Ooty is easily accessible by various means of transport. Travelling by road to Ooty is quite an experience in itself; In fact, all the routes to Ooty abound in scenic charm. Here’s how one can reach Ooty by air, rail and road.
Ooty does not have an airport. The nearest airport to Ooty is Coimbatore. Coimbatore International Airport is situated approximately 85 km away from Ooty. It connects Ooty with international locations like Singapore and Sharjah, and major Indian cities such as Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai and Cochin via an extensive network of flights. The best ways to reach Ooty from the airport are cabs, taxis and buses. For international travellers, the nearest International airport from Ooty is the Bangalore airport, popularly known as the Kempegowda International Airport. International flights are available from New York and other major world cities to Bangalore, thus connecting Ooty via Bangalore Airport.
Mettupalayam, located 40 km from Ooty, is the nearest railhead serving Ooty. Trains are available from Chennai, Coimbatore, Mysore and Bangalore connecting Mettupalayam. Another exciting way to explore Ooty is to board the Nilgiri mountain toy train, the famous heritage train which takes you uphill, slowly chugging its way through lush forests, down the valleys and dark, winding tunnels. Needless to say, it is a once-in-a lifetime experience! However, if you wish to reach faster, no worries. All you need to do is take a taxi from the railway junction.
There are several government and luxury buses which operate from Bangalore, Mysore and Chennai to Ooty. You can even board overnight buses for a comfortable journey. Another option is to travel by a cab/taxi or your own car. There is a well-maintained network of state and national highways such as NH 209 and NH 275 which connect Bangalore with Ooty. It takes around 7 or 8 hours to reach Ooty by bus from Bangalore.
Domestic Routes
Mumbai to Ooty: The most economical travel option to reach Ooty from Mumbai is to board a bus to Bangalore, and take another one to Ooty. It will take around 25h 15m to reach Ooty. One of the faster routes to Ooty from Mumbai is to take a connecting flight to Coimbatore and continue by road.
Hyderabad to Ooty: The most affordable option to reach Ooty from Hyderabad is to board a bus to Mysore and take another one to Ooty which takes approx. 18h. The fastest way to reach Ooty is to take a flight to Coimbatore International Airport and then a cab to Ooty which takes around 3h 6m.
Bangalore to Ooty: The 280 km road trip from Bangalore to Ooty is one of the best ways to experience the hill station. The journey is dotted with fabulous sights of the Nilgiri hills, tea gardens, and majestic waterfalls. In fact, there are three routes to reach Ooty:
Chennai to Ooty: Nine direct buses are available from Chennai to Ooty. The minimum time taken to reach Ooty from Chennai by bus is 10h 5m. A road trip to Ooty from Chennai is the best way to explore and experience the hill station. If you are planning to drive from Chennai to Ooty, take any of these three scenic routes.
Route 1: Villupuram – Trichy – Karur – Ooty
Route 2: Vellore – Krishnagiri – Salem – Ooty
Route 3: Villupuram – Yercaud – Coonoor – Ooty
All these routes provide entirely varied experiences. If you wish to take the fastest route to Ooty from Chennai, then you need to take Route 3 (Chennai – Villupuram – Yercaud – Coonoor – Ooty)
Kochi to Ooty: The driving distance between Kochi to Ooty is 293 km. One way to reach Ooty from Kochi is to take a cab to Aluva, then a bus to Coimbatore and a cab to Ooty. It takes around 6h 11m. Another way to travel is to take a cab from Ernakulam to Thrissur, board a bus to Coimbatore, and a cab from Coimbatore to Ooty. It takes approx. 5h 12m to get to Ooty.
International Routes
International flights such as Air India, Air Arabia, Scoot Airlines & Sri Lankan Airlines are operating direct flights to Coimbatore. More than 48 flights are operating from Coimbatore International Airport to major domestic points in India.
Air Arabia offers flights from major cities in the Middle East such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ras Al-Khaimah and Al Ain to Coimbatore. The Singaporean airline, Scoot Airlines, provides direct flights from Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia to Coimbatore. If you are travelling from Sri Lanka, fly with the Sri Lankan Airlines, which operates direct flights from Colombo to Coimbatore.
From the Coimbatore International Airport, you can take a cab to Ooty. Travelling to Ooty by a cab is the best way to experience the awe-inspiring sights of this hill station.
Travel Arrangements
The travel arrangements of all the students for winter and summer vacations are managed by Thomson Tours & Travels, a sister concern of the Good Shepherd International School, Ooty, and a leading travel and tour operator in Ooty. The agency has been providing end-to-end travel services for parents and students of the school, and to the general public for more than two decades now.
To contact Thomson Tours & Travels:
Call 0423 – 2550799 / 2550899 9486608660 or send an email to tttooty@gmail.com