The Nilgiri Circuit

When it comes to group travel, especially with your gang, it'll be next to impossible to get a day where everyone's free from their daily routines and just when you lose all hopes, suddenly the world would conspire for your trip. This is that one trip. A one day trip that was the result of almost 1 and a half years of wait.

Looking for an ideal location for a day's outing, Ooty, Valparai, Palakkad where the options as we all work in Coimbatore. And hence the obvious decision was taken to go for Ooty. But instead of going for Ooty-Coonoor and returning, a circuit was made; all thanks to google maps for the planning.

The Nilgiri circuit

The trip started early in the morning at around 5.30. The plan for the was to reach tiger hills for the sunrise, hang out at the pine forest, reach Pykara and do boating depending on the time, reach Kodanadu viewpoint in Kotagiri before returning to Coimbatore and ending the trip. The places were chosen to balance the trip with sightseeing, hanging out and other activities.

After a lot of web reviews and research and the thirst to go to some place that's not in any other "cliche" Ooty itinerary, we came up with the Tiger Hills for sunrise. But two things went wrong; Our starting time and google maps. Though we were planning to start by 4.30 or 5, like any other time, we started late. Result: Watch the sunrise en-route. But as you start climbing, sunrise from any part of Nilgiris, if view-able will be amazing. Seconds, as Google says, maps are in beta and we couldn't just find any logical route where Google asked us to go. But we were not in a mood to turn back, so we started asking the locals for the place, and after some roaming around, we managed to find the route and reach there.

Once you take the road to the tiger hill reservoir, a narrow one lane, which almost resembles you of off-roading at places and takes you through a thickly packed village, it'll be a little tricky at times and you better be confident with your wheels. At some point, we lost hope of finding the place but one of the people who was passing by directed and assured us that it's very near. So when in doubt ask the locals.

As soon as your car reaches the dead end, get down and walk straight through the forest. You reach the reservoir. Please keep in mind it is the source of drinking water to many people so just enjoy the views and be back without tampering with the place. This is the place for bird watchers, nature lovers and photographers, spend some 15-20 mins and find your way back to your ride.

On continuing the journey and one team already reached our next destination, the pine forest, we had to make a slight change in plan. Pine forest is closed for maintenance! So skipping the destination, we moved towards out next in line, Pykara boathouse.

This one is a good place to spend time with your family. Depending on the crowd, it'll take some time for your turn. There are several choices such as speed boats, other slows cruising boats etc. We took a 10 seater boat to sink into the surrounding views. It took about an hour for us to be back in our cars. After a quick lunch and some shopping back in Ooty town, we started to Kodanadu Viewpoint.

Often dubbed as India's Switzerland, Kotagiri is a treat to your eyes round the year. Long Tea plantations stretching to the horizon, numerous hills spread around you, and the winding roads that take you through these visual treats. Kotagiri is less commercialized than Ooty and hence less crowded also. This one's the place for peace seekers and riders. If you are planning a night in or around Ooty try to get a stay in or near Kotagiri.

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