Routes›From Chennai›Ooty (Udhagamandalam)
Chennai to Ooty (Udhagamandalam) by train or bus
540 km by road. The bus is fastest at 10 h; the train is cheapest, from ₹500 per person.
Fastest
Bus
TNSTC / Private Volvo
10 h door to door
Cheapest
Train
Nilgiri Express to Mettupalayam + Toy Train to Ooty
from ₹500 per person
Best value
Train
Nilgiri Express to Mettupalayam + Toy Train to Ooty
cheapest at mid fares among options within 1.5× the fastest time
Every option, compared
Door-to-door times (flight times include about three hours at the airports). Fares are typical ranges from budget to premium class.
| Mode | Service | Time | Fare | Overnight | Runs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Train | Nilgiri Express to Mettupalayam + Toy Train to Ooty | 11 h | ₹500–₹1,800per person | No | Daily |
| Bus | TNSTC / Private Volvo | 10 h | ₹650–₹1,720per person | No | Daily |
- Train, Nilgiri Express to Mettupalayam + Toy Train to Ooty: Overnight train from Chennai, arrive Mettupalayam morning, toy train to Ooty. Book months ahead.
What it costs your group, one way
Fares × people; a cab is priced per car, one car per four people.
| Option | 2 people | 4 people |
|---|---|---|
| Train · Nilgiri Express to Mettupalayam + Toy Train to Ooty | ₹1,000–₹3,600 | ₹2,000–₹7,200 |
| Bus · TNSTC / Private Volvo | ₹1,300–₹3,440 | ₹2,600–₹6,880 |
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Trains from Chennai Central to Ooty (Nilgiri Mountain Railway).
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Once you’re in Ooty (Udhagamandalam)
- Best time: April – June, September – November
- Typical stay: 4 days
- Railhead: Ooty (Nilgiri Mountain Railway)
- Airport: Coimbatore International Airport, 88 km
- On the ground: from ₹9,560 for two over 4 days — stay, food, local transport and entry, typical rates (not season-adjusted), excluding this journey.
Related
Plan the Ooty (Udhagamandalam) trip
A day-by-day plan for Ooty (Udhagamandalam) starting from Chennai, with this journey and the stay priced in.