Reaching Ooty is a piece of cake with so many bus services available. From Bangalore KSRTC is reliable one. It is recommended to book your stay at one of the well rated hotels before in a holiday season. For eg. Hotel Nahar Residency with the famous Sidewalk cafe, or few others in bus stand vicinity.But avoid holiday season in general. We stayed at the doddabetta hill in a newly opened RJ Inn.
Do not believe the auto guys to pay a 300 rs.for a ride to the hills, as local buses will charge you a meagre of 5 Rs. The tourist places mentioned in any brochure or site are not as helpful, as no where it is suggested to hire bikes and explore this hill station, which is funny, as the whole place is perfectly safe and you cannot get lost. There are sign-boards everywhere to direct you. It is a bit boring that you cannot get lost.
The ’plastic-free zone’ signs are conveniently ignored by the indian tourists as they do not understand ’Do not litter’ sign put everywhere, hence you’d rather avoid most tourist spots except Doddabetta peak and fern hill palace. Also try take the train from ooty to conoor, it is worth it, or if u want to stop by at Lovedale for a quiet hike. Train timings are not particularly very frequent.so plan accordingly.
The highlight of the visit may be just the 2 wheeler ride around the place, in the hills and down.
Two wheeler will let you drive into roads the cars cannot go.