This is probably the most scenic part of the drive. The road from Mysore runs along paddy and sunflower fields with coconut vendors coming up at regular intervals. The road is arrow-straight in many places and you can go quite fast but keep in mind that the shoulders are broken at some places and the road is narrow. You might have to put two wheels onto the shoulder in the face of an oncoming bus or truck. Slow down once you enter Bandipur (77km from Mysore) as the roads are twisty just after the boundary. Also remember there are certain places where the road forks. Always bear left on these forks as they are one-way.

Once past the reception centre, the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu state border comes up after 6km and the Mudumalai sanctuary starts.
A fork 5km down this road has two roads leading to Ooty — while the one through Gudalur (on the right) is longer, the other goes through Masinagudi. There is a road sign indicating that the road is steep and that “you will strain your car” but we recommend taking this route. It has been repaired recently and is quite an easy drive if you have hill-driving experience.
Just remember to honk around the 36 hairpin bends that you’ll encounter after Masinagudi. Bet you’ll be whistling your favourite number as you steer your
way to a wonderful holiday. Club Mahindra Ooty is on Sheddon Road in Ooty.

Club Mahindra’s Danish Villa in Ooty offers indoor activities like carrom, uno and boardgames as well as outdoor activities like treks, boating and horse riding. Besides this, they have splendid bonfires as well as barbeques at night where you can sit under the starry sky and enjoy the lights of Ooty twinkling below.

There are a number of interesting places you can check out during your sojourn in Ooty.

The Lake This artificial lake was created in 1824 by John Sullivan.
It was larger than it is now and has shrunk over the years, making room for the racecourse and bus-stand. Stay away from the lake from 10.30am to 5pm, when it is most crowded during the peak tourist season. Otherwise it is a calm and serene place where you can enjoy boating, laze around in the gardens or have a snack in the restaurant.

Stone House This is the first stone structure to be built in Ooty.
It housed the residence of John Sullivan and was originally known as Kal Bangla.

St Stephen’s Church Built in Gothic style, this church is a throwback to the days of the Raj. It was built in 1829 and legend has it that the huge wooden beams inside were hauled by elephants from Tipu’s Sultan’s palace in Srirangapatnam. Besides being the oldest church in Ooty itself, it is the oldest church in the Nilgiris. John Sullivan’s body is entombed here.
Doddabetta If you want to indulge in a good trek, you can trek to Doddabetta via the Kodappamund road. Doddabetta (2637m) is the highest peak in the Nilgiris and on a clear day offers good views of the verdant landscapes that the blue mountains are all about.
A smooth motorable road runs up the 10km from Ooty to the peak.

Avalanche This is a beautiful place around the huge Avalanche dam. The area is ideal for a day’s relaxation or as a base for trekking. You can also go fishing in the dam, provided you have a permit from the wildlife warden’s office in Ooty.

Shopping Alongside the car park for the Botanical Gardens there is a refugee market where you can buy woolen products. Besides this, Ooty is famous for the thick Toda shawls known as Puthikuzhi and embroidered exclusively by women. Other Nilgiri specialities are eucalyptus oil, homemade chocolates (try the rum-and-raisin and roasted almond) and flavored Nilgiri tea.
Words and Photographs Rishad Saam Mehta