The Nilgiris' classic hill stations: gardens and lakes in Ooty, tea country in Coonoor, and the famous toy train — your vehicle, your pace.

Highlights: Botanical Garden, Ooty Lake, Coonoor tea, Toy train (opt.)

Itinerary

Day 1 · 5:30 AM — Pickup & drive
About 556 km via Palakkad, Coimbatore and Mettupalayam, roughly 11 hours. Overnight in Ooty. (Stay booked by you)
Day 2 · morning — Botanical Garden & Rose Garden
Ooty's best-known gardens. (Entry own expense)
Day 2 · afternoon — Ooty Lake & Doddabetta Peak
Boating (optional) and the highest point in the Nilgiris.
Day 3 · morning — Coonoor — Sim's Park & Dolphin's Nose
Tea country, gardens and a famous valley lookout.
Day 3 · optional — Nilgiri Mountain Railway
The UNESCO-listed toy train between Ooty and Coonoor. (Book tickets in advance · paid direct)
Day 4 — Drive home
Leave early; back in Trivandrum by night.

🚂 Toy train: Seats sell out — book on IRCTC well before your trip. We meet you at the other station with your vehicle.
🪪 Tamil Nadu entry: Ooty is in Tamil Nadu: interstate permit, border tax and any hill-station e-pass are billed at actual cost. We check entry rules before you travel.
🏨 Your stay: You book your hotel; Ooty town and Coonoor both work well. Your driver's night allowance is in our price.
🧥 Weather: Cold nights all year — bring warm clothes. Ghat roads have 36 hairpin bends from Mettupalayam side.

Ooty & Coonoor