Ooty Tour Package

Ooty Tour Package

Often called the Queen of Hill Stations, Udhagamandalam or Ooty lies in the state of Tamil Nadu. The origin of its name has been unclear; though it is believed that it comes from a local tribal word, Ootaca or Otha-Cal. As with most hill towns in India, Udhagamandalam was established by the British. Over time, sprawling tea estates and heritage buildings came up, further enhancing its photogenic setting. but you have also found an appropriate paradise in Ooty, owing to its mesmerising lakes and hills. Many Ooty tour packages include a journey on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway. This hill route, on which it travels, has one of the steepest gradients in the world; hence, it uses the ingenious rack and pinion system, developed way back in 1811. Starting from Mettupalayam, the train takes passengers on winding and rising tracks, along tea gardens, across over 350 bridges and through more than 200 curves and 16 tunnels.

Among these, the Stone House and Saint Stephens Church are two of the most prominent. The Stone House was the first bungalow and in turn the first pukka house, built here. It stands on a lush patch of land, which has tall trees all around. The scenery is immensely breathtaking here; ideal for capturing in cameras. From outside, Saint Stephens Church looks plain and simple, but its interiors tell a completely different story. crystal-clear lakes, lush-green gardens and popular tourist attractions like the Raj Bhawan, Doddabetta Peak Government Museum, Lambs Rock, Botanical Gardens and sprawling tea gardens are simply a treat to the eyes. Our attractive tour packages relieve from the burden of planning an accommodation and major sightseeing locations.

Day 1: - Arrival in Coimbatore | Coimbatore to Ooty

After arrival at Coimbatore Airport, proceed to the picturesque hill station of Ooty. Post travelling for around 3 hours, reach Ooty and check-in at the hotel. Located in the Nilgiri Hills, Ooty is a popular tourist spot with dense forests, impressive mountains and scenic grasslands. Offering spectacular views, it is famous for its mostly unchanging weather, and tea and coffee plantations. Here, you can rejuvenate amidst picturesque surroundings. Later, spend the night with a peaceful sleep at the hotel.

Day 2: - Sightseeing

Start your day with a visit. Located in Kancheepuram, a UNESCO World Heritage site, Arjuna's Penance or Descent of the Ganges is a giant monument, consisting of intricate carvings on two monolithic boulders. It depicts the story from Mahabharata, when Arjuna (one of the Pandava brothers) performed deep penance to achieve Lord Shiva's weapon. And it also depicts the descent of Ganga to the earth. Next move to Pancha Rathas, a set of five glorious rock temples in the shape of rathas or chariots. These rathas are splendid examples of the Dravidian style of architecture. Decreasing in size according to the age of the Pandava brother they are named after, they contain carvings and reliefs of various Hindu mythological characters.

Later, see Shore Temple, a magnificent stone shrine, overlooking the Bay of Bengal. The temple is a compound of three shrines, constructed by the Pallava dynasty. Two of the shrines are dedicated to Lord Shiva and the third one to Lord Vishnu. Its large and marvellous sculptures, including those of the presiding deities, Nandi, Goddess Durga and Kartikeya, attract a large number of tourists. Also as part of this sightseeing venture, see Tiger Cave. Named so due to the carving of tiger heads on its exterior, this cave shrine is said to depict an incident from the life of Goddess Durga.

Thereafter, visit Krishna’s Butter Ball, a huge rock about 5 metres in diameter, balancing on a hill slope. It is quite popular with tourists and locals alike as an interesting backdrop for clicking photographs. In the evening, return to the hotel for a comfortable overnight stay in your room.

Day 3: - Ooty to Coimbatore | Departure from Coimbatore

In the morning, check-out from the hotel and drive back to destination for your onward journey.

Payments policy

• 25% Amount at the time of booking. 100% Amount 15 days or earlier, before travel date. Payment by cheque or online payment facility available. Your booking confirmation number will be provided to you.

Tour Cancilation policy

• Strictly depends upon concerned hotel's cancellation policy
• Minimum Cancilation charges before 10days of Travel Date is 10% of package cost

• Package cost will change if opted for guide service, choice of transport vehicle, hotel type change
• Accommodation charges as mentioned in the package are with 2 persons staying together sharing the same room
• Extra persons in same room charges extra
• Altough we ensure you the best experience but unfortunate delays in travel and inefficient service of hotel is the responsibility of the respective parties.

By Air:

The nearest airport is Coimbatore International Airport (Airport Code: CJB), located 85 km southeast of Ooty (approximately 3 to 3.5 hours drive via Mettupalayam and the scenic Coonoor Ghat Road / NH-181). Coimbatore operates non-stop daily flights to New Delhi (IGI), Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, Singapore, and Sharjah. Calicut International Airport (CCJ - 140 km) and Bengaluru Kempegowda Airport (BLR - 300 km) offer alternate international connections.

By Train:

The main broad-gauge railway junction is Mettupalayam Railway Station (Station Code: MTP), located 52 km from Ooty at the foot of the Nilgiri hills. Major train connections include:

• Nilgiri Superfast Express (Train 12671/12672): Daily overnight direct train connecting Chennai Central (MAS) directly to Mettupalayam.
• Nilgiri Mountain Railway (Toy Train - NMR): UNESCO heritage steam train connecting Mettupalayam (MTP), Coonoor (ONR), and Udhagamandalam (UAM) across scenic mountain bridges and tunnels.
• Coimbatore Junction (Station Code: CBE - 88 km away): Major South Indian rail hub connected by Vande Bharat, Shatabdi, and Express trains from all major Indian cities.

By Road:

Ooty is connected via National Highway 181 (NH-181) and beautiful mountain ghat roads:

• From Coimbatore (~85 km / 3 hours): Scenic drive climbing through 14 hairpin bends via Mettupalayam and Coonoor.
• From Mysore (~125 km / 3.5 hours): Breathtaking highway drive passing through Bandipur National Park and Mudumalai Tiger Reserve via 36 hairpin bends along the Kalhatti Ghat.
• From Bangalore (~275 km / 6 hours): Fast drive via the 10-lane Bangalore-Mysore Expressway and Gundlupet.
• From Coonoor (~19 km / 45 minutes): Smooth mountain highway lined with tea gardens.
• From Munnar (~240 km / 6.5 hours): Mountain drive connecting Kerala and Tamil Nadu hill country.
• State Buses: TNSTC and KSRTC operate frequent daily Super Fast, Deluxe, and AC buses to Ooty Central Bus Stand from Coimbatore, Bangalore, Mysore, Chennai, and Kozhikode.

Ooty offers a magnificent array of UNESCO toy train routes, sprawling botanical gardens, mountain peaks, cascading lakes, and rose terraces:

1. Nilgiri Mountain Railway (UNESCO Heritage Steam Toy Train Experience)

Built in 1908 and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway operates between Mettupalayam and Ooty (46 km). Utilizing a unique Swiss-engineered Abt rack-and-pinion system, the vintage blue-and-cream steam train chugs through 16 tunnels, 250 bridges, and 208 steep curves, offering spellbinding views of tea gardens and misty mountain gorges.

Nilgiri Mountain Railway — Historic 1908 UNESCO Steam Train Crossing Nilgiri Mountain Bridges

2. Government Botanical Garden (55-Acre 1848 Historic Flora Sanctuary)

Established in 1848 by British architect William Graham McIvor, the Government Botanical Garden spans 55 acres across terraced hill slopes. It features over a thousand species of exotic plants, ferns, orchids, bonsai, Italian floral beds, and a genuine 20-million-year-old fossilized tree trunk brought from the National Fossil Wood Park.

Government Botanical Garden — Historic 55-Acre Landscaped Terraces and Exotic Flora in Ooty

3. Doddabetta Peak & Telescope House (2,637 m Nilgiri Summit)

Rising to 2,637 meters (8,650 feet), Doddabetta Peak is the highest vantage point in the Nilgiri Mountains, located 9 km east of Ooty. The summit features a two-story octagonal Telescope House maintained by the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC), offering sweeping panoramic views of Coimbatore plains, Mysore plateau, and surrounding Shola valleys.

Doddabetta Peak — Highest Mountain Summit in the Nilgiri Range Offering 360-Degree Mountain Panoramas

4. Pykara Lake & Cascading Waterfalls (Sacred Toda River Sanctuary)

Located 21 km from Ooty along the Mysore road, the pristine Pykara River is revered as sacred by the indigenous Toda community. The river tumbles over stepped granite ledges to form the scenic Pykara Falls, before opening into the serene Pykara Lake where TTDC operates speedboat and motorboat cruises against lush pine-covered hill slopes.

Pykara Lake & Falls — Sacred Nilgiri Waterway with Speedboating and Stepped Cascades

5. Government Rose Garden (Asia's Largest 20,000-Rose Terraced Slopes)

Spread over 10 acres across five curved terraces on the slopes of Elk Hill, the Government Rose Garden is one of the largest rose collections in India, holding the prestigious Garden of Excellence Award from the World Federation of Rose Societies. It showcases over 20,000 rose bushes spanning 4,000 cultivars including hybrid teas, miniature roses, floribundas, and rare green and black roses.

Government Rose Garden — Award-Winning 10-Acre Terraces Featuring Over 20,000 Vibrant Roses

6. Avalanche Lake & Dense Shola Forest Eco-Reserve (28 km)

Formed naturally following a huge landslide in 1823, Avalanche Lake is a pristine turquoise mountain lake surrounded by dense Shola forests, rolling rhododendron hills, and blooming wild orchids. Eco-tourism jeep safaris operated by the Forest Department take visitors through untouched tribal wilderness.

7. Ooty Lake & Boating Promenade (1824 Sullivan Heritage Lake)

Constructed in 1824 by John Sullivan, Ooty Lake is an artificial 65-acre waterbody bordered by towering eucalyptus trees. Visitors can hire paddle boats, rowboats, and motorboats from the TTDC boathouse, or enjoy horseback riding, cycling, and mini-train rides along the perimeter.

8. Tea Factory & The Tea Museum (Orthodox Tea Processing)

Located on Doddabetta Road, the Tea Factory and Museum takes visitors through the full CTC and orthodox tea manufacturing process — from plucking fresh green tea leaves to withering, crushing, fermenting, and grading — concluding with a complimentary cup of fresh Nilgiri cardamom tea.

9. St. Stephen's Church (1829 Colonial Timber Gothic Architecture)

Consecrated in 1830, St. Stephen's Church is the oldest church in the Nilgiris, built with massive timber beams salvaged from Tipu Sultan's Lal Bagh palace in Srirangapatna. The church features beautiful stained-glass windows depicting the Last Supper and historic British colonial memorial plaques.