Ooty or Kodai in July with Kids?

Ian McAllister · Mar 15th, 2005, 06:46

We'll be tralleving with two girls, aged 13 and 11 through the south this summer. I'm trying to decide between either Ooty or Kodaikanal. We'd hit Ooty en route from Mysore to Kerala, or we'd stop at Kodai between Kerala and Madurai.

We'd appreciate any feedback on which you'd recommend considering these factors:

1.) Weather in mid or late July? Any difference between the two places in rainfall or visibility?

2.) Children. Is the hiking in one area easier, or more picturesque? What else is there to do that might appeal to kids (both experienced travellers)

3.) Favourite spots? Any mid-range hotels that are great value or that you'd highly recommend?

The rail trip up to Ooty appeals but what other factors should we consider?

crvlvr · Mar 15th, 2005, 07:24

I have not been to either Ooty or Kodai in ages. But I've heard the Ooty is become very commercialized and crowded.

pooch · Mar 15th, 2005, 11:25

Kodai over Ooty anyday

SydneyKate · Mar 15th, 2005, 12:13

My kids are also 11 & 13. About 18 months ago we were in Mysore, then travelled to a National Park about 2 or 3 hours SW of there, called Nagarahole (also now called Rajiv Ghandi National Park). It's a picturesque and relatively untouristed spot (in fact, compared with Bandhavgarh NP which we visited this year, Nagarahole is very untouristy). It's on a smaller scale than the parks in the centre and north and has the added bonus that there are many herds of wild elephants which the kids loved. We even got trumpeted at by an irate elephant after our jeep got too close! Some jeeps spotted a tiger, and although we didn't we still had a marvellous stay, we stayed at the beautiful Kabini River Lodge, a former maharaja's hunting lodge.
BTW regarding your other post, we have flying foxes in our garden almost every night! (a bit far to travel tho...)

lonelyaztec · Mar 15th, 2005, 12:49

Sydney Kate,

Go to Kodaikanal...ur kids will enjoy trust me. Homemade chocolates there r fabulous.

Have not been to Ooty, i am told Ooty is more polluted. U will love Kodai.

Pls. read my travelogue showcased on the Home page on Kodaikanal.
I have been to Nagarhole national park and stayed at Kabini. Awesome experience. Read my travelogue on Kabini.

lonelyaztec · Mar 15th, 2005, 12:51

Ian,

The message above is meant for u, by mistake i addressed it to Sydney Kate.

Go to Kodai.

Have not been to Ooty, i am told Ooty is more polluted. U will love Kodai.

Pls. read my travelogue showcased on the Home page on Kodaikanal.
I have been to Nagarhole national park and stayed at Kabini. Awesome experience. Read my travelogue on Kabini.

dani · Mar 15th, 2005, 13:58

Ooty is not at all pleasant anymore. I wanted to leave the same day after arrival...

Tog · Mar 21st, 2005, 18:18

Just been to both Kodai and Ooty.Kodai is by far the nicer place.The train ride up to Ooty was great but the place is too commercial,dirty and crowded.
The bus ride up to kodai was also great.Wonderful views with lots of hairpin bends!

warezilla · Jul 14th, 2009, 13:56

one more for KODAI

luv4nilgiris · Jul 14th, 2009, 22:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by dani

Ooty is not at all pleasant anymore. I wanted to leave the same day after arrival...

Quote:

Originally Posted by lonelyaztec

Have not been to Ooty, i am told Ooty is more polluted. ...

Quote:

Originally Posted by crvlvr

But I've heard the Ooty is become very commercialized and crowded.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tog

The train ride up to Ooty was great but the place is too commercial,dirty and crowded.

All of the above are unfortuntaley true! Sad, but true!

snbadarla · Aug 1st, 2009, 03:21

I think ooty is far better place to family than kodai because

1. number of places to visit in ooty when compared to kodai are more
2. you can get every sight seeing place of kodai,in ooty itself like lake, waterfalls , pine forests etc. more than that u can see in ooty other places like botanical garden , rose garden, thread garden, shopping,
3. pykara sight seeing route is wonderful , u can certainly get film shootings at any time, stepwise pykara water falls,
4.tea gardens are more and gives pleasent sceneries but kodai lacks them
5. in kodai mostly mist is there some times throughout the day which will be wasted
6.of all the above the life time memorable train journey from ooty to mettupalyam

i do agree some of the places of kodai are more beautiful than any places in ooty, but if any body wants to enjoy occasions with family , or for the first time ooty is always preferable.

karikalan · Sep 10th, 2009, 17:03

Ooty is polluted...kodai is best in all terms...ur kids will enjoy a lot there. Happy holidays.

Mar 15th, 2005, 06:46	#1
Ian McAllister Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Guangzhou, China Posts: 21	Ooty or Kodai in July with Kids? We'll be tralleving with two girls, aged 13 and 11 through the south this summer. I'm trying to decide between either Ooty or Kodaikanal. We'd hit Ooty en route from Mysore to Kerala, or we'd stop at Kodai between Kerala and Madurai. We'd appreciate any feedback on which you'd recommend considering these factors: 1.) Weather in mid or late July? Any difference between the two places in rainfall or visibility? 2.) Children. Is the hiking in one area easier, or more picturesque? What else is there to do that might appeal to kids (both experienced travellers) 3.) Favourite spots? Any mid-range hotels that are great value or that you'd highly recommend? The rail trip up to Ooty appeals but what other factors should we consider?

Mar 15th, 2005, 12:49	#5
lonelyaztec Maha Guru Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,498	Kodaikanal Sydney Kate, Go to Kodaikanal...ur kids will enjoy trust me. Homemade chocolates there r fabulous. Have not been to Ooty, i am told Ooty is more polluted. U will love Kodai. Pls. read my travelogue showcased on the Home page on Kodaikanal. I have been to Nagarhole national park and stayed at Kabini. Awesome experience. Read my travelogue on Kabini. __________________ Aztec My photoblog

Jul 14th, 2009, 13:56	#9
warezilla Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: erode Posts: 25	one more for KODAI __________________ Check out my two recent adventure bike trips An exhilarating Scenic Kerala Road Trip “God forbid” Jungle Road Trip in Kerala,Karnataka

Aug 1st, 2009, 03:21	#11
snbadarla Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: VIJAYAWADA Posts: 4	ooty is far better eventhough commercialised I think ooty is far better place to family than kodai because 1. number of places to visit in ooty when compared to kodai are more 2. you can get every sight seeing place of kodai,in ooty itself like lake, waterfalls , pine forests etc. more than that u can see in ooty other places like botanical garden , rose garden, thread garden, shopping, 3. pykara sight seeing route is wonderful , u can certainly get film shootings at any time, stepwise pykara water falls, 4.tea gardens are more and gives pleasent sceneries but kodai lacks them 5. in kodai mostly mist is there some times throughout the day which will be wasted 6.of all the above the life time memorable train journey from ooty to mettupalyam i do agree some of the places of kodai are more beautiful than any places in ooty, but if any body wants to enjoy occasions with family , or for the first time ooty is always preferable.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Mar 15th, 2005, 07:24	#2
crvlvr Guru Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Hollywood Posts: 4,667	I have not been to either Ooty or Kodai in ages. But I've heard the Ooty is become very commercialized and crowded.

Mar 15th, 2005, 11:25	#3
pooch Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Middle East <---->India Posts: 384	Kodai over Ooty anyday

Mar 15th, 2005, 12:13	#4
SydneyKate Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sydney Posts: 77	My kids are also 11 & 13. About 18 months ago we were in Mysore, then travelled to a National Park about 2 or 3 hours SW of there, called Nagarahole (also now called Rajiv Ghandi National Park). It's a picturesque and relatively untouristed spot (in fact, compared with Bandhavgarh NP which we visited this year, Nagarahole is very untouristy). It's on a smaller scale than the parks in the centre and north and has the added bonus that there are many herds of wild elephants which the kids loved. We even got trumpeted at by an irate elephant after our jeep got too close! Some jeeps spotted a tiger, and although we didn't we still had a marvellous stay, we stayed at the beautiful Kabini River Lodge, a former maharaja's hunting lodge. BTW regarding your other post, we have flying foxes in our garden almost every night! (a bit far to travel tho...)

Mar 15th, 2005, 12:51	#6
lonelyaztec Maha Guru Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,498	Ian, The message above is meant for u, by mistake i addressed it to Sydney Kate. Go to Kodai. Have not been to Ooty, i am told Ooty is more polluted. U will love Kodai. Pls. read my travelogue showcased on the Home page on Kodaikanal. I have been to Nagarhole national park and stayed at Kabini. Awesome experience. Read my travelogue on Kabini.

Mar 15th, 2005, 13:58	#7
dani मेरा नाम Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Switzerland Posts: 500	Ooty is not at all pleasant anymore. I wanted to leave the same day after arrival...

Mar 21st, 2005, 18:18	#8
Tog Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Amsterdam Posts: 7	Just been to both Kodai and Ooty.Kodai is by far the nicer place.The train ride up to Ooty was great but the place is too commercial,dirty and crowded. The bus ride up to kodai was also great.Wonderful views with lots of hairpin bends!

Sep 10th, 2009, 17:03	#12
karikalan Narayana Desikan Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: chennai Posts: 5	Ooty is polluted...kodai is best in all terms...ur kids will enjoy a lot there. Happy holidays.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Ladakh Motorcycle Trip - 5th July to 20th July 2005	Yezdiking	Ladakh & Zanskar	6	Jun 13th, 2006 12:57
In Kodaikanal - Kodai International Hotel or Hill Country Resorts ?	rohit_hit	Tamil Nadu	7	Sep 8th, 2005 19:09
Just back from Ooty	jyotipg	Udagamandalam (Ooty)	0	Aug 1st, 2005 13:44
bodhizendo near Kodai	ladyjane56	Yoga, Spirituality, and Religion in India	0	Jun 21st, 2003 22:12
Kodaikanal (Kodai)	jyotsna	Tamil Nadu	1	Sep 10th, 2002 20:24