The short 85-km Coimbatore to Ooty route is among the most popular tourist routes in South India. Coimbatore has the nearest airport to Ooty which makes traveling to Ooty much easier. Going to Ooty from Coimbatore not only grants you a scenic ride through Western Ghats but also guarantees a challenging and adventurous journey with 36 hairpin curves owing to a well-maintained road network.
Ooty is situated at an altitude of 2,240 meters (7,350 feet), so the road involves a significant climb from Coimbatore, which is at about 411 meters (1,348 feet) above sea level. The road passes through forested areas, where you might spot wildlife such as monkeys, deer, and occasionally elephants, especially in the Mettupalayam to Coonoor stretch. When you start climbing the road, the temperature drops significantly, providing a cooler, refreshing climate compared to the warmer plains of Coimbatore.
Distance from Coimbatore to Ooty: 85 km
Travel time: 2 hours 44 minutes
Nearest airport to Coimbatore: Coimbatore International Airport
Nearest railway station to Coimbatore: Coimbatore Junction
Nearest airport to Ooty: Coimbatore International Airport
Nearest railway station to Ooty: Mettupalayam Railway Station (50 km)
Best time to travel from Coimbatore to Ooty: March to June (summer)
Let us look at what makes the Coimbatore-Ooty route an unmissable part of your trip to Tamil Nadu, the best routes to and from both locations and the various means to cover the journey.
Why travel from Coimbatore to Ooty
Coimbatore to Ooty road runs parallel to the Nilgiri Mountain Railway, a UNESCO World Heritage site, in some stretches. The train journey is a popular attraction. The charming hills and misty breeze of Ooty offer the perfect respite from the busy city life of Coimbatore. A detour from the main road near Ooty leads to Avalanche Lake, a serene spot known for its pristine beauty and surrounded by a dense shola forest.
ALSO SEE – 10 Best Things To Do In Ooty, The Queen Of Hills!
Whether you travel from Coimbatore to Ooty by road or take a train, your journey will be no short of a visual splendor!
A trip from the ‘Manchester of South India’ to the ‘Queen of Hill Stations’ will be filled with a truckload of experiences you’ll never forget!
From lush views of the Eastern Ghats, winding roads, countless tea plantations, to refreshingly cool mountain weather, your journey will be blessed with it all!
Best way to travel to Ooty from Coimbatore
A road trip is the quickest, most comfortable, and most cost-effective way of traveling from Coimbatore to Ooty.
It’ll be most convenient for you to cover the short 85-km route from Coimbatore to Udhagamandalam, or Ooty, by car or bus. If you go by road you can also visit Avalanche Lake which is a serene spot known for its pristine beauty and surrounded by a dense shola forest.
Not only will your journey be scenic, but the smooth road network between the two cities will make your ride as comfortable as flying on a magic carpet!
Riding past the swaying cotton fields of Coimbatore to the misty hills of Ooty is bound to give you one hell of a road trip!
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Best Coimbatore to Ooty routes by road
Traveling from Coimbatore to Ooty by car, though the right travel option, can be quite challenging if you’re not familiar with the best routes between the two cities.
We suggest the following two routes considering factors like traffic, road conditions, tolls, travel time, number of stops, and attractions you can visit on the way, right down to the hairpin bends you’re likely to encounter on your journey.
See them both and pick the one that best suits your needs and preferences.
ROUTE 1: Via NH 181
Coimbatore → TNP Thudiyalur → Bilichi → Bettadapura → Odanthurai → Kallar RF → Coonoor → Ooty
Total distance: 88 km
Time taken: 2 hours 50 minutes
This is the best route from Coimbatore to Ooty if you’re traveling by road. Despite regular traffic, this is the quickest route to reach Ooty.
Pros: Short route; Less time consuming; Standard number of tolls
Cons: Lots of hairpin bends; Heavy traffic on the outskirts of Coimbatore
On the way, you can check out places like the Adiyogi Shiva bust, Ramayana Theme Park, Karamadai Ranganathar Temple, Black Thunder Water Theme Park, and Kattery Park.
You can eat at restaurants like the Atithi Devo Restaurant in Bettadapura and Teetuu Home Made Chocolate Factory in Coonoor.
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ROUTE 2: Via Mettupalayam-Kotagiri Road
Coimbatore → TNP Thudiyalur → Bilichi → Bettadapura → Mettupalayam → Kotagiri → Ooty
Total distance: 98 km
Time taken: 3 hours 15 minutes
You can take this slightly longer route if you want a more scenic journey and less traffic along the way. It too has a standard number of tolls and excellent road conditions.
Pros: Scenic; Less traffic; Less hairpin bends
Cons: Longer; More time consuming
You can visit tourist attractions like the Ramayana Theme Park, Mettupalayam View Point, and Catherine Waterfalls on the way.
You can dine at restaurants and dhabas like Sree Annapoorna Restaurant in Mettupalayam, Food Land Restaurant in Odanthurai, and the Silvertip Cafe in Kotagiri.
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Other ways to reach Ooty from Coimbatore
Not a fan of road travel?
Let’s see what other methods you can use to commute between these two cities at ease.
By train
No direct trains are operating on the Coimbatore-Ooty route.
If you wish to travel from Coimbatore to Ooty by train, you’ll first need to take a train to Mettupalayam Railway Station located 50 km from Ooty, then take the Nilgiri Mountain Railway to Ooty’s Udagamandalam Railway Station.
Your route will be as such:
Coimbatore Junction → Mettupalayam Railway Station → Udagamandalam Railway Station
Try and book a seat on the Coimbatore–Mettupalayam MEMU Express Special, the fastest train between Coimbatore and Mettupalayam that will get you there in about 40-45 minutes.
Plenty of cabs and tuk-tuks are available at the Udagamandalam Railway Station to take you to your desired destination in Ooty.
By air
Ooty does not have its own airport.
Traveling from Coimbatore to Ooty by flight is not a practical option as the nearest airport to Ooty is in Coimbatore itself.
ALSO SEE – Bangalore To Ooty- Routes, Travel Options & Best Way To Reach
Now that you know the best way to travel from Coimbatore to Ooty with ease, we recommend you start planning your trip right away with the help of our specially curated Ooty tour packages! Happy tripping!
