Nilgiris is one of the oldest mountain ranges at the tri-junction of Karnataka, Tamilnadu and Kerala. Ooty is famously known as the queen of Nilgiris. Pleasant Weather, Lush green landscapes, tea estates, vast Valleys and classical vibes make Nilgiris trip a perfect one for honeymooners, families, friends and even solo travelers.

We went on 8 Days road trip which started from Bangalore and ended in Coimbatore. We explored Mysore, Ooty, Coonoor, Kotagiri and Coimbatore during this trip. If you have fewer days in hand you can skip Coimbatore and save a day or two.

Read this 8 minute article to know places to visit in Ooty, Coonoor and Kotagiri along with budget details and other tips for making an amazing trip to Nilgiris.

How to reach Ooty

Ooty is around 265 km from Bangalore and 88 km from Coimbatore. You can reach Bangalore/ Coimbatore via flight. From Bangalore/ Coimbatore, you can travel to Ooty by bus/ taxi/ car.

We took a flight from Delhi to Bangalore. From Bangalore, we hired a Zoomcar to reach Ooty via Mysore. We found, renting a car to be the best way to roam around in Nilgiris. If you also want to hire a car from Zoomcar, download Zoomcar App and book your car.

As the drive is through hills and slopes, it is recommended to have a prior experience in driving at slopes if you choose Zoomcar. Otherwise, it is better to hire a taxi.

Trip Itinerary

Day 1: Reach Bangalore and Stay in Mysore.

Day 2  : After breakfast leave for Ooty through Bandipore and Mudumalai National Park.

Day 3-4: Explore Ooty and nearby places.

Day 5: Reach Coonoor and explore it.

Day 6: Reach Kotagiri and explore it.

Day 7: After Breakfast, leave for Coimbatore. Explore Coimbatore.

Day 8: Back to Delhi.

Best time to visit Ooty

Ooty, being a mountainous region remains pleasant all year round. October to April is considered to be the best time to visit Ooty. 

We visited Ooty in July. It was the onset of Monsoons there. The weather was appropriate to roam around during the day. Rain showered occasionally and the nights were cold.

Our accommodations during the trip to Mysore, Ooty, Coonoor, Kotagiri and Coimbatore

Accommodation in Mysore

In Mysore, we stayed in Hotel Rio Meridian. Comfortable room, beautiful ambiance, equipped with all the modern amenities, and near to the famous places in Mysore, Hotel Rio Meridian is a perfect stay. You can book the rooms online or call their manager @+91-9900866771.

Accommodation in Ooty

In Ooty, we stayed in Zostel. The best thing about Zostel Ooty is its location. The views of Ooty from the Zostel are fantastic. The Zostel has both private rooms and dorms available for booking. Here you can meet other travelers over bonfire and meals. We found it a comfortable stay. You can book your stay online through Zostel’s website.

Accommodation in Coonoor

In Coonoor, we stayed in Sunvalley Homestay. Away from the chaos of town, Sunvalley with its fully furnished rooms, views of tea plantations, and lush green valley is an ideal place to stay in Coonoor. You can book the rooms online or call them @+91-7639629717.

Accommodation in Kotagiri

In Kotagiri, we stayed in Den by Trees. Den by trees, located in the middle of lush green environment is a unique yet luxurious and comfortable stay experience. Equipped with all the modern amenities, here you can spend a great time in nature. You can book the rooms online or call them @+91-9786866990.

Accommodation in Coimbatore

In Coimbatore, we stayed in Dvara Resort. We can say that it was our most luxurious experience till now.  Thoughtfully curated cottages in tradition Tamil style are designed for relaxation and re-connection. Every little detail in the architecture of the rooms says something about the culture and traditions of Tamilnadu.

We stayed in Dvara Resort because of its on the proximity to Adiyogi Shiva Statue. It was just 10 minute drive to the Statue. You can book the rooms online or call Mr. Jaswant @+91-9894611958.

Budget for 8 Days 7 Nights trip to Mysore, Nilgiris and Coimbatore

Accommodation

We stayed for 1 night in Rio Meridian Mysore, 3 nights in Zostel Ooty, 1 night in Sunvalley Homestay Coonoor, 1 Night in Den by trees Kotagiri and 1 Night in Dwara Resort Coimbatore.

Rio Meridian Mysore range in between INR 2000 – 3000 per room (with breakfast), a Zostel bunk bed range in between INR 700 – 800 per person, Sunvalley Homestay range in between INR 4500 – 5000 per room (with breakfast), Den by trees in between INR 3000 – 4000 per room and Dvara Resort in between INR 7000 – 9000 per room (with breakfast) depending on the season.

So, for 8 days 7 nights trip, expect to spend around INR 20000 – 25000 (for two people) on accommodation if you choose yours stays in similar range.

If you are on budget, you can book your stays online in the range of INR 2000 – INR 3000 per day or even less. For good price of a property, pre-book your stays at least 2 months in advance.

One pro tip from 2itchyfeets is to call the properties for their best prices and then book with them.

Transport

You can hire a taxi or rent a car (if you love driving) for this road trip. We rented a Zoomcar from Bangalore for our 8 days 7 nights trip. As we were travelling with a couple, renting a car was not only comfortable but also saved us a few bucks.

Renting a zoom car cost us INR 900 per day (per car) excluding fuel. Fuel for 8 days cost us INR 4000 (per car). Also, Zoomcar runs offers many times a year, so it will be more economical if you grab one such offer.

Expect to spend around INR 11000 – 12000 per car for 8 days 7 nights if you rent a zoom car.

Food

If you are on a budget, you can easily get local food (Idli, Dosa, Vada) for INR 100 – 150 per person at anywhere in Nilgiris. And if you are a foodie and love exploring cafes/ restaurants, expect to spend around INR 800 – 1000 per meal for two people.

Others

There is a ticket price for visiting a few locations like Pykara Falls, Pykara Lake etc. which range in between INR 10 – 50 per person. In Coonoor, we went for Jeep Safari which cost INR 1500 per jeep.

Day wise breakdown of our trip

Day 1 : Reach Mysore

• Reached Bangalore by taking an early morning flight. Hired a Zoom car. 
• Lunch at A2B restaurant outside the Airport. Left for Mysore. Stayed in Hotel Rio Meridian in Mysore.
• In the evening, we went for Baghi Ride outside Mysore Palace.
• Dinner at Hotel Siddhartha. Do try their Mysore Masala Dosa for an authentic South Indian taste.

Day 2 : Reach Ooty

• Early morning hike to Chamundeshwari Temple. Situated at the top of Chamundi Hills, it is said to be thousands of years old. We parked our car and climbed 1008 stairs through dense greenery to reach the temple. You can either take the steps or drive through the narrow valley road to the temple.
• After breakfast at our stay Rio Meridian, we left for Ooty (125 km). The road from Mysore and Ooty goes through a Bandipore National Park in Karnataka and Mudumalai National Park in Tamilnadu and is one of the most beautiful and soothing road journeys. It is recommended to start early from Mysore to catch a better glimpse of wildlife along the way. After the reserve forest area, one has to cross 32 hairpin bends to reach Ooty. It takes around 3-4 hours to reach Ooty from Mysore.
• We checked in Zostel Ooty.
• In the evening, we roamed around Charring Cross Road (you may call it the Mall Road of Ooty) and tried street food (Samosa, Bhel Puri, Sweet Corns, and Mirchi Pakoras). Do visit Moody’s Chocolate for some best quality chocolates.
• Dinner at Sidewalk Café at Charring Cross Road. We loved their wood-fired pizza.

Day 3 : Explore Ooty

• After Breakfast at Zostel (the chef Arjun Bhai makes the best cold coffee and Poha), leave for local sightseeing in Ooty.
• We went to Pykara Lake covering Pykara Falls, Six and Nine Miles points in between. To reach Pykara Falls, one has to walk 1-1.5 km after parking the vehicles. Six and Nine Mile points are vast expanses of grasslands spanning across miles which involves some walking if you want to explore the area and enjoy some of the best views. You can also opt horse riding there. 
• Dinner at Zostel.

Day 4 : Long drives in Ooty

• After breakfast at Zostel, we left for Emerald Lake which is around 30 km from Ooty. We had great time through the scenic drive and lovely spot.
• Lunch at Earl’s Secret Café in Ooty. Located on a hill, the café because of its food, ambiance and the view from there is a no miss. 
• We went on a Lovedale drive. Lovedale is one of the highest places in Nilgiris. Throughout the drive, the panoramic views of Ooty are mesmerizing and soul-satisfying.

Day 5 : Explore Coonoor

• After Breakfast at A2B Restaurant at Charring Cross Road Ooty, we left for Coonoor (20 km from Ooty). Coonoor is known for its tea estates and Panoramic views. 
• Checked in Sun Valley Resort in Coonoor. 
• Visited Tiger Hill Cemetery. The path behind the cemetery lead to a breathtaking view of the Valley. It is a secluded place and not known to many. 
• Lunch at La Belle Vie Café/ Kapoor and sons café. This is the place where the Bollywood movie, Kapoor and Sons was shot. Their Ooty cheese Pizza is a must-try.
• Visited Lamb’s Rock, Dolphin’s nose, and saw St. Catherine falls from a viewpoint near Dolphin’s Nose. These are some of the touristy places in Coonoor, so you can expect some crowd here. For Lamb’s rock one has to hike for around a km to enjoy some of the best panoramic views of the place.
• Dinner at Bagaicha Restaurant, Sim’s park road. They serve the best North Indian food, which you will surely crave on this day of the trip after eating so much South Indian food.

Day 6 : Explore Kotagiri

• Went for a tea estates Jeep tour with Sun Valley Resort, Coonoor. We visited 3 locations with them in tea estates and all of them were a delight to the eyes.
• After breakfast left for Kotagiri (20 km from Coonoor) and visited Ralliah Dam along the way. Kotagiri is relatively unexplored and enchantingly beautiful.
• Checked in Den by trees Resort.
• Lunch at Silvertip café. Do try their fried rice and veggie sandwiches.
• Visited the Catherine Waterfall viewpoint. One has to walk for around a km through tea estates to reach this place. If you have already visited Dolphin Nose and Lamb’s rock, you can skip this place. 
• Visited Kodanad’s viewpoint. Kodanad Viewpoint is around 20 km from Kotagiri. Not only the view but also the drive up to there is some of our best journeys during this trip. You can mark it as a no-miss.

Day 7 : Adiyogi Statue in Coimbatore

• Went for cycling in the tea estates of Den by Trees Resort. They arranged a cycle for us.
• After Breakfast went to a local tea factory to see the process of making tea. The tea factory was owned by Den by Trees resort.
• Left for Coimbatore and reached Coimbatore by evening.
• Checked in Dvara Resort.
• Went to see the Adiyogi Shiva statue. It is the largest Chest Statue in the world and is a must-see if you are in Coimbatore
• Dinner at Dvara Resort.

Day 8 : Journey Back Home

• Went for a nature walk organized by Dvara Resort. The walkthrough of pristine farms near Dvara Resort was nice.
• After breakfast at Dvara Resort, we left for Banglore Airport for the journey back home, taking a night halt in Dharmapuri. Dharmapuri is known for its religious significance. Alternatively, you can take a flight from Coimbatore itself.

Best Cafes in Ooty, Coonoor, and Kotagiri

Earl’s Secret, Havlock Road, Ooty

Sidewalk Café, Charring Cross Road, Ooty

La Belle Vie aka Kapoor and Sons Café, Coonoor

Bagaicha Restaurant, Sim’s park road, Coonoor

Silvertip café, Kotagiri

Places to visit in Ooty

Here is a list of places to visit in Ooty that should not be missed.

Pykara Waterfall

Pykara Lake

6th Miles Point and Nine Miles Point 

Lovedale drive

Coonoor

Kotagiri

Videos of our Trip to Ooty, Coonoor and Kotagiri

If you want a visual experience of our journey in Andaman. Do check out our Andaman Travel Series on youtube.

Searching for a dream location in India, check out our Andaman Article.

Hope you find this guide helpful in planning an amazing trip.

Travel give us memories of lifetimes, experience that are unmatched and make us a better person. We also have a responsibility towards it and towards the places we visit. Just as you keep your home clean, keep the places you visit clean by always putting your waste in the garbage bins only not on roads or anywhere else. You know, the best trips are those where we take less selfies and make more memories by fully being in the place.