From WikiOutdoors

Blue mountains Trail

The Low Down

The picturesque Nilagiris (lit. Blue mountains), at the junction of the Western and the Eastern Ghats, are so named because of the shrub Strobilanthes kunthianus (Tamil: kurunji) turns the hills blue with its blossoms every 12 years. Covered with high altitude grasslands and montane evergreen forests, they are of special interest to botanists and entomologists. This hike offers enchanting glimpses of lush green valleys, hill stations and hamlets occupied by tribal people.

The Nilgiris

Vital Information

Location (country, state/province): India
Distance: 90 km
Time: 2 weeks
Elevation change: 800 m
Bathrooms Available: Yes
Water Available: Yes
Dogs allowed: Yes

Table of contents

6) Activities Allowed

7) For More Information

8) Related WikiOutdoors articles

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Getting There.

Thge nearest airport is at Coimbatore, a three hour drive from Ooty, the starting point of this trail. Served by major carriers such as Indian, Jet Airways and Air Deccan, Coimbatore is well connected to Mumbai, Bangalore, Kochi, Trivandrum, Chennai, Ahmedabad and even Sharjah. Alternatively, you can catch a train to Mettupalayam, the nearest station of the Indian Railways network. A toy train connects Mettupalayam to Ooty (via Coonoor), passing dozens of tunnels and quaint villages on its route.

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Route Finding

Start off at Ooty, the most touristy hill station in the Nilgiris. Originally occupied by the people belonging to the Toda tribe, the town was established by the British officer John Sullivan in 1821.
Take the road towards Kotagiri and stop en-roue at the Dodda Betta Peak. At an altitude of 2263 m (8600 ft), the highest peak in the Nilgiris has fantastic views of the surrounding hills, valleys and plateaux.
Turn right at the small village of Naduhatti. Reaching Naduhatti from Ooty on foot takes a few days. The road is full of sharp hair-pin bends. You might want to hitch-hike a ride from a local to get to the next stop Coonoor. This is a pretty town surrounded by tea and coffee plantations.

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Trail Resources

The TTDC Tourist Office (Commercial Rd, +91 423 244-3977) Ooty is open from Mon to Fri 10 AM to 5.45 PM. They have brochures on the region and a few free maps of Ooty.

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Helpful Hints

Leave early in the morning. Take breaks every hour and do not hike for over 4 hours a day.
There are many small villages on the way. You can always stp to have some strong "filter" coffee at these places. Chatting with the locals can be fun, but for most part you'll need to know a bit of Tamil.

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Activities Allowed

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For More Information

You can find out more about Coonoor and Ooty from wikipedia

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