Ooty With Nilgiris Road Trip

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  • 2 Days 1 Night
  • Group Size: 8 - 12
  • Difficulty : Easy
  • Distance : 280 KM

Overview

Hello travelers!

Do you wanna explore the quaint little villages in the Nilgiris mountain range?
How about unwinding at majestic lakes like Emerald & Avalanche?
A drive through absolutely amazing views of majestic mountains that are older than the Himalayas?
Take Bollywood style selfies amidst beautiful Tea estates?
Get thrilled by Shola forests so dense that feels like even flies can’t pass through?
Get chilled and have garam chai in the mountains?

Or just put your feet in a river stream & feel how beautiful life can get while traveling!
A little bit of wildlife maybe?
Nilgiris offers everything above and a lot of peace of mind.

Let’s know a bit more about this pretty hill station:
Nilgiris, translated as “Blue mountains” is a fairyland in the tri-junction of 3 southern Indian states – Karnataka, Tamilnadu, and Kerala. There are cloud kissing mountains, dense forests, rushing streams, undulating planes, breathtaking views of sudden drops, deep valleys, charming meadows. The Nilgiris biosphere is unique for its altitude as well as a unique ecosystem. It boasts of the most popular tourist destination in the South of India called Ooty as its capital. 

The best thing about Nilgiris is its cold climate throughout the year. Ooty attracts lots of tourists in summertime. But not many of them spill into the offbeat side of Nilgiris. This road trip is exactly about that offbeat, unseen, untouched side of Nilgiris. We will stay at a village homestay in the heart of Nilgiris. We will drive deeper into the villages, tea estates, and mountains. We will experience nature in its purest form.

At a distance of roughly 270 Km, The Nilgiris (offbeat Ooty) makes a great weekend getaway from Bangalore.

Highlights of the trip:

  • Road Trip to offbeat Ooty
  • Tea Estate hike with Eco point
  • Most beautiful Emerald & Avalanche Lakes
  • Cairn Hill Reserve Forest
  • Ooty Chocolate/Tea Factory visit
  • Magnificent Pykara Lake visit
  • Pine Forest & Needle Rock point
  • Drive through Bandipur Reserve Forest
  • Excellent climate of Ooty
  • Good local food

Inclusions

  • Travel by Tempo (Non-AC), Tolls, Inter State tax.
  • Accommodation (Rooms on sharing basis)
  • Food: 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch (packed), 1 Dinner (All Veg)
  • Entry tickets at Pykara, Tea Factory, Reserve forest, Needle Rock and other places.
  • Experience all places in the “Highlights” section
  • Trip Leader

Exclusions

  • Food on Day2
  • Any misc expenses not mentioned in the inclusions above

Itinerary

Day 0 - Journey from Bangalore!

  • Start from Bangalore, overnight journey towards Ooty.

Day 1 - Offbeat Ooty - Nilgiris mountains

  • Journey on NH44 down south to reach Nilgiris village guesthouse early morning.
  • Freshen up, have breakfast.
  • Note: On a busy weekend, Nilgiris stays check-in time will be only after 10 AM. In this case, we will use available washrooms at stay for fresh up.
  • Start picturesque road trip into Nilgiris, witness most beautiful Tea estates covering huge swathes of mountains. Go on a small hike with 360 degrees view of lush green Tea plantations.
  • Go on a nature walk in a quaint little Cairn Hill reserve forest, explore a watch tower, a picturesque hanging bridge, sip a cup of hot tea, and inspect handicraft items made by tribals.
  • Have Lunch en route.
  • Visit picturesque Emerald & Avalanche Lakes, click lots of selfies. Put your feet in the chilled fresh mountain water, relax and rejuvenate. Wait for an amazing sunset.
  • Head back to the guesthouse by late evening, refresh.
  • Social gathering with long conversations, sharing travel stories.
  • We can play soft music, sing, indulge in group activities at the common area.
  • Hot dinner served on a really cold night.
  • Rest in the rooms, tucked up with thick blankets.

Day 2 - Ooty - Tea Factory, Pine Forest, Pykara Lake, Needle Rock view point

  • Freshen up, pack our bags, check out of the Guesthouse early.
  • Have Breakfast at Ooty town.
  • Visit Ooty Tea/Chocolate factory, taste different kinds of chai, shop for your favorite Nilgiris Tea.
  • Stop by at Pine forest and click some pictures.
  • Head to extremely picturesque Pykara Lake, go on boating if interested. Pykara is a fresh water lake with panoramic view of lush green Nilgiris forest.
  • Have a pit stop at Needle rock view point. We need to walk about a km to reach view point from parking. This place is a photographer’s delight and usually covered with mist or clouds that look truly gorgeous.
  • Break for a quick Lunch at a local food joint.
  • Start back towards Bangalore, drive through Bandipur and Madhumalai wildlife sanctuaries whilst spotting Deer, Peacock, different species of birds, mammals, and if lucky, the Elephants.
  • Reach back to Bengaluru before mid-night.

Seasonal variations:

  • Feb to May (summer): Pleasant climate during days, clear skies, cold nights. Time to escape the heat of Bangalore and hit the mountains. Exquisite sunrise and sunsets.
  • June to Sep (South West Monsoons): Thick clouds, weather is unpredictable with intermittent rains, so we need to carry raincoats. The mountains really come alive during the monsoons like all hill stations.
  • Oct, Nov (North-East Monsoons): The returning North East monsoons bring plenty of showers in these two months. These are the main source of water for Nilgiris. Traveling would be a little difficult this time of the year because of persistent rains.
  • Oct to Jan (winter): Dry and cold climate throughout the day. Very cold at night. Plenty of water in streams and waterfalls. Need to carry thick sweaters.

What to Expect

About Trip:
  • This trip involves basic facilities in terms of food, travel, and stay without any luxury, whatsoever.
  • This is a group trip with shared model. It may not suit everyone – especially for those expecting privacy and comfort. It best suits for people who wish to socialize.
  • Please do not book this trip if you are not okay with above points.

Travel:
  • Tempo Traveler or Mini Bus (with push back seats).
  • Note: This trip involves overnight journey on a push back Seater (Not sleeper or semis-sleeper).
  • We request you to book this trip only if you can handle slight discomfort (especially last row of the vehicle).

Stay:
  • Basic guest house with beds/mattress, attached washrooms.
  • Stay in the heart of Nilgiris overlooking Tea Estates. There are big/small rooms with hot water.

Food:
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch (packed) & 1 Dinner included. All veg. The rest of the meals are self-sponsored.
  • Please check Inclusions, Exclusions of Nilgiris with Ooty Roadtrip below for complete list of things included in your trip cost.

Holiday season disclaimer ⚠️:
  • Ooty can be really crowded and roads can be jammed in the holiday season.
  • It can cause inconvenience at certain places of our itinerary (especially Day 2). Sometimes there is an outside chance to miss a place or two.
  • Book this trip only of you are okay with this fact.
  • We request to strictly follow timings set by organizers. This can help us in getting ahead of the crowd.

Best time for Nilgiris:
  • Nilgiris is a place for all seasons. Every season offers something special. In monsoons, one can witness streams and waterfalls in full flow. Winters are very cold and misty. Summers are very pleasant and offer clear views. Common throughout the year is its cold climate. The pleasant and cold climate of Ooty is probably the best in the southern part of the country.

FAQ

Pickup/Drop Points

Baiyappanahalli Metro: 8:00 PM
• Back Gate metro entrance
• Kasturi Nagar side (Railway Parallel Road)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/G95QPGQRRDmjfVvP7


Tin Factory: 8:20 PM
• Tin Factory Bus Stop
• Mariyamman Temple side (towards Marathahalli)
https://goo.gl/maps/wFcNqYCbeCuVYW169


Marathahalli: 8:40 PM
• In front of HP world on service road
• Opposite side of Mahindra Showroom
https://goo.gl/maps/j6gwJnEWiXgH5oSL8


Bellandur: 8:55 PM
• Under Eco Space sky walk
https://goo.gl/maps/o6bHtdgptKg1aVsr7


Silk Board: 9:15 PM
• Near Aswad Hospital
• In front of Renault Silk Board showroom
https://goo.gl/maps/NSWoph7b1t4YXnpY9


Electronic City: 9:30 PM
• Toll Plaza Veer Sandra on Hosur Road
https://goo.gl/maps/2PX6bY1G7EYBCN3i7


Note: There is no dinner stop for any of our trips. Finish your light dinner before starting.

Important note: Drop points are different for Ooty Nilgiris trip as we take different route while returning to Bangalore.

Drop points:

  • RR Nagar Metro Station (Mysore Rd)
  • Devegowda Petrol Pump (Banashankari )
  • Jayadeva Signal (Jayanagar)
  • Silk Board
  • Sarjapur Signal
  • Bellandur
  • Marathahalli
  • Tin Factory

Things to carry

  • Toiletries, moisturizer, light towel, lip balm, toothbrush, paste etc.
  • A lightweight backpack for the trip (avoid suitcase/trolley)
  • Photo identity proof with address (Aadhar/Passport/Voter ID)
  • Poncho or rainproof jacket with a hood (as per weather forecast)
  • Cap/Hat (good to have)
  • Sunglasses (to keep your eyes fresh)
  • Power bank, charger, camera, binoculars (if you wish to)
  • Proper water bottle for your trip. You may fill at our homestay
  • Disposable garbage covers (To separate used/unused clothes)
  • Your personal medications, if any
  • Carrying a handwash/sanitizer/tissues will help during the trip
  • Carry your jerkin/sweater – it can get very cold at night
  • Carry a bit of cash for the meals which are not included and misc. expenses
  • Don’t carry expensive items. You are responsible for your own belongings.

What's next after booking your trip?

  • A Whatsapp group shall be created on the trip day and Vehicle & Trip Leader details will be shared.
  • This trip involves traveling with strangers and night stays (if any). Please be mindful that:
    • It is mandatory to share your personal information with the team along with a copy of your government approved ID card.
    • You will need to share your co-traveler(s) details if you have booked more than one seat.
  • Live location of the vehicle will be sent in the group once it starts at the first point.

Terms & Conditions

  • The itinerary is fixed. No special requests to change itinerary/schedule shall be entertained. Do not give advice(s) to the Trip Leader(s) to change the itinerary.
  • Cooperate with the organizer(s) in following the schedule set for the day (especially getting up and getting ready in the morning). This will ensure travelers won’t miss out on the real fun part that is traveling.
  • Every traveler is responsible for his/her for your own safety. Don’t indulge in any illegal or silly activity that causes harm to you or fellow travelers.
  • Do not wander into the forest away from the designated trail for treks. There may be snakes, scorpions, and dangerous animals.
  • Unexpected situations: It may happen we do not cover all the places mentioned in the itinerary because of unpredictable reasons like bad weather, landslides, wild animal presence, abrupt blocking of sites by the police/forest department, delay in travel because of an issue with our group itself, traffic conditions, etc. In most cases, if the time permits, the organizer(s) will take travelers to an alternative place. But in some cases, we may have to skip a place altogether.
  • Absolutely no littering. We swear to protect our environment.
  • No alcohol & smoking during travel, treks, and other outdoor activities. There would be a separate window and space (usually at night) to have these at the campsite/homestay for interested people.
  • Travelers are expected to respect each other and help each other. Avoid discussing sensitive matters like sex, politics, and religion/caste/race.
  • Using foul or abusive language, eve-teasing, arguing with fellow travelers/organizer(s), and/or involving in the physical assault will not be accepted and will stand a chance of being deserted by the group then and there.
  • The event will stand canceled if less than 8 travelers signed up for the trip/trek which will be informed 24 hours before the trip start time.
  • Every traveler is expected to sign a liability/waiver form given by the organizer(s) after boarding the vehicle. This liability form will discharge Muddie Trails of any unexpected incident like injury/death/theft etc.

 

Cancellation & Refund

Cancellation by Traveler

  • 80% refund/100% postponement if you inform about your cancellation before 48 hours of the event start time. An email has to be sent to muddietrails@gmail.com to raise a cancellation request.
  • No refund/postponing is allowed within 48 hours of the event start time whatever is the reason (Health, Accident, Covid, Family crisis, Office issue, or anything else).
  • No refund/postponing is allowed for partial payment – booking fee – which is done to book your slot.
  • No refund during/after the event.

Cancellation by Muddie Trails

Muddie Trails may decide to cancel the event if there are less than 8 travelers signed up for the trip/trek.

What if we don’t get the minimum number of people for the trip?
We have 2 options in this case:
Option 1: Complete refund.
Option 2: Switch to any other trip of the same weekend or future weekends. The difference amount will be collected from you or paid back according to the new trip cost.


Cancellation due to external factors

Muddie Trails may have to cancel the event in case of external factors that are beyond our control like Natural Disasters, Extreme Weather Conditions, Red Alerts, Political Disturbances, Bandh/Curfews, Local Issues, Road Blocks, Train cancellations, Covid-19 or any other disease outbreaks etc.

In these scenarios:

  • No Refund is allowed.
  • 100% trip amount can be used for any other new trip of the same weekend or future weekends. The difference amount will be collected from you or paid back according to the new trip cost.
  • Once you confirm your participation on the new trip, all the above Cancellation policies will apply for the same.

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Price
From₹5,250
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Need Help?


+91 98805 39183

bookings@muddietrails.com

Need Help?


+91 98805 39183

bookings@muddietrails.com

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