Imagine waking up to the sound of birds chirping, surrounded by lush green hills and tea plantations, and the sweet scent of eucalyptus. Sounds dreamy? Well, this is exactly how you will wake up in Ooty! This little gorgeous hill station, nestled in the Western Ghats, is a paradise on earth that offers the most lovely blend of adventure, greenery, and peace. It is the perfect long weekend getaway spot, and if you are planning to visit it, we have the ultimate Ooty itinerary curated just for you.
What To See And Do
Day One
1. Dodabettu Peak
If you are feeling too energetic, start your day with Dodabetta Peak. It is the highest point in the Niligiri mountain range and is situated at 2,637 metres above sea level. You can either drive up or climb to the place and witness some breathtaking views of the tea plantations, hills, and valleys.
Cost for entry: INR 10 per adult
Timings: 7 am to 8 pm
2. Ooty Botanical Garden
Ooty Botanical Garden is spread across 22 hectares and houses a vast collection of exotic and indigenous plants, including monkey puzzle and fossil trees, which are known to be rare species. They also have a conservatory with vibrant floral displays and a fern house. Fun fact? This place houses a 20-million-year-old fossil tree. You can take leisurely walks, enjoy serene picnics, or just admire the gorgeous flora here.
Cost for entry: INR 30 per adult
Timings: 7 am to 6 pm
3. Ooty Rose Garden
This rose garden in Ooty is home to about 20,000 varieties of roses, including ramblers, hybrid tea, miniature, and the rare black and green roses. With pergolas, rose tunnels, and a special viewing platform called Nila Maadam offering panoramic garden views, the garden is sprawling across five terraces.
Cost for entry: ₹75 per adult
Timings: 7 am to 6 pm
Day Two
1. Nilgiri Mountain Railway
When you are in Ooty, you cannot miss hopping on the most revered toy train where SRK and Mallaika’s famous Chaiya Chaiya was shot! It is also known as the UNESCO World Heritage toy train, as it is recognised and listed on the most prestigious list.
The journey is about 4.8 hours uphill and 3.5 hours downhill, passing through 16 tunnels. The main stations along the route are Mettupalayam, Kallar, Coonoor, Wellington, Lovedale, and finally, Ootacamund (Ooty). The toy train offers scenic views of the Nilgiri mountain range with valleys, thick forests, and Catherine Falls. As this route is so famous, you need to book your tickets at least 30 days in advance
Cost: Mettupalayam to Ooty: First Class: ₹1,100, Second Class: ₹305
Coonoor to Ooty: First Class: ₹550, Second Class: ₹125
2. Coonoor Tea Estates
Coonoor tea estates are lush, gorgeous tea estates nestled in the Nilgiri hills, located just 50 minutes away from Ooty. The visitors can get a very authentic experience of Nilgiri tea, which is famous across the globe. The tea plantations are known for their misty hills, scenic beauty, and production of some of India’s best teas. You can also indulge in nature walks and bird watching here.
Cost for entry:INR 30 per adult
Timings: 6 am to 5 pm
3. Sim’s Park
Sim’s Park is one of the most well-known tourist attractions in the town. It is situated at an elevation of about 5,040 feet above sea level and spans across 12 hectares of land. The park houses over 1000 varieties of trees, shrubs, and flowering plants, which are all imported from various countries like Mexico, Australia, and more.
Cost for entry: ₹30 per adult
Timings: 9 am to 6 pm
Day Three
1. Avalanche Lake
The Avalanche Lake is a scenic freshwater lake that was formed in the early 1800s. It is just an hour from Ooty and a must-visit. The reason behind its formation, unlike its name, was a major landslide and not an avalanche. The landslide blocked the natural flow, which led to the formation of this lake. It is situated amidst hills and is surrounded by dense forests of pine and eucalyptus, making it the perfect spot to unwind.
2. Wax World Ooty
On the last day, after exploring all the outdoor attractions for two and a half days, explore an indoor attraction. Wax World, as its name suggests, is a wax museum, which is housed in a charming colonial-style building. The museum houses lifelike wax statues of freedom fighters and social icons.
Cost for boating: ₹40 per adult
Timings: 9 am to 8 pm
3. Ooty Lake
Before ending day one, make sure you visit Ooty Lake. This is a man-made lake and is one of the most revered attractions here. It is known for pedal boating and shikara rides amidst the gorgeous green gardens and hills.
Cost for boating: ₹350 onwards
Timings: 9 am to 6 pm
How To Reach
Reaching by flight
There is no direct flight to Ooty because this little town has no airport for commercial flights, hence you will have to fly down to Coimbatore. If you are looking to reach the place quicker and with more comfort, flights are the best option. You will have to take a cab from Coimbatore to Ooty, which would take about 2.5 to 3 hours.
Reaching by train
There are no direct train lines to Ooty; hence, if you find train journeys convenient, you can take a train to Coimbatore. The train journey will surely take over 20-30 hours from the metro cities. You will also have to take a cab from Coimbatore, which means an additional 2-3 hours of journey. So, make sure you decide accordingly.
Reaching by bus/car
If you are thinking of taking a bus or driving your car to Ooty, you must take care of some things. Firstly, you must remember that it might take the longest time to reach Ooty by road from major metro cities. The most common route is Bangalore-Mysore-Bandipur-Mudumalai-Ooty. Secondly, you must pass the Madumalai National Park and Bandipur route before their night restrictions begin.
Best Time To Visit
Ooty looks and feels the best from March to June and then from September to November. These are the best months to travel to this scenic heaven on earth.
Ooty’s weather is pleasant all year round, but during the above-mentioned months, it is warm during the days and cooler by night with occasional rains. From the month of October, you can expect the temperature to drop and get quite chilly.
Summing Up
Ooty is one of the most beautiful destinations in India, so make sure if you ever get a chance, you do visit it. We have curated the above itinerary with all the apt information you need, so now all you have to do is get, set, go!
