Thursday, December 26, 2013

Ooty – Connectivity

Ooty – Connectivity
Ooty is one of the most scenic popular hill stations in southern India. Nature has gifted the place with immense beauty. Its colonial charm and innate splendor attracts tourists from all over the world every year. Ooty has a well linked network of Air, Rail and Road ways. 
Being one of the frequented hill stations in India it has an easy access from other major cities in India. With flourishing Ooty tourism, the mighty hill station perched on the Nilgiri hues is mostly travelled by road. Ooty also encircles some of India’s tourist destinations and major cities. The distance from Coimbatore to Ooty is approximately 90 kms where as from Chennai it approximately 550 kms. One can even reach Ooty by road from Madurai, which is approximately 290 kms away. If you are in Hyderabad, it is going to take you half a day to reach Ooty. One needs to cover a distance of 850 kms by road from Hyderabad. The approximate distance from Tirupati to Ooty is 540kms. Ooty encircles vast foliage dotted with wild lives and thus one can even drive to the Mukurthi National Park and Lake, Mudumalai National Park and Bandipur National Park. The distance from Bangalore to Ooty is approximately 270kms whereas from Mysore to Ooty is only 120kms. If you are planning to drive to Ooty from Cochin, then you need to cover a distance of 270kms.
One who is willing to reach Ooty by train has to opt Mettupalayam, which is 47 km away from Ooty whereas Coimbatore and Chennai acts as the busiest railway stations that connects Ooty via Mettupalayam. Mettupalayam and Conoor are connected to Ooty with toy trains.
The Chennai International Airport, Cochin International Airport and the Bangalore International Airport are the closest airports from Ooty. Whereas international flights from New York to Bangalore and other international cities connects Ooty via Bangalore Airport, which is the closest International Airport. Mysore Airport is the closest domestic airport that connects Ooty by air to rest of India. There are scheduled flights and flights from Delhi to Mysore.
Thus how to reach Ooty is not a matter of fuss and still if you inquire then there are daily buses plying from Coimbatore, Cochin, Mysore, Bangalore and Chennai.
By Air
The Coimbatore airport is the closest to the hills at 3-1/2 hours by road. There are flights into Coimbatore from Singapore, Sharjah, Colombo and most parts of India including Mumbai (Kingfisher, Indian Airlines, Jet and Go Air), Chennai (Spicejet, Air India, Indigo and Jet) and Bangalore. The Mysore airport is about 4 hours away from Ooty by road and is serviced by a daily ATR service by Kingfisher Airlines and lies to the North of Ooty. The road trip is quite scenic from either airport.
Indian Airlines 
Details
Arrival
Departure
Delhi – Mumbai - Coimbatore -Kozhikode(Daily)
11.05 am
11.45 am
Kozhikode - Coimbatore - Mumbai - Delhi (Daily)
1.30 pm
2.10 pm
Kochi - Coimbatore - Chennai  (Wednesday, Friday, Sunday)
3.55 am
4.35 am
Kozhikode - Coimbatore - Mumbai - Delhi (Daily)
1.30 pm
2.10 pm
Sharjah – Cochin - Coimbatore - Chennai
3.55 am
4.35 am
Chennai - Coimbatore - Cochin - Sharjah (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday)
3.15 pm 
4.00 pm
Jet Airways
Details
Arrival
Departure
Bangalore - Coimbatore - Bangalore (Daily)
12.30 pm
1.05 pm
Mumbai - Coimbatore - Mumbai (Daily)
2.20 pm
3.00 pm
Chennai - Coimbatore - Chennai (Daily)
8.20 pm
8.50 pm
Kingfisher Airlines
Details
Arrival
Departure
Pune - Bangalore - Coimbatore - Ahmadabad - Jammu (Daily)
9:10 am
10:00 am
Jammu - Ahmadabad - Coimbatore - Bangalore - Pune (Daily)
8:15 pm
8:45 pm
Paramount Airways
Details
Arrival
Departure
Chennai - Coimbatore - Chennai - Hyderabad (Daily)
8.20 am
8.45 am
Hyderabad - Coimbatore – Hyderabad (Daily)
1.05 pm
1.30 pm
Chennai - Coimbatore - Chennai (Daily)
8.15 pm
8.45 pm
Go Air
Details
Arrival
Departure
Coimbatore/Mumbai
9.15 pm
11.05 pm
Mumbai/Coimbatore
6.50 pm
8.40 pm
Timings are Subject to Change without Notice.
Air Travel Enquiry and Flight Reservation
Jet Airways
: +91- 422- 2212034, 2212036, 2212037
Paramount 
: +91 - 422 - 4394445/446/447, 4399234/235/236, 1800 - 180 - 1234 
Indian Airlines 
: +91- 422- 2399833. General Enquiry : 1400, Reservations : 1401
Kingfisher Airlines
: 1800 - 1800 - 101 & 1800 - 233 - 3131(Toll Free)
Go Air 
: 09223 - 222 - 111 1800 - 222 - 111 (Toll-Free)
Air Deccan
: +91 - 422 - 2599885, 4874874

By Train 
The Queen of Hills is connected to the Chennai City (Capital of Tamilnadu state) by a train at night hours. The train called as Nilgiris Express or Blue Mountain Express which leaves from Chennai at night, and reaches Mettupalayam a small town at the foothills of the Nilgiris early the next morning around 6.30am. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway (Toy Train) leaves Mettupalayam at 7.10am. The train is very smaller one and can only accommodate few passengers. A through ticket from Chennai to Ooty will ensure a place in the smaller train, although many prefer the faster route of taking a cab or a bus from Mettupalayam.
The hill station of Ooty has a railway station of its own. It is called the Udhagamandalam railway station and can be reached by The Nilgiri Mountain Railway (a.k.a. Toy Train) from Mettupalayam. Though the toy train isn't very fast but the scenic beauty of this route attracts many tourists. Mettupalayam is the nearest major railway station to Ooty. One can also hire a private taxi to reach Ooty here. The distance of Ooty from Mettupalayam is about 52 km. 
The Nilgiri Mountain Railway leaves Mettupalayam at 7.10 pushed by a small steam powered historic locomotive that is a remnant of Swiss engineered trains imported in the late 1800s. The train journey will be a very good experience, but only 30 tickets are issued on the spot. A separate queue for this train is at Mettupalayam railway station. You have to be in queue atleast by 5 am. A token will be given from there and you have to take this token to ticket counter (outside the platform, yellow building), get the tickets and get back to the same queue. If you are a team, one can represent for taking token and tickets but all have to be present in queue while embarking the train. Try to get a seat to farther side of platform as this side offers maximum viewing experience. The steam train is much smaller, and can only accommodate a portion of the passengers that disembark at Mettupalayam. You have to book separate ticket for this journey (tickets can be booked through IRCTC (www.irctc.co.in) like any other rail ticket booking.), although many prefer the faster route of taking a cab or a bus from Mettupalayam.
The steam train takes a very scenic route, and the pace of travel will let you take in the beautiful scenery at leisure with stops at stations for the engine to take on water (the journey takes about 5-1/2 hours compared to 2 hours by road). The train uses a rack and pinion system to haul it up steep slopes, and also to prevent the train from sliding down when stopping. The train is pushed from behind. There are brakesmen at the rear of every carriage who will apply and release hand powered brakes individually for that carriage. The train often travels only at 5 - 10 Kmph, allowing some adventurous passengers to disembark from the train and walk along the train. This practice is not recommended and can be dangerous, besides there is a good chance that the train will speed up, and you will be unable to get back on board.
If you don't have a confirmed ticket of that toy train then you would not get the chance to board in it as railways issue limited say only 30 tickets on the spot at Mettupalayam starting at 5:00 AM , and at 1:00 PM at Ooty for the full stretch journey from Mettupalayam to Ooty.
Mountain Railway: (Timings - Subject to change) 
Mettupalayam to Ooty
Dep: 07.45 a.m. / Arrival: 12.10 Noon
Ooty to Mettupalayam
Dep: 02.55 p.m. / Arrival: 06.30 p.m.
Train Fare:
First Class Rs. 70.00. Second Class Rs 9.00.
Timing:
Ooty - Coonoor: 09.30 a.m, 02.55 p.m, 06.00 p.m.
Coonoor - Ooty: 08.00 a.m, 11.00 a.m, 03.00 p.m.
Trains at Coimbatore Junction
Train No
At Coimbatore Junction Express Trains
Departure
Arrival

2674 / 2673
Coimbatore - Chennai Cheran Super fast Exp (Daily)
22.15
06.10
2676 / 2675
Coimbatore -Chennai Kovai Super fast Exp (Daily)
13.40
13.55
2680 / 2679
Coimbatore - Chennai Inter City Exp ( Daily)
06.30
22.15
2678 / 2677
Coimbatore - Bangalore Inter City Exp (Daily)
14.25
13.10
2647 / 2648
Coimbatore - Nizamudin Kongu Exp (Dep Sun) (Arr - Fri)
15.15
10.30
6614 / 6613
Coimbatore - Rajkot Exp (Dep Thu ) (Arr - Tue)
23.30
03.00
6608 / 6607
Coimbatore - Chennai Egmore Exp
17.15
10.15
1014 / 1013
Coimbatore - Lokmanyya Tilak Kurla Exp (Daily)
08.00
06.30
2084 / 2083
Coimbatore - Kumbakonam Janshatabdi Exp (Except Tue)
07.00
21.00
2969
Coimbatore - Jaipur (Friday)
09.15
-
2970
Jaipur - Coimbatore (Thursday)
-
19.15
Trains Passing through Coimbatore Junction
Train No
Express Trains Passing Through Coimbatore Junction
Arrival
Departure

2671
Chennai - Mettupalayam Nilgiri Super fast Exp (Daily)
05.00
05.15
2672
Mettupalayam - Chennai Nilgiri Super fast Exp (Daily)
20.30
20.55
6865
Thiruchirappalli - Ernakulum Exp. (Daily)
00.50
00.55
6866
Ernakulum - Thiruchirappalli Exp. (Daily)
02.35
02.40
1081
Mumbai CSTM - Kanyakumari Exp (Daily)
00.05
00.10
1082
Kanyakumari -Mumbai CSTM Exp (Daily)
17.25
17.30
3351
Dhanbad - Allepey Tata Exp (Daily)
12.35
12.40
3352
Allepey - Dhanbad Tata Exp (Daily)
11.50
11.55
6525
Kanyakumari - Bangalore Exp (Daily)
22.40
22.45
6526
Bangalore - Kanyakumari Exp (Daily)
05.15
05.20
7229
Kochuvelli - Hyderabad Sabari Exp
16.25
16.30
7230
Hyderabad - Kochuvelli Sabari Exp
08.35
08.40
6867
Thiruchirappalli - Mangalore Exp (Daily)
11.50
11.55
6868
Mangalore- Thiruchirappalli Exp (Daily)
15.45
15.50
2625
Trivandrum - New Delhi Kerala Exp (Daily)
20.05
20.10
2626
New Delhi - Trivandrum Kerala Exp (Daily)
05.30
05.35
6627
Chennai CNTL Mangalore West Coast Exp (Daily)
19.40
19.45
6628
Mangalore - Chennai CNTL Mangalore West Coast Exp (Daily)
06.35
06.40
6359
Ernakulum - Rajinder Nagar Exp (Sun)
03.00
03.05
6360
Rajinder Nagar - Ernakulum Malabar Exp (Thu)
23.15
23.20
6317
Kanyakumari - Jammu Tawi Him Sagar Exp (Sat)
00.55
01.00
6318
Jammu Tawi - Kanyakumari Him Sagar Exp (Thu)
12.10
12.15
6325
Indore - Trivandrum Ahilyanagari Exp (Wed)
09.25
09.30
6326
Trivandrum - Indore Ahilyanagari Exp (Sat)
14.40
14.45
2512
Trivandrum - Gorakhpur Raptisagar Exp (Tue, Wed, Sun)
14.35
14.40
2511
Gorakhpur - Trivandrum Raptisagar Exp (Tue, Sat, Sun)
08.05
08.10
6357
Nagercoil Howrah Exp (Mon)
00.55
01.00
6358
Howrah - Nagercoil Exp (Fri)
12.10
12.15
6321
Bangalore - Trivandrum Exp (Fri)
02.05
02.10
6322
Trivandrum - Bangalore Exp (Thu)
00.55
01.00
6687
Mangalore - Jammu Tawi Navyug Exp (Tue)
00.55
01.00
6688
Jammu Tawi - Mangalore Navyug Exp (Sun)
12.10
12.15
2522
Ernakulum - Barauni Raptisagar Exp (Fri)
14.35
14.40
2521
Barauni - Ernakulum Raptisagar Exp (Thu)
08.05
08.10
2507
Ernakulum - Guwahati Exp (Wed)
00.55
01.00
2508
Guwahati - Ernakulum Exp (Sun)
14.05
14.10
5627
Trivandrum - Guwahati Exp (Sun)
21.30
21.35
5628
Guwahati - Trivandrum Exp (Fri)
14.05
14.10
6323
Trivandrum - Howrah Exp (Fri, Sun)
00.55
01.00
6324
Howrah - Trivandrum Exp (Tue, Thu)
13.05
13.10
6309
Ernakulum - Patna Exp (Mon)
21.30
21.35
6310
Patna - Ernakulum Exp (Sat)
13.05
13.10
2643
Trivandrum - Nizamudin Super fast Exp (Tue)
23.20
23.30
2644
Nizamudin - Trivandrum Super fast Exp (Sun)
02.05
02.10
2645
Ernakulum - Nizamudin Super fast Exp (Sat)
23.20
23.30
2646
Nizamudin - Ernakulum Super fast Exp (Thu)
02.05
02.10
6327
Korba - Trivandrum Exp (Mon,Fri)
08.05
08.10
6328
Trivandrum - Korba Exp (Mon,Thu)
14.40
14.45

Train No
Passenger Trains passing Through Coimbatore Junction
Arrival
Departure
384 / 383
Coimbatore - Nagercoil (Daily)
07.10
20.45
387 / 388
Coimbatore - Mangalore (Daily)
07.35
19.35
611 / 610
Coimbatore - Cannanore (Daily)
14.00
13.15
633 / 634
Coimbatore - Trichur (Daily)
16.35
10.45
608 / 607
Coimbatore - Erode (Daily)
17.45
09.15
655 / 656
Coimbatore -Mettupalayam (Expect Sun)
17.55
09.10
631 / 632
Coimbatore -Palaghat (Expect Sun)
18.00
08.55

Train No
Express Trains Passing at Podanur Junction
Arrival
Departure

2601
Chennai - Mangalore Mail (Daily)
03.24
03.25
2602
Mangalore - Chennai Mail (Daily)
21.34
21.35
6041
Chennai - Allepey Exp (Daily)
04.15
04.17
6042
Allepey - Chennai Exp (Daily)
21.15
21.17
6331
Mumbai CSTM - Trivandrum Exp (Tue)
19.09
19.10
6332
Trivandrum - Mumbai CSTM Exp (Sat)
13.09
13.10
2683
Ernakulum - Bangalore Exp (Sun, Wed)
21.13
21.15
2684
Bangalore - Ernakulum Exp (Mon, Thu)
00.10
00.12
2685
Chennai - Mangalore Exp (Mon, Wed, Fri)
23.08
23.09
2686
Mangalore - Chennai Exp (Mon, Tue, Thu)
00.17
00.19

Train No
Passenger Trains Passing Through Coimbatore Junction
Arrival
Departure

771/772
Podanur - Dindigul (Daily)
09.00
19.00
777/778
Podanur - Madurai (Daily)
20.15
07.50
773/774
Podanur - Pollachi (Daily)
15.00
13.40

Train No
Passenger Trains Passing Through Coimbatore Junction
Arrival
Departure

887
Trichy - Palaghat (Daily)
18.40
18.45
888
Palaghat - Trichy (Daily)
08.10
08.15
·         Telephone Numbers : General Enquiries - Coimbatore Junction 131,
·     Reservation Enquiries - Coimbatore Junction 132, 1361, 1362, 1363, Podanur: + 91 - 422 - 2410784
Express Trains Passing Through Mettupalayam Junction
Train No
Train Name
Train Category
Mettupalayam
Arr. Time
Dep. Time
2672
Mettupalayam Chennai Central Nilgiri Express
Mail / Express
---
19.45
26721
Chennai Central Mettupalayam Nilgiri Express
Mail / Express
06.00
---
Passenger Trains Passing Through Mettupalayam Junction
662
Mettupalayam Udagamandalam Passenger
Passenger
---
07.10
656
Mettupalayam Coimbatore Passenger
Passenger
---
08:15
661
Udagamandalam Mettupalayam Passenger
Passenger
18:35
---
665
Coimbatore Mettupalayam Passenger
Passenger
18:45
---
By Road
Ooty  is 19 Kms from Coonoor, 52 Kms from Mettupalayam, 84 Kms from Coimbatore, 104 Kms from Tiruppur, 127 Kms from Pollachi, 136 Kms from Palakkad, 154 Kms from Dharapuram, 159 Kms from Udumalaipettai, 535 km from Chennai (via Salem), 89 km from Coimbatore, 18 km from Coonoor (via Gudalur), 155 km from Mysore, 187 km from Calicut, 290 km from Bangalore, 281 km from Kochi (via Coimbatore and Palakkad), 236 km from Kodaikanal (via Coimbatore and Palani) and is linked through Tamil Nadu State Road Transport Corporation (TNSRTC) and some private travel services.

Ooty is also connected to all the nearby towns and cities by good roads. The hill station connects to various other important cities of South India like Chennai, Bangalore, Mysore, Coimbatore, etc. The road to Ooty from Coimbatore is popular for its scenic beauty. As Ooty is located on NH 67 several tourist buses and taxis commute here without any hassle.

There is a regular bus service from Bangalore, Mysore, Coimbatore, Calicut, Kanyakumari, Thanjavur, Tirupati and Cochin. Buses ply regularly to Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Kotagiri, Coonoor and Doddabetta.

There are buses and shared taxi vans that can be boarded from most parts of India to Ooty. If you don't want wake up early to take the train from Coimbatore, plenty of buses are also going to Ooty. The Coimbatore "new bus station" has frequent bus service to Ooty via Mettupalayam, and it takes around 3-1/2 hours to get there. On the way back in morning, some busses make a 10-15 minute stop over at Mettupalayam for breakfast. From the "new bus station" it takes about 25minutes by (another) bus to reach the Coimbatore railway station. From Kozhikode (Calicut) there are two government buses daily, leaving 05.00 and 07.00, travel time is about 6 hours. Mysore is served few times a day, too. From Kannur there is a KSRTC Bus starting at 7.30 am everyday and a Tamil Nadu Bus at 10PM everyday reaching Ooty at 4PM and 7am next day respectively.

Local Transport - By Bus

Bus Timings From Ooty: (Subject to change)
Ø  Bangalore - AM: 6.30, 9.30, 10.30. - PM: 12.30, 2.00, 8.00, 9.30, 10.30
Ø  Calicut - AM: 6.30, 7.45. - PM: 1.45, 3.15 (Kerala State)
Ø  Coimbatore - Every 20 Minutes from 5.30 A.M. to 8.00 P.M.
Ø  Erode - AM: 7.15, 8.45, 9.00, 10.40, & 11.30. - PM: 12.50, 2.50, 4.30
Ø  Dindigul - 4.20 PM
Ø  Karur - AM: 8.20. - PM: 1.20, 5.20
Ø  Kanyakumari - 5.45 PM
Ø  Kodaikanal - 6.30 AM
Ø  Chennai - PM: 4.30, 5.00, 6.30
Ø  Mettupalayam - Every 20 minutes from 5.30 A.M. to 9.00 P.M.
Ø  Mysore - AM: 8.00, 9.00, 11.30. - PM: 3.30, 1.30, 5.30
Ø  Salem - 1.30 PM
Ø  Tanjore - 8.00 AM & 6.15 PM                 
Ø  Tirupati - 5.30 PM
Road Distance from Ooty
Coonoor - 018kms
Mudumalai - 57 kms
Coimbatore - 98 kms
Mysore - 155 kms
Salem - 205 kms
Palani - 206 kms
Guruvayur - 227 kms
Kodaikanal - 236 kms
Yercaud - 237 kms
Cochin - 281 kms
Bangalore - 290 kms
Trichy - 302 kms
Madurai - 325 kms
Hogenakal - 328 kms
Sittannavasal - 339 kms
Thiruvannamalai -354 kms
Tirupathy - 362 kms
Tanjore - 383 kms
Chidambaram - 401 kms
Pondicherry - 412 kms
Pichavaram - 421 kms
Vedanthangal - 446 kms
Thekkady - 455 kms
Vellore - 461 kms
Nagore- 470 kms
Velankanni - 472 kms
Poompuhar - 473 kms
Thirunelveli - 476 kms
Courtallam - 489 kms
Point Calimere - 491 kms
Rameswaram - 496 kms
Tiruvandrum - 498 kms
Mamallapuram - 505 kms
Kancheepuram - 508 kms
Tuticorin - 536 kms
Chennai - 539 kms
Tiruchandur - 539 kms
Kanyakumari - 587 kms
Hyderabad  - 853 kms
Mettupalayam – 52 Kms
By car
The Nilgiris are in Tamil Nadu, but it is quite near the borders of neighboring states Karnataka and Kerala. The hills consequently can be reached from within Tamil Nadu by travelling up a heavily forested winding road, with many sharp hair-pin beds. The road trip from any state is quite scenic, although the Coimbatore-Mettupalayam-Coonoor-Ooty road (i.e. the Tamil Nadu route) is the most travelled and well maintained. All roads to the Nilgiri hills are toll roads, although the tolls are quite nominal.

Ooty is 284 km from Bangalore by road. The journey takes about 8 hours, depending on the condition of the road. One can take a shorter route for which a diversion has to be taken at Mudumalai wildlife sanctuary. This route will take you past the small towns of Masinagudi and Kalhatti. This route will curtail the distance to Ooty by about 50 km. Keep in mind that this road is closed at night as it passes through the jungle, so you may actually have to spend a few hours at the check post which is closed invariably at night. 

Only good drivers should take on this road as it is very narrow and steep. You’ll find some eateries and a fuel station in the town of Masinagudi. There are some wonderful resorts around Masinagudi town where one can rent a cottage. These places are a good weekend getaway for rest and relaxation. There are eating places between Bangalore and Mysore, and within Mysore, but from Mysore to Ooty one should carry some food, as there are very few restaurants. Start early if you can so that the drive through Bandipur and Mudumalai forest can be done leisurely taking in the occasional animal sightings.

§ Velavan Tours (Coimbatore to Ooty Cab), (velavantravels@ymail.com). Inquiry: 24/7 Booking. (Note: Book a taxi from Coimbatore to Ooty, Kodaikanal, Munnar, Bangalore, Coonoor and other tourist places.) at affordable Fares.   

§    bookcab.in (Bangalore to Ooty Cab),  080 3000 3000 (bookings@bookcab.in), Inquiry: 24/7 Booking. (Note: Book a taxi to Ooty from Bangalore, Coorg & many other cities in Karnataka) at affordable Fares.  

§     taxiguide.in (Bangalore to Ooty),  +91 888 023 4455 (support@taxiguide.in),  Inquiry: 7am to 11pm. (Note: You can also book a cab to Ooty from Mysore, Coorg & Coimbatore) Fares starting Rs.6000 for a 3 day trip from Bangalore.  
Get around
Taxis, tourist cabs, auto rickshaws are available in plenty. There are no standard rates except tourist cabs. Rickshaws charge a minimum of Rs 30. Town buses are also available to all important places. Conducted sightseeing tours are arranged by the private operators and the Tamilnadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC). There are around 3-4 different day trip routes/packages available. Bus day-trip cost around Rs 125-150 and taxi day-trip cost around Rs 900-1100. 

Even if you arranged the taxi through the hotel (even TTDC), please verify with the hotel and operator before the trip that there are no hidden costs. Because the taxi drivers demand high parking fees extra and lunch, which is already paid for. The bus/taxi drivers get commission from remote restaurants and shops and they are overpriced, try avoiding such restaurants. Both bus and taxi will take tourists to some remote high-priced restaurant for lunch, try not to eat in such places because the food is cold, overpriced and place is not clean beyond the facade, and you will end up paying for taxi drivers lunch too.


Also avoid auto driver’s recommendation they will take you to the hotels for accommodation where they get 20% commission which will be compensated at your cost.