Nilgiri Hill Stations — Coimbatore to Ooty & CoonoorLoop.
Distance
180 km
Duration
1 day
Climb
2,200 m
Nilgiri Hill Stations — Coimbatore to Ooty & Coonoor Loop.
A classic day ride climbing from the plains of Coimbatore through 36 hairpin bends into the Nilgiri Mountains — to the colonial-era hill stations of Coonoor and Ooty (Udagamandalam). The road follows the Nilgiri Mountain Railway, a UNESCO World Heritage steam line. At Doddabetta (2,637m), the highest peak in Tamil Nadu, the panorama spans the Western Ghats from Kerala into Karnataka.
Quick facts
SurfacePaved
Distance180 km
Days1
Total climb2,200 m
DifficultyEasy
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The route.
CoimbatoreStart · Start at Coimbatore (411m). Head north on NH181 toward Mettupalayam. Cool morning departure beats the heat — leave by 7am.
MettupalayamRestaurant · Foothill town, end of the broad-gauge railway and start of the Nilgiri Mountain Railway. Famous for thick filter coffee. Last fuel station before the climb begins.
CoonoorScenic Point · First hill station at 1,850m. Tea estates begin here. Sims Park botanical garden and Lambs Rock viewpoint over the Coimbatore plains.
Doddabetta PeakMountain Pass · The highest point in Tamil Nadu at 2,637m. Telescope house at the summit and 360-degree views over the Nilgiri ranges into Kerala and Karnataka.
OotyScenic Point · Queen of hill stations. Botanical Gardens, Ooty Lake, and the colonial-era club. Stop for tea and homemade chocolate.
CoimbatoreEnd · Return descent to Coimbatore via Coonoor — around 180km loop total. Watch for monkeys on the descent road.
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