Ooty
The hub
Railhead at Mettupalayam (NMR toy train) or road via the Kallar ghat from Coimbatore (~85 km).
Plan your visit
Explore the Nilgiris
Trip ideas for every kind of traveller, guided experiences, what's on and where to stay — plus the practical stuff: live weather, the state of the ghat roads, and how to get here.
Plan by interest
Trip ideas for every kind of traveller
Tell us what you're after — the outdoors, sport, a family holiday or a gentle break — and we'll point you to the right corners of the hills.
Outdoor & adventure
Trails, peaks and waterfalls
Lace up for the wild side of the hills — shola trails, ridge-top viewpoints, plunging waterfalls and the high grasslands of the Western Ghats.
See the planSport & golf
Fairways, the races & the wild
Tee off on hill golf courses laid out over a century ago, catch the summer races, cast for trout on the high lakes, or track big game on a Sigur safari.
See the planFamilies with kids
Boats, gardens & the toy train
Easy, joyful days for all ages — a ride on the heritage toy train, boats on Ooty Lake, gardens to roam, and quirky museums and parks the kids will love.
See the planRelaxed & gentle
Tea, gardens & slow afternoons
An unhurried pace for those who'd rather stroll than scramble — botanical gardens, tea-estate tastings, scenic drives, lakeside afternoons and the quiet grandeur of the old clubs and the Nilgiri Library.
See the planWhen to visit
Best time to come
The hills are good year-round — here's what each season feels like.
Apr – Jun
Summer & shows
Warm, lively days, the flower and fruit shows, and the busiest, brightest season.
Sep – Nov
Clear & green
Fresh after the monsoon, with the clearest views and fewer crowds.
Dec – Feb
Cold & quiet
Misty, frosty mornings, single-digit nights and a calm, low-season feel.
Guided experiences
Do it with a guide
Safaris, treks, tea-estate tours, boating and heritage walks — bookable experiences across the hills.
gudalur
Mudumalai jeep & van safari
Safari
Forest-department safari into Mudumalai Tiger Reserve — elephant, gaur, deer and, if you're lucky, big cats.
DetailsCoonoor
Tea estate tour & tasting
Tea & estate
Walk a working tea garden, see the factory floor and taste fresh Nilgiri tea where it's made.
DetailsKotagiri
Guided trek around Kotagiri
Trek
Walk the quiet eastern Nilgiris — Kodanad viewpoint, Rangaswamy Peak and old shola trails with a local guide.
DetailsOoty
Doddabetta & shola nature walk
Trek
An easy guided walk to the southern Nilgiris' high points and pockets of ancient shola forest.
DetailsOoty
Colonial Ooty heritage walk
Heritage walk
Stroll Ooty's British-era core — St. Stephen's, the Club, stone churches, the lake and the Botanical Garden.
DetailsOoty
Pykara boating & falls
Boating
A boat ride on the Pykara reservoir and a short walk to the tiered Pykara Falls, ringed by shola and grassland.
DetailsTop things to do
A few of the sights people come back for — see the full list for more.
Where to base yourself
Pick a base in the heart of the hills, then plan outward.
Before you go
Travel essentials
The practical bits — getting around, permits, money, and everything visitors from abroad need to know.
Getting here & around
Toy train, rail, road, bus and air — and how to get between the towns.
Visiting from abroad
Visas, FRRO, permits, a local SIM, money and emergency help for international travellers.
Info & FAQ
Best time to visit, ATMs and network, what to pack, families and pets.
Vehicle e-pass
Every private vehicle entering the hills needs a green-tax e-pass.
Food & dining
Restaurants, cafés, bakeries and tea rooms across the hills.
NRIs & OCIs
Handle documents, certificates and property in the district from overseas.
Emergency contacts
Police, ambulance, fire, hospitals and the district control room.
Local directory
Verified shops, doctors and essential services.
LiveUpdated · 21 July 2026
Weather across the hills
Ooty
Overcast
20°C
Coonoor
Overcast
20°C
Kotagiri
Drizzle
20°C
Road conditions
Mettupalayam–Coonoor (NH 181 ghat)
CautionSingle-lane near Kallar for repairs until June 6. Expect delays.
Ooty–Coonoor (via Wellington)
OpenClear. Normal traffic.
Kotagiri–Mettupalayam (Kookalthorai ghat)
OpenOpen; drive cautiously in mist.
Ooty–Gudalur (Naduvattam)
CautionPatchy fog in the early morning and evening.
The three towns
Ooty, Coonoor and Kotagiri form a triangle in the upper Nilgiris.
Getting to each town
Coonoor
Tea country
On the NMR line between Mettupalayam and Ooty; by road ~19 km below Ooty.
Kotagiri
Local favourite
By road from Mettupalayam (~30 km) or Ooty (~28 km); the least-trafficked of the three approaches.