Road trips are always exciting and when it comes to road trips at places with the natural beauty around, there cannot be anything more blessed. And for travel lovers like me, it’s all about the journey. So, this time I decided upon taking a road trip from Ooty to Coimbatore, in the laps of nature, between the lush green forests and beautiful hillsides. For some reason, I couldn’t take up my own vehicle on the trip, but “the show must go on” and so I availed a safe and hassle-free car rental in Coimbatore for this amazing journey.
Coimbatore to Ooty Road Trip
The drive from Coimbatore to Ooty is nothing but soothing and relaxing. On this trip, I was accompanied by 3 of my friends. We had chosen the Kotagiri route for our trip as it is a short route with better roads. So we started off from Coimbatore to reach Mettupalayam. From there, the road became a little tricky and covered with hills as you take the Kotagiri route. The view becomes startlingly beautiful. The road has a few hairpin bends which are fun to ride on. 25 kilometers before Ooty, you arrive at Coonoor. Ooty being a hill station has no direct trains that connect it to Coimbatore. The entire journey takes 2.5-3 hours of travel and the drive is an experience of a lifetime.
In this winter if you plan to visit ooty go for Toy Train, Ooty Lake, Ooty Rose Gardens, Thread Garden, Kalhatti Falls, Emerald Lake, Tiger Hill and Kamraj Sagar Lake. Here are the hidden treasures we stopped by en route our road trip from Coimbatore to Ooty!
1. A beautiful start from Mettupalayam
Starting off early morning from Coimbatore, we booked a cab from Coimbatore to Ooty. It is actually quite safe and hassle-free to use a cab rental in Coimbatore as the roads are quite twisted. We used the NH 181 route to reach Mettupalayam, which is about 1.5 hours away. Mettupalayam is quite a good place to relax. After a bit of snack and tea, we were back on track with the Kotagiri route.
2. The hidden village – Aracode
About 5 km en route our drive, we crossed the Aracode village. Located in the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu, Aracode is situated at an altitude of 823 m above sea level. The village has great farmland, tea estates, ponds, and treehouses. You can even halt for an evening at the farmhouses. “Manchester of South India” is known for its cotton fields, educational institutions, and textile industries.
3. Trek out for nature’s pride – Catherine falls
Moving further on our route, we arrived at the Catherine falls. Though the route isn’t straight, and we had to trek for 1 km through the tea farms and gardens to reach the fall. The falls are double cascaded and since it was a post-monsoon season, the view was worth admiring. It was all calm and peaceful. So we spent about an hour there clicking pictures and creating memories. Nearby Catherine Falls you can visit Dolphin’s Nose, Rallia Dam, Sim’s Park, Government Botanical Park, and Upper Bhavani Lake. From October to May is the best time to visit this location.
4. On the way Coimbatore to Ooty reach out for Doddabetta
Another hour later, after lunch, we reached the Doddabetta mountain peaks. The peak is enormous and a sight for your eyes. With lush green forests at the peak (Bandipur National Park), the highest point in the Nilgiri Mountains (2500m), is mesmerizingly beautiful. It satisfies the thirst of an avid trekker! Near Doddabetta Peak you can visit some other places like Laws Falls, Tamilnadu Tourism Ooty Boat House, and Ooty Hill Station.
5. Ooze out and chill at the Ooty Lake
After a short trek on the peak, we headed for the Ooty lake which is about half an hour away from Doddabetta. It was almost evening and we took a boat ride at the lake. The view was beyond thoughts, with “water water everywhere”!
6. The mesmerizing Botanical Gardens near Ooty Lake
After savoring the evening beauty at the Ooty Lake, we headed for the Botanical gardens, about 4 km away. The garden has a terraced layout with more than 650 species of flowers and trees.
7. A step closer to the destination – Coonoor
Leaving the scenic beauty behind, we drove for Coonoor by sunset. A hill station in itself, Coonoor is popular for its tea states, rhododendrons, roses and eucalyptus trees. We didn’t have a halt there, so we directly left for our destination: Ooty!
Comparing the route via Coonoor, Kotagiri Route had wonderfully laid roads, without any potholes or disturbances. We had opted to book a cab from Coimbatore to Ooty and it was really safe and hassle-free to take the rental cab at Coimbatore. Overall, the trip was an unforgettable experience, and brought me a step closer to my emotional links with nature!
