Things to do in Ooty

The Nilgiri plateau at 2,200 m, where the sights are close together and the day only works if you take them in the order the cloud allows.

Getting around Ooty

The gardens, the peak and the lake sit within 8 km of each other, but Pykara and Emerald are on opposite roads out of town and the toy train runs one way to Coonoor. Parking is charged at every gate. Every experience below includes the vehicle, a local driver and the parking.

Experiences

• Doddabetta and the Ooty gardens: The highest point in the Nilgiris, then the gardens below it
• Pykara and Emerald Lake run: Two lakes, a waterfall and the shola roads out of town
• Toy train and the tea road: Ride the mountain railway down, come back up through the tea

Best months

October to June. April and May are the flower season and the busiest; July to September is heavy monsoon.

Getting there

About 3 hrs from Coimbatore by road; the Nilgiri Mountain Railway climbs from Mettupalayam via Coonoor.