Best Veg food in Nilgiris] [ In Charring Cross road and 100 metres from Hotel Tamilnadu] and for Non-Veg , there is one hotel next to ooty Collector office [I forgot the name] which is very famous with Locals !

Hope this helps & tonight I will attach few photos on Kundah road, Kothagiri road , Frog hill view etc as all those are in my home PC.

Have a Fantastic Trip & If you need specific info, Please Post !

Velu

Aishah

Also for a comfortable budget stay Reflections Guest House in Ooty is good - it's near the lake, and has nice home cooking. Since you have your own car, I think you can include a drive to Kotagiri at the same time as you do your Ooty sightseeing - it's not that far away. And as pmvelu says, not much there but a country landscape.

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pmvelu

Aishah,

Somehow My experience with this Guesthouse is not so good and believe me there are several Spacious options available for the same price in Ooty.

I did shared my experience with this guesthouse out here

http://www.indiamike.com/india-hotels/reviews/4115/

And Yes after this experience, twice I went to ooty and out of curiosity I just visited this guesthouse and yes , you are right always this guesthouse is filled with Non-indian Tourists..Location is fantastic,rooms are cramped and absolute No Room-service and No Car parking space.

Regards
Velu

enidhi

Thanks Capt, Velu and Aishah.

Thanks Velu for all the detailed suggestions.

What about that toy train from Ooty to Mettupalyam? Do anyone have its timing details?

Also since I am planning to take Scorpio on self drive rentals, I can't leave the car and go in train-probably others will take the train and I'll drive down.

More than traveling in the toy train I am interested in taking its picture in some scenic location-say from a hill top-any suggestions?

Aishah

Thanks for the update on Reflections, pmvelu - I was there a long time ago and then it was lovely. However, maybe the elderly owners are just not up to it any longer. I'm glad you put your comments - I shan't recommend it anymore! I'm wondering if in fact the owners are still alive?

I went the toy train just to Coonor, and that was enough of an experience for me. I then hired a taxi for the rest of the day, so maybe this is an idea for you driving down with your Scorpio. I don't know where a vantage point would be for taking photos however.

Indizen

The OOty toy train to M. :661 UAM MTP PASSR UAM 15.00 MTP 18.35 Takes 3 hours and 35 minutes to cover 45 km. Must be India's slowest train. And the most scenic journey?
Perhaps you could take some photos at sunset. Sould be great fun, following the train in your Santro!

pmvelu

I did attached the timetable down below Enidhi !.

And on your other question, there are several options and especially on OOty-Kothagiri road, Ooty- Kundah Road, Kundah- Wellington Road and Gudalur-Ooty road, there are many a places where you can get very good snaps !.You have too many options !

And Lastly IMer "Theshutterbug" went for ONLY photo expedition on Ooty-Mettupalaiyam road some time back and you could keep in touch with him for the Photogenic locations !



Aishah, the older lady[Owner] is still there and I feel the guest house owners prefer "Lengthy Stays" rather than just touristy one or 2 nights out there. It's full of Non-indian tourists now also and for all of them the Owner receives in person . When I signed the register I saw except me all others have signed up for atleast a week + . That might be the reason ! But again the Rooms are sooo small and cramped and the Hardcore bargaining required there with maids like road side shop is the most irritating part out there but Location is Just fantastic and this guesthouse is so secured and very calm!.

Regards
Velu

Attached Files

MTP-OOTY Timetable.pdf (72.6 KB, 63 views)

Aishah

Thanks for that Velu! You are probably right re the long term stay - I was there for 10 days in all, and stayed 6 nights at Reflections, and 4 on a tea plantation. Good to hear the recent news of folks there.

Dacoit Chief

Enidhi. Did you do this trip already? I just came across this thread today, and might have a few inputs, but it's probably done and dusted by now!

In case anyone is interested, there are quite a few places to camp in the Nilgiris, though nothing is official. In my opinion, best places to camp are away from the main Coonoor-Kotagiri-Ooty triangle and out towards Avalanchi and beyond. Nobody will bother you out there. You could also consider the Wenlock downs which are the grassy areas on the road from Ooty to Pykara. (i.e. the Mysore road). The topography and vegetation of these Northern areas of the Nilgiris are more suited to camping than the Tea gardens. The hills are more gentle, and there is a lot of natural grassland. Tea garden camping is not that easy as you will inevitably have to camp on a path. All other areas are covered by tea or are way too steep. This rules out camping in many areas around Coonoor and Kotagiri (the main tea grwing areas).

I have also camped in a few areas around Coonoor in the past, but inevitably you will get some curious onlookers, especially as you wake up in the morning. You could consider some areas near Coonoor peak/Teneriffe. This is the peak which is beyond a village called Attadi and is one of the highest points of Coonoor. To get there you have to turn off to the right about 1.5km after Sims Park on the Coonoor to Kotagiri road. Then just keep following the road up. You get some incredible views on the way. Once you pass the village, at the highest point of the road at a place called Kodamalai turn left onto a dirt track. You can reach the peak and the temple on the top in about 30mins by foot from there, or find an area around there to camp. The area is quiet, and has amazing views over the main Coonoor valley and wellington. No tourists ever go there (well until I write this post at least).

enidhi

Thanks everyone for the inputs. We're starting tomorrow morning... have booked a ford Fiesta self drive for the trip. Will tell you how it goes once I'm back

Dacoit Chief

Have fun! I wish I could join... but I am on the other end of the world.

raj123

A question for people who have gone and stayed at Kotagiri. Can someone recommend me a good place to stay with a family?

I am planning to drive down to Kotagiri on Saturday morning and looking for a route from Dharmapuri to Mettupalayam and Kotagiri. Are roads in good condition on this route?

Dacoit Chief

The road from Mettupalayam to Kotagiri is not as busy as the other one via Coonoor, but I do not know of the road condition anymore. Last time I went it was good.

As for places to stay, Kotagiri has very little to offer, but is very tranquil. I have not stayed in either of these places but you could check out:
http://www.belaircottages.com
and http://www.naharhotels.com/StoneHouse/home.html

Be sure to check out Kodanadu view point when in Kotagiri.