Ootylicious

Route -: Bangalore - Mandya - Srirangapatnam - Gundlupete - Ooty (via NH275)

Time Of the Trip -: Feb 2016

Distance Covered -: 900 Km in 3 days

Type of Trip -: Romantic Getaway

Road Quality -: 8/10

Route Advice - In between NH 275 and NH 209 , i preferred NH 275 since it has a lot of eating joints on it. NH 209 might be a bit quicker but there is absolutely nothing where you can eat (except of a CCD and a south indian breakfast joint in the starting of 209 itself). Also since NH 275 is a 4 lane highway whereas 209 being a single dual carriage way, hence its easier to drive on NH 275.

DAY 1:

6:00 AM - Started from Bangalore.

NH 209

7:30 AM - realized staying on NH 209 was a big mistake as we were really hungry. Hnece decided to take a mid road to join Nh 275

Bad Roads between NH209 and NH275

8:30 AM - had breakfast at Mc Donalds on NH275 and continued further.

Roads inside Bandipur National Park

Extremely thin roads cause a lot of delay due to oncoming traffic.

1:30 PM - The hairpin bends start

Ooty Hairpin Bends

3:00 PM - Reach Ooty

Sagar Holiday Resort (view from reception)

Sagar Holiday Resort (view from Bottom)

We stayed in a place called Sagar holiday Resort and i cant stress the fact that how amazing this resort was.I got a deal on MakeMyTrip and i got a package for 3 days 2 nights for around 3500/-

This place has all the rooms on the side of the Hill so all the rooms have valley facing balconies and the design is such that the balconies are still private.

View From Our Resort

4:00 PM - After having lunch and resting a bit we went out for sight seeing in Ooty. It was a bit cold by that time but was perfect for roaming around.

Ooty Lake

 You can take a pedal boat here for 120 bucks for half and hour. I would definitely recommend that.

Short Train Ride near Ooty Lake

The train goes nowhere. It just goes ahead by 300m and then returns on the same track.

Clear Skies at Night

DAY 2

6:00 AM - Got up to see the sunrise and what an epic sunrise it was. I have never seen such a spectacular sunrise in my life. It was a strange and calming sight as the cold sun rays finally started to heat your skin and as the fury of the sun made your eyes sparkle until you cant take the magnificence any more and have to look away.

The sun peeking above the Horizon

The valley still slept as the sun woke up

Fog and Mist in the Valleys 

Finally its Up

10:00 AM - After having breakfast, left to see the Avalanchi lake. Its a lake around 50+ KM from Ooty and not many people know about it, but it turned out to be an epic place. Calm lake and colorful background. Kinda makes you wanna camp here and stay.

Top View of the Avalanchi Lake

The Lake opens Up 

 I couldn't find a trail that would let you take your vehicles right up to the lake so you will have to park your vehicle somewhere on the side of the road and then trek down to the lake. Its a simple trek but you need to be careful of the wild buffaloes in this area. they can be a handful.

Colors of Nature

1:00PM came back to ooty. Had Lunch and some nice coffee at CCD.

Went around ooty and did some chocolate shopping. 

Then finally went to the Botanical garden in Ooty.

Botanical Garden

Traffic in Ooty

3:00 PM set out to go to Coonoor. 

Found a guide on the way. These guys will go with your in your vehicle. If there is no place, then they will lead on their 2 wheeler. Best thing, they will drive your car if you want and you can rest your knee for sometime on these wretched small roads.

Tea Estates in  Coonoor

The face of a sleeping lady as seen from the Lambs Rock 

Catherine Falls seen from the Dolphin's Nose Viewpoint

The Never Ending Tea Estates

The Hidden Valley

The Guide will charge you a meagre 300 bucks but its worth it. He knows all the backroads and shortcuts. 

Tip - If you do not know the local language, these guys will be specially helpful on the road.

DAY 3:

11:00 AM - Checked out of the Resort

12:00 Noon - Went to the Tea Factory on the way to Dodda Betta.

1:00 PM - Reached Dodda Betta. Did some sight seeing and then Left for bangalore around 1:30 PM as there wasn't much to do there.

While coming back we had to come back via Gadulur hence it took us longer but its a much better and wider road. (P.S. this is the road that big busses take).

While coming back in Bandipur, we call a lot of wildlife around the road.

10:00 PM - Reached Bangalore via NH275

All in all it was an amazingly relaxing trip. and more than that it was super fun. The climate, temperature, roads, sights and experience, everything cumulatively made this trip , one of my most memorable trips.

BottomLine - Ooty is always fun. Its the closest hill station to Bangalore. Even though its highly commercialized now but still there are patches of nature untouched by man. And when you come across any such piece, cherish it, admire it and don't ruin it.