Ooty Bus Stand, officially the Udhagamandalam Central Bus Stand, is where most trips into the Nilgiris begin or end. It sits in the middle of town, a short walk from Ooty Lake, and thousands of passengers pass through it every day.
The bus stand is on the Commercial Road/Station Road side of Udhagamandalam, right next to Ooty Railway Station. The postal address is Nilgiris District, Tamil Nadu – 643001, and the coordinates are 11.4063° N, 76.6961° E.
Distances from the bus stand:
TNSTC and the local municipality look after the terminal. What is available?
Volvo, Scania and BharatBenz sleeper and semi-sleeper coaches leave daily from boarding points beside the main concourse. They head to Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Pondicherry.
Coimbatore has the closest major airport and a big railway junction, which makes this the busiest route. Buses wind down the ghat road through Coonoor and Mettupalayam.
The road cuts through Bandipur National Park and Mudumalai Tiger Reserve. Night traffic is restricted at the forest checkposts from 9:00 PM to 6:00 AM.
Overnight sleeper and Volvo buses run daily to Koyambedu (CMBT) and Kilambakkam (KCBT).
The local section of the stand serves villages, tea estates and sightseeing spots around the district.
Seats fill up fast in April–June and October–December, so booking ahead pays off in those months.
The auto stand is at the main exit. Fixed fare charts are displayed for common drop points such as Charring Cross, Lake Road and Fingerpost.
Prepaid booths and the local taxi unions sell full-day sightseeing packages:
The Nilgiri Mountain Railway station is just across the road, with trains to Coonoor and Mettupalayam.
Yes. Overnight express and sleeper buses go to Chennai, Bengaluru, Mysuru, Madurai and Trichy. Local hill buses stop at around 10:00 PM.
Yes. A 24-hour left-luggage counter inside the main terminal building takes bags for a small hourly charge.
About 1 km. It is a 15-minute walk or a 5-minute auto ride.
For anyone heading into, out of or around the Nilgiris, this stand is the starting point. State buses run on frequent schedules, long-distance coaches leave from the same spot, and autos, taxis and the toy train are all within a few steps.
The bus stand is the most practical base for travellers who rely on public transport. Buses run from here to Coonoor, Kotagiri, Mudumalai and other towns in the region, so plans can be changed at short notice. The accommodation nearby is quiet enough, and less time goes on travelling between places.