View the route
Date of the journey:- December 2019
Distance travelled:- 80 miles
Mysore to Ooty was another 5 and a half hour bus journey. There is no train service between the two towns. As with a majority of the bus journeys that we have taken in India. Again on the state bus, at a cost of 157 Rupees each.
Leaving our accommodation at Hotel Sandesh The Prince. Taking a tuk tuk back to Mysore KSRTC bus station. We were able to get a direct local bus all the way to Ooty bus station.
We feel that this is an absolute bargain for this particular journey. It travels along National Highway 181, which passes through both Bandipur Tiger Reserve and the Mudumalai Forest elephant Reserve.
Next the long and winding climb up the Western Ghats mountains to an altitude of 2240m. Reaching the former British Raj Hill Station of Ooty.
The journey only covers 80 miles. Speed restrictions in the reserves, together with the steep climb up the mountains make it a lengthy journey. However, looking out for wildlife, admiring the spectacular mountain views and tea plantations help the journey pass quickly. The roads are far better than most travelled on so far.
The bus was almost full we were the only non-India passengers. As we passed through the reserve you can imagine we were excited. At the prospect of seeing tigers 🐯 and elephants 🐘 in their natural habitat.
With necks extended like meerkats, we were bouncing from side to side on the bus. Scouring the landscape for tigers and elephants.
Guy had a conversation with the gentleman sitting next to him, who seemed bemused at our antics. It went like this…
Gentleman:- “which country are you from?”
Guy:- “England”
Gentleman:- “don’t you have elephants in England?”
Guy:- “only in a Zoo”
Gentleman:- “oh”
During the journey we were not fortunate enough to see any tigers. We did see a number of monkeys, deer and 5 elephants in the reserves.
Our accommodation in Ooty was at the Sherlock guest house, booked through Booking.com. A 15-minute tuk tuk ride on rather a bumpy track, from the bus station.