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?

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

Kodai over Ooty anyday

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...)

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.

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.

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

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!

one more for KODAI

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

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.

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