Bangalore To Ooty - How To Reach

By Author: Rashmiranjan Patil
Total Articles: 261
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Ooty or Ootacumund is one of the most popular hill stations in India. Located at an altitude of 2286 m, Ooty is situated in the Nilgiri Hills and is adorned by mighty mountain ranges, plush tea gardens, cascading waterfalls and a variety of flora. The region is famous for its oil extraction from eucalyptus tree, plants like lemon grass, geranium, spices like clove and also camphor.

Some of the popular tourist attractions of Ooty include the Ooty Lake, Deer Park, Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, the Rose Garden, Thread Garden, Guna Caves, Dolphins Nose, Fairy Falls, Ooty Botanical Garden and the Stone House. Doddabetta Peak, the highest point in the region offers a magnificent view of the whole area. The Madumalai Wildlife Sanctuary is a very renowned national park and tiger reserve that draws a large number of tourists to it.

Bangalore is around 267 km from Ooty by road. Ooty is well connected to Bangalore by road and rail tracks. Although there is no direct train to Ooty, Mettupalyam the closest station is linked to Ooty by the toy train on a narrow gauge rail. One gets to travel 46 km through the hills and valleys. ...
... The journey starts from Kallar near Mettupalayam and passes through a scenic route as it climbs up and down several hills. The 'Nilgiri Railway' is listed as a 'UNESCO World Heritage Site' in India. One could also take a train to Mysore and drive to Ooty.

If travelling from Bangalore to Ooty by car you have to drive to Mysore then take NH 212, also known as the Bangalore-Calicut road, pass through towns like Nanjangud, Begur and Gundlupet till the Bandipur forest check post. From here you have to follow the NH 67 through Bandipur and Mudumalai forests till you reach Theppakadu. If lucky, you may even spot animals like deer, elephants, wild boars and bears. The speed limit within both the forests is 40 km per hour.

From Theppakadu, take the SH 67 and climb the 36 hair pin bends through Kalhatty to reach Ooty. Alternately from Theppekkadu you could drive further to Gudallur and follow the Pykara route to reach Ooty.

There are a number of buses plying between Bangalore and Ooty by the state run KSRTC. Other private buses also operate in this route and are a good option to consider. The drive from Bangalore to Ooty is a very scenic one with dense vegetation around the roads and mighty mountains looming nearby. If driving yourself may prove too hectic, then hiring a taxi from Bangalore to Ooty is a good option and would leave you poorer by around Rs 7,200 for a round trip.

The nearest airport is Mysore, but it does not operate.