Day 1:
Heart of Ooty
09:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Beginning your excursion in Ooty at Ooty Lake
Just 3 km from Charring Cross, visiting the lake is the first thing on the list for tourists. The lake right at the centre of the city and has a lot to offer. Boating on the lake is a popular activity and you can choose from various kinds of boats. Children find this place more engaging with the mini train rides around the lake.
Time duration: 45 mins – 1 hour
Mode of Transport: Any mode of public transport
At a distance of 3.5 km is the vibrant Government Rose Garden
As the name suggests, the garden is known for its wide variety of colourful roses. The garden has been recognized by the World Federation of Rose Society, Osaka Japan as the best rose garden in south Asia.
Time duration: 30 min – 45 mins
Mode of Transport: Auto / Taxi
Next spot, Government Botanical Garden, is 2 km from the Rose garden
Botanical Garden has been in existence for over a century and is a must visit place in Ooty. The garden is home to some exclusive species of flora. The Italian garden was built by the Prisoners of War from the World War 1.
Tibetan Market is in the same vicinity. You can look to buy something traditional pieces of fabric for your wardrobe.
Time duration: 45 mins – 1 hour
Mode of Transport: Auto / Taxi
After this, it will almost be lunch time and you head towards the Charring Cross and try out only vegetarian meals at Adyar Ananda Bhavan at a cost of Rs 300 – 500 for two.
Meat lovers can drop in at Angaara Restaurant for some mouth-watering dishes at a price of Rs 1000 for two.
Explore the area on foot and look for some souvenirs to buy for your loved ones.
Doddabetta tour
02:00 PM – 06:00 PM
Post lunch, your next stop should be the Tea Factory and Museum at a distance of 3 km from Charring Cross.
Tea plantation is crucial to the region’s economy. The uniqueness about this tea factory is that they produce chocolate tea which is rarely seen or found. They do have shop where you can buy as many varieties of tea as you want.
Time duration: 1 – 1.5 hours
Mode of Transport: Auto / Taxi
After this, your next destination is Doddabetta Peak
The peak is the highest peak of the Nilgiri mountain range and that is the reason you cannot find such mesmerizing and marvellous views anywhere else. You can enjoy the panoramic views from a telescope at the Telescope House.
Time duration: 1 – 1.5 hours
Mode of Transport: Auto / Taxi
On your way back to your hotel, you can pay a visit at the Tea Park
This is the place where the tea plants are cultivated. Tea plantations always provide the best background sceneries for photos. Unwind the long day here with a cup of freshly prepared tea.
Time duration: 30 min – 45 mins
Mode of Transport: Auto / Taxi
Also read: Best area to book your hotel in Ooty
Day 2:
Mode of Transport: Today’s plan includes sites and attractions that are beyond the town limit. Depending on public transport will consume time unnecessarily. It’s better to book a cab for round trip to cover all the tourist spots.
Jungle Safari
07:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary is 50 km from Ooty
A massive ecological park which is shared between Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka and Mudumalia National Park is the area that is under Tamil Nadu state. The jungle is protected to conserve endangered species of flora and fauna. It has been declared as a tiger reserve as well. You can choose from jeep, bus and elephant safaris as per your requirement. For more information visit https://www.mudumalaitigerreserve.com/
Time duration: 2 – 3 hours.
If you love adventure, your next spot should be Needle View Point, 8 km from Gudalur town.
The place is often used for shooting scenes for regional movies. To reach the view point, you have to trek close to 500 meters of rough terrain. The 360 degree view of the green covered Nilgiri Mountains take your breath away. If traveling with elderly people, it is better not to skip this.
Time duration: 45 – 1 hour.
You can look to satisfy your hunger in Gudalur or can have your lunch at Pykara.
Man-made Natural Attractions
02:00 PM – 06:00 PM
30 km from Gudalur is the Pykara Village
The village has two main attractions for the tourists. One is the lake which is actually a reservoir of the Pykara Power Station and the other is the waterfall, located at the downstream of the power station.
Boating on the Pykara Lake can be enjoyed with motorboats and speedboats.
Time duration: 1 – 1.5 hours
Next spot will be the Wenlock Downs. 7 km from Pykara
This place is popular for shooting song sequence for Bollywood movies. The area is a sprawling grassland presenting with a scenic panoramic views of natural vegetation.
Time duration: 45 min – 1 hour
Day’s sightseeing ends at Pine Forest Shooting Spot
Another famous location for film shooting. Many blockbuster films of 1990s have a sequence that had been shot at this very location. The place is different from the other attractions. Walking through the pine forest is quite a unique experience in itself.
Time duration: 45 min – 1 hour
Also read: Ooty Town Itinerary
Day 3:
Coonoor Sightseeing
09:00 AM – 06:00 PM
Your sightseeing begins with a ride on the Nilgiri Mountain Railways
Udagamandalam (UAM ) to Coonoor (ONR) is 19 km long journey and takes 70 mins with 4 halts. Mountain railways always give you a fascinating and memorable experience. The famous Bollywood song ‘Chaiyya Chaiyya’ was shot on this route. The train (56139) departs at 09:15 AM and reaches Coonoor at 10:25 AM.
At the station, hire a taxi to roam around the town. This will be your mode of transport for the day.
Once in Coonoor, first thing to explore is the Lamb’s Rock
The location offers magnificent views of the valley. Important thing to remember is to put on a suitable pair of shoes which are fit for trekking purpose. The path to the point is rocky and can get slippery, if wet.
Time duration: 45 min – 1 hour
Then you carry on with your onwards journey to the Dolphin Nose
This viewpoint probably has the best views to offer. The view of the Catherine Falls amidst the tea gardens and mountains makes it all the more spectacular. Tourists visiting Coonoor never miss to pay a visit here.
Time duration: 1 – 1.5 hours
After this you return back to the centre of the town to fill your belly. You won’t have any shortage of options to select where to dine in, but Jharokha Restaurant for meat lovers and Khana Khazana for the vegetarians, give you good dining experience.
The final attraction to pay your visit is the Sim’s Park.
A well-maintained and exquisite garden, Sim’s Park is the ideal place to unwind yourself amidst variety of natural flowers and plants. You get some beautiful photographs to cherish for life long.
Time duration: 1 – 1.5 hours
To return back to your hotel, you board the Nilgiri Mountain Railways at Coonoor Station.
Train no. 56138 departs from Coonoor at 04:30 PM and reaches Ooty at 05:45 PM.
Travel Advice: It is better to check out from your hotel at Ooty and book an accommodation in Coonoor for a night. By doing so you can save some time on your journey to catch your flight or train.
Emerald Lake and Avalanche Lake Excursion:
Emerald Lake and Avalanche Lake are 20 km from Ooty and 35 km from Coonoor. You need one additional day to cover these attractions.
These are off-beat locations in the region. It takes almost an hour to reach here and enjoy nature in its purest form. The area is covered with thick and dense forest that makes it a paradise for bird watchers, nature lovers and shutterbugs. The authorities have restrictions in place to maintain the ecological balance. Most of the tourists prefer to skip these attractions due to its remoteness.
