Ooty is also known as Queen of Hills and is located in the Nilgiri district of Tamil Nadu. The Ooty hill station is among the top tourist destinations in India and draws both locals as well as foreigners in huge numbers. Ooty is best for trekkers, nature lovers, and adventure enthusiasts. Tourists frequently visit here to catch a glimpse of the majestic mountains and lush green valley. Ooty’s tourist places are popular among honeymoon couples, solo travellers, friends and families. An Ooty tour package will satisfy the thirst of any nature lover.
How to Reach Ooty
Ooty is one of the famous tourist places for couples and is also among the most visited hill stations in India. Ooty is well connected by air, train and road. Visitors can reach Ooty easily through all the modes of transportation from every city. Furthermore, if you want to enjoy a hassle-free journey, you can choose your choice of the mode accordingly.
How to Reach Ooty By Air
The Coimbatore Airport (CJB) in Coimbatore is the nearest airport to Ooty, which is 85 km away from the city. Coimbatore airport well connects this hill station with all the major towns in India such as New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kozhikode, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad via Indigo, Air Arabia, Air India, Jet Konnect and Spice Jet. After reaching the airport, passengers can hire taxis or cabs to reach Ooty.
Nearest Airport: Coimbatore International Airport, Coimbatore
How to Reach Ooty By Train
Ooty has its own railway station known as the Ooty Railway Station or Udagamandalam railway station (UAM). It is connected to the main cities of Tamil Nadu. It is located on the major New Delhi-Coimbatore railway line. It is linked with the cities like New Delhi, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Chennai, Kochi, Mysore, Lucknow, Kanyakumari, Puri, Ahmedabad and Jaipur.
Mettupalyam, 40 km from Ooty city, is the Ooty’s nearest train station connecting this hill station by the toy train. Once you reach the Mettupalyam railway station, you can hire private cabs, taxis or avail buses to reach Ooty.
How to Reach Ooty By Road
The easy way of arriving in Ooty is by the well-maintained road and national highways. Tamil Nadu State Road Transport Corporation (TNSRTC) buses along with some private buses link Ooty with major neighbouring cities like Chennai, Bangalore, and Mysore.
Tourists can also hire cabs and taxis from Coimbatore and Mettupalayam railway station and enjoy the scenic beauty of Ooty by a road trip.
The Nearest Railway Station to Ooty
Udhagamandalam railway station (UAM) is the nearest train station to Ooty, located in Ooty city. The Ooty railway station is important for the travellers as there are so many tourist places in Ooty, which are found at a nearby distance. Due to lots of picturesque locations and travel destinations, this railway station always witnesses passenger traffic.
Some of the closest railway stations to Ooty so that visitors can reach this place with ease:
Mettupalayam Railway Station (MTP)
Mettupalayam station is a railway station located in the Coimbatore district in Tamil Nadu. The Mettupalayam Station code is MTP. It falls under Salem division of Southern Railway zone of Indian railways. It is one of the famous railway stations located in the Coimbatore District due to the fact that the Nilgiri Mountain Railway starts from here.
Some of the famous trains that cross through the Mettupalayam railway station are:
- NMR Special (06171)
- Udagamandalam Mettupalayam Passenger (56137)
- Nilagiri Express (12672)
- Mettupalayam Coimbatore MEMU (66623)
- Coimbatore – Mettupalayam MEMU (56146)
Coimbatore Junction Railway Station (CBE)
Coimbatore Junction is the primary railway station connecting Coimbatore city. It falls under Salem railway division of Southern Railway zone located in Coimbatore city of Tamil Nadu. The distance between Ooty and Coimbatore railway station is 54.61 km. There are around 209 trains which stop here so that tourists can visit Ooty easily. Coimbatore Junction is the Ooty’s nearest railway station. Its station code is CBE.
Some of the trains that stop at Coimbatore Junction are:
- Chemmozhi Express (16616)
- Kochuveli Express (16315)
- Puducherry Express (16858)
- Bangalore Express (16316)
- Swarna Jayanti (12644)
Podanur Junction Railway Station (PTJ)
Podanur Junction railway station is located in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. It is 60 km away from Ooty City and falls under Southern Railway Zone. There are many trains which stop at Podanur railway station from where you can go to Ooty by bus or taxi. The station code of Podanur railway station is PTJ.
Some of the famous trains that pass through the Podanur station are:
- Chennai Express (12686)
- Puducherry Express (16856)
- Mangalore Express (12685)
- Ernakulam Express (16187)
- West Coast Express (22638)
Nearest Railway Station to Ooty from Bangalore
The distance from Bangalore to Ooty is 277 Km via NH 275. There is no direct train from Bangalore station to Ooty. You can travel to Ooty through Mysore by boarding the Basava Express from Bangalore to Mysore (17307) and then take a cab, taxi or bus from Mysore to Ooty.
Nearest Railway Station to Ooty from Mumbai
There is no direct train from Mumbai to Ooty. However, you can take a direct train from Bombay central railway station to Coimbatore railway station.
Download train food app, RailRestro for order online food delivery in trains and stay updated about any train’s PNR status, live station, train schedule, as well as train running status.
Top Things to Do in Ooty
From Ooty’s sightseeing to adventure trekking, there are so many activities for tourists to enjoy in Ooty. The cold climate, scenic beauty and majestic views of Ooty attract tourists from across the world. Tourist attractions in Ooty include beautiful dams, mountains, lush greenery and many more.
Here are some of the famous tourist places to visit in Ooty and top things to do there:
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Ooty Lake – Soak in the Beauty
Ooty Lake is a man-made lake constructed for fishing purpose. But now, it is very famous among tourists for boating. The boathouse provides motorboats, paddle boats, and rowing boats. A refreshing ride on the calm waters is a very renowned activity enjoyed by honeymoon couples, group of friends and families. Horse riding and cycling near the lake are other popular activities amongst tourists. For a quick tour around the Ooty lake, there is also a toy-train for the kids.
Location: Ooty Lake, Ooty
Charge: Rs. 10 for Indians and Rs. 560 for foreigners
Timing: 9:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
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Ooty Needle View Hillpoint – Embrace the Serenity
Needle View Hill Point is away from the hustle and bustle of city life. It is also known as Oosi Malai and is an ideal place to relax your soul and spend some quality time with the beauty of nature with your family and friends. The cool breeze, splendid sunrise and sunset and the 360-degree view of the surrounding area make the full journey more enjoyable and romantic. The drive from Ooty, all the way to this place, offers tourists breathtaking scene of greenery and the valley of the Nilgiris.
Location: Gudalur, Ooty Main Road, National Highway 67, Ooty
Charge: N/A
Timing: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
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Nilgiri Mountain Railway– Enjoy the Ride of Toy Train
A trip to Ooty is incomplete without enjoying a ride of the Toy Train run by the Nilgiri Mountain Railway, which gives passengers a lifetime experience and shows dense forests, captivating landscapes, and sparkling river with the sun shining brightly over them. It is one of the beautiful places to visit in Ooty in one day itself.
Ooty Toy Train Ticket Price
- Rs. 205 per person in First Class
- Rs. 30 per person in Second Class
- Rs. 15 for Unreserved category
Location: The one-way journey starts from Metupalaiyam at 7:10 a.m. and reaches Ooty at 12:00 p.m. and from Ooty, it begins again at 3:00 p.m.
Charge: The ticket costs Rs. 205/- and can be booked from the website of IRCTC
Duration: Approximately 5 hours
Also Read: Interesting Facts about Nilagiri Express
Shopping in Ooty
The Charring Cross, Upper Market, Tibetan Market, Ooty Main Bazaar, and Lake Market are the best shopping place in Ooty during a visit. Tourists can’t think of returning without stuffing their baggage with Toda Jewelry, Toda Shawls, Cookware, Crockery, chocolates, and many more. You can buy Nilgiri products, spices, woollen clothes and also shop for local handicrafts and many more things in the city. Its lovely traditions and diverse culture are well reflected through the many items that this place offers, which can be taken home as souvenirs or gifts.
The Best Time to Visit Ooty
The best time to enjoy Ooty is from March to June. These spring-summer seasons experience a pleasant climate which is ideal for sightseeing.
- Winter in Ooty (October-February) offers a panoramic view of the misty mountains. Ooty is the best honeymoon destination for couples. With the temperatures in from 5°C to 17°C and low visibility, adventure in Ooty is not a good option during the winter season.
- Summer in Ooty (March-June) is relaxing with this hillside town experiencing cosy temperatures from March to June that hardly exceed above 25 degree Celsius. It is also the best time to visit the Ooty Lake, Avalanche Lake, and Ooty Botanical Garden during a summer evening.
- Monsoon in Ooty (July-September) It is better to avoid visiting Ooty during the monsoon time if you are planning on covering top tourist places in Ooty, since the heavy rainfall may cause a lot of problems. But if you are a nature lover, then monsoon is the best time to see the natural beauty of Ooty.
Hotels in Ooty
Ooty is a popular tourist destination for couples. For accommodation; you can opt for luxury hotels, resorts or budget-friendly hotels. Some of the famous hotels are Treebo Trend Sky Dale Inn and Suites (Heritage Hotel), Savoy – IHCL SeleQtions (Resort and Spa), Olives Pleasant Stays (5 Stars), Sterling Ooty Fern Hill (4 Stars), Beverly Villa (3 Stars), The Majestic Crown (2 Stars) and Hotel City Palace (1 Star).
Local Food Options in Ooty
The ‘Nahar Restaurant’ is the famous eat-out option in Ooty. It is the best place to enjoy South Indian foods of Ooty. Few menu items to try are Indian Thali, Dosas and many vegetarian dishes. Sidewalk Cafe is the best place to spend some relaxing time having an extensive range of pizzas and fast food.