Ooty is the hill station Bangalore escapes to when the city heats up, and it is close enough for a long weekend. The drive covers about 270 km via Mysore, the Bandipur and Mudumalai forests and the climb into the Nilgiris, typically six and a half to seven and a half hours. The catch is timing: forest checkposts on the way close at night, so the day has to be planned backwards from them. Our Bangalore to Ooty cab is timed for exactly that, with drivers who know both ghat roads into Ooty and vehicles suited to your group, from a Dzire for two to a tempo traveller for the whole team.
| Vehicle | Seats | One way (270 km) | Round trip (540 km, 2 days) | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swift Dzire or Similar Compact Sedan | 4 People | ₹4,450 ₹15/km | ₹8,000 | Book |
| Toyota Etios Premium Sedan | 4 People | ₹4,720 ₹16/km | ₹8,600 | Book |
| Maruti Ertiga or Similar Compact SUV | 6 People | ₹5,900 ₹20/km | ₹10,400 | Book |
| Toyota Innova Premium SUV | 7 People | ₹6,440 ₹22/km | ₹11,000 | Book |
| Toyota Innova Crysta Luxury SUV | 7 People | ₹7,250 ₹25/km | ₹12,200 | Book |
One-way fares include fuel and driver allowance (minimum 130 km). Round-trip fares are for the same car returning to Bangalore, billed at the round-trip rate with a daily minimum. Tolls, parking and interstate permits are extra where they apply. Tempo Travellers, Urbania and mini buses are available for round trips.
Night traffic restrictions apply on the Bandipur and Mudumalai stretches, with the checkposts usually closing to regular traffic from around 9 pm until 6 am. From most parts of Bangalore, Gundlupet, the last town before the forest, is four to four and a half hours away. So the rule of thumb we give travellers is this:
Expressway driving. Most travellers stop for breakfast near Mandya or on the Mysore ring road. The driver usually bypasses Mysore city on the ring road unless you want to stop.
NH 766 through Nanjangud and open farmland, with fuel stations and eateries in Gundlupet.
Bandipur in Karnataka, then Mudumalai in Tamil Nadu. Drive slowly, stay in the vehicle and keep an eye out for elephants and deer.
From Theppakadu, cars may climb the steep Kalhatti ghat via Masinagudi with its 36 hairpins, or take the gentler but longer road via Gudalur. Tempo travellers and larger vehicles use the Gudalur route.
If you cannot leave Bangalore early, there is another way: NH 44 via Hosur, Krishnagiri and Salem, then on to Coimbatore and Mettupalayam, and up the Coonoor ghat to Ooty. It is much longer, around 440 km, but has no forest closure. Another plus: you can catch the Nilgiri Mountain Railway, a UNESCO World Heritage toy train, from Mettupalayam to Coonoor or Ooty, while the driver takes your luggage up by road. Toy train tickets sell out fast, so book them first.
The cab enters Tamil Nadu, so an interstate permit is needed. We arrange it before departure. The Nilgiris district has also used an e-pass system for visiting vehicles during peak periods and collects a local entry fee, and the rules have changed more than once. Our team checks what applies for your travel dates. Permits, tolls and entry fees are usually listed separately from the base fare.
Ooty town is lively, with the lake, the botanical garden and plenty of hotels, but it gets congested in season. Coonoor, about 20 km away, is quieter and greener, with Sim's Park and the tea estates around Dolphin's Nose. Kotagiri is quieter still, with lovely walks and views. Tell us where you are staying; the drive time from the forest differs for each.
A Dzire or Etios handles the climb well for couples and small families. An Innova Crysta is noticeably more comfortable on the hairpins and the better choice for elderly parents or anyone prone to motion sickness. For college groups and office trips, a Tempo Traveller 12+1 or Force Urbania 16+1 is popular, with a driver experienced on the Gudalur ghat.
Even in April and May, Ooty evenings are cool, and from November to February nights can be close to freezing. Pack layers, a light rain jacket for the monsoon months and motion sickness tablets if needed. Keep a warm layer in the cabin rather than in the boot so you can reach it as you climb.
Because Ooty's sights are spread across the hills, and because taxis in town are in high demand during season, most Bangalore travellers book a round trip. The same driver can take you to Doddabetta, Pykara, the tea factory, Coonoor and Avalanche, and the return trip is timed around the forest checkposts too.
The sugarcane district on the expressway, a common breakfast stop for Ooty-bound travellers.
The last town before Bandipur, good for fuel, food and a stretch before the forest.
The heart of Mudumalai, with the forest department's elephant camp beside the highway.
A quieter hill town near Ooty, known for tea estates, Sim's Park and Dolphin's Nose.
The base of the Nilgiri Mountain Railway, on the alternative route via Coimbatore.
The boating lake in the middle of Ooty town, busy in the summer season.
To use the route through Bandipur, try to leave by late morning. After early afternoon, you risk reaching the forest after the checkposts close, and the driver would need to take the much longer Coimbatore route.
About 270 km via Mysore and Bandipur, usually six and a half to seven and a half hours including a breakfast stop.
Yes, if you travel via Coimbatore and Mettupalayam. Book the Nilgiri Mountain Railway tickets in advance, and the driver will meet you at Coonoor or Ooty with your luggage.
The Nilgiris has used an e-pass system for visiting vehicles during busy periods. Rules change, so our team checks the current requirements for your dates before the trip.
Yes. Tempo travellers are driven up the Gudalur route, which is longer but more suitable for larger vehicles than the Kalhatti ghat.
Talk to our travel desk for a quote, extra stops or a bigger vehicle. We answer 24/7.
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