Plan your visit
At a Glance: Essential Visitor Information
TimingsScheduled services (book ahead)
Entry feeTicketed
Best time to visitOctober to June
From city centreTown centre (Ooty station)
LocationOoty, Tamil Nadu
Know before you go
About Nilgiri Mountain Railway
The Nilgiri Mountain Railway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the steam/diesel rack railway that climbs from Mettupalayam to Ooty (Udhagamandalam) through forests, tea estates and numerous tunnels and bridges. The steep Mettupalayam–Coonoor stretch uses a rack-and-pinion system. The ride is a highlight in itself and tickets sell out in season, so book ahead.
Getting there
How to Reach Nilgiri Mountain Railway
Board at Ooty or ride up from Mettupalayam via Coonoor; the classic ascent is Mettupalayam to Ooty.
Gallery
Photos of Nilgiri Mountain Railway
Location
Find it on the Map
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Plan your day
Nearby Attractions to Combine with Your Visit
More places in Ooty to see on the same trip, nearest first.
≈ 350 m
Government Botanical Garden
Terraced 19th-century botanical garden with lawns, rare trees and a fossil tree trunk.
350 m awayView details →
YS
≈ 600 m
Government Rose Garden
Large terraced rose garden on Elk Hill with thousands of rose varieties.
600 m awayView details →
≈ 2.4 km
Ooty Lake
Artificial lake in the heart of Ooty popular for boating.
2.4 km awayView details →
≈ 3.3 km
Doddabetta Peak
The highest peak in the Nilgiris, with a telescope house and sweeping views.
3.3 km awayView details →
≈ 15 km
Pykara Lake & Falls
Scenic lake and waterfall amid shola forest and grassland, popular for boating.
15 km awayView details →
≈ Straight-line distance from Nilgiri Mountain Railway. The road route is usually longer.
See all places to visit in Ooty →