Ooty Travel - Nearest Airport, Station and driving distances

How to reach

Road

Ooty is well connected by road to Coimbatore (90 km), Bangalore (290 km) and Calicut (187 km). There are good luxury buses, as well as cabs. Chennai is a difficult 535 km away; trains are a better option from here. You can also hire a taxi or drive up hills in your own car, if you do like to take things at your own pace.

Rail

The Blue Mountain Express from Mettupalayam (46 km away) is the only train that reaches Ooty. The train, known locally as the matchstick train is a sight in itself. It is a small blue steam engine powered meter gauge train, with engines in the front and rear. Make sure to check this train out. It chugs up hill for a major part of its journey and has a special ratchet and pinion track in the middle in addition to the normal sets of rails. When the matchbox train passes through the tunnels, it gets excitingly dark and everyone in the train gives a roar of appreciation, and then comes light again. It's such an experience that people actually wait for the next tunnel! Mettupalayam is connected to Coimbatore and Chennai along the broad gauge lines.

Mountain Railway. Coimbatore is nearest broad gauge station.

Air

The nearest airport Coimbatore is about 90 km away and is serviced by flights to Bangalore and Chennai. From Coimbatore, there are frequent buses as well as private cabs that will readily ferry you up hills to Ooty.

Arrival and departure

The nearest airport is at Coimbatore (100 km away). Buses from Mysore (5 hrs), Bangalore (9 hrs) and Coimbatore (3 hrs). The mountain railway from Mettupalaiyam to Ooty (4 ½ hrs) uses Swiss-built steam locomotives, part of the route being rack and pinion. This railway is one reason for visiting Ooty. From Mettupalaiyam direct trains run to Chennai (10 ½ hrs) and Kochi (6 ½ hrs), otherwise change at Coimbatore. Ooty is connected to by the famous Nilgiri

Getting Around

Taxis and jeeps are the preferred modes of transport, but the hill town is best explored on foot. Autos are also available in plenty, but rates need to be negotiated. Buses ply between all important points of this hill station.

Travel Direction

The nearest airport to Ooty is 100 km away in Coimbatore. Direct flights are available from here to major cities in India such as Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Bangalore. The nearest railhead is 46 km away at Mettupalayam. The best way to enter Ooty is by taking the Nilgiri Toy Train that connects Ooty to Mettupalayan. However the railway junction at Coimbatore is better connected with all major cities. By road, Ooty is well connected to Bangalore via Sate Highway no. 17 as well as other important towns in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. There are regular bus services from Coonoor (18 km), Coimbatore (89 km), Calicut (187 km), Kodaikanal (236 km), Kochi (281 km), Bangalore (290 km) and Chennai (535 km). There are also bus services available for Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary and other nearby tourist destinations.

Distances

90 km from Coimbatore

290 km from Bangalore

25 km from Pykara Lake

50 km from Gudalur

65 km from Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary