Team-BHP - From Bangalore to Ooty!

Currently it is off season time to visit Ooty. In the first place is it a good time to visit?

Further pretty confused with the route now!!

Route 1 -Bangalore-Mysore-Nanjangudu-Gundlupet-Bandipur-Masinagudi-Ooty (267 kms as per Google maps)

Route 2 -Bangalore-Mysore-Nanjangudu-Gundlupet-Bandipur-Mudumalai-Gudalur-Ooty (306 kms as per google maps)

Route 2 seems be to slightly longer. My main considerations are good roads with scenic beauty.

As per sumannady the second route (Gudalur route) is in bad shape. Has anyone travelled very recently? Is it suggested to stick to the first route itself?

I am planning for 2-3 days stay in Ooty where I am planning to visit Pykara lake, Botanical gardens, Emerald Lake and Avalanche Sanctuary.

@tarique2002i - Is there a requirement to obtain any permission to visit the High Field Tea Estate at Coonoor. Please advice.

Any other places to visit? Any more suggestions?

Thanks in advance..

Quote:

Originally Posted by rki2007 (Post 3637482)

Always good to visit in off season (my personal opinion), lesser crowds and peaceful.
As for the route - Take the Masinagudi route while going from Bangalore. It is scenic but will involve ghat driving, quite steep, road is in excellent condition and will take you up to Ooty quickly :)

Needless to say, start early, say by 5am so as to avoid the devilish traffic on Bangalore-Mysore route.

Gudalur section is quite bad and sometimes cops in Ooty will not let you take Masinagudi route downhill, so on the return consider coming back via Mettupalayam-Avinashi, then NH47 upto Salem and then NH 7 for Salem- Bangalore.
Here is a more relevant thread for route/road conditions and recent updates - Here.

A beautifully written travelogue and nice pics. Those beautiful tree covered roads through the forests are heavenly. Surely warrant a drive soon. Thanks for sharing.

And remembering Robert Frost during the travel surely indicates your taste to poetic excellence. Nicely woven into the travelogue. Thanks again.