Chennai, the capital city of the state of Tamil Nadu is spread across an area of around 1189 square kilometers on the Eastern Coastal Plains. One of the largest metros of the country, Chennai is a city that balances ancient architecture and modern urban trappings. It is a beautiful amalgamation of cultural extravaganza.
Table of Contents
- Why travel from Ooty to Chennai?
- Traveling from Ooty to Chennai by car
- Best time to take a road trip by car
- How to Reach Chennai By Train
- How to Reach Chennai By Flight
- Other means of traveling
- Places to eat along this route
- Attractions in Chennai for Sightseeing
- Popular places to eat in Chennai
- Hotels and resorts – Accommodation in Chennai
Why travel from Ooty to Chennai?
The presence of gleaming beaches, eateries, religious spots such as temples and churches, historical attractions and a lot more makes Chennai worth exploring. When you take a road trip from Ooty to Chennai, you can enhance your experience by enjoying everything that lies on the way. With a Savaari, you can turn your drive into a fun-filled journey and also customize the trip to your liking, travel time, and budget. After arriving in the city, consider booking our Chennai taxi service for a convenient and smooth travel experience.
Traveling from Ooty to Chennai by Car
The road from Ooty to Chennai is considered to be one of the most popular ones in the state. When you book an Ooty to Chennai trip with us, you can enjoy a ride through the smaller towns and rural areas of Tamil Nadu, before you enter the gateway to South India. With our completely customizable Ooty to Chennai trip packages, you can stop at any of these places and do a quick sightseeing. Let us help you discover the best routes to travel by car.
Best time to visit
Sitting right on the Bay of Bengal, Chennai experiences a coastal climate. The summers are generally hot and humid, and are therefore best avoided. The winter and monsoon months are the most popular time to travel to Chennai by road. So, you can book a cab in Ooty to reach Chennai some time between November and March.
Popular routes from Ooty to Chennai
Route 1: Distance and time taken from Ooty to Chennai via NH79
This is the shortest and the best route to travel between Ooty to Chennai. It is also the fastest, because the Ooty to Chennai traffic on this route is regular and there are no road closures. The distance between Ooty to Chennai on this route is somewhere around 560 KM and takes about 10 and a half hours. Always check live maps and instant traffic updates for the latest information on Ooty to Chennai road conditions. You can always opt for a chauffeur-driven car rental service in Ooty to make the most out of your road trip.
The classic road map for this route is –
| Ooty – Mettupalayam – Erode – Salem – Kallakurichi – Villypuram – Tindivanam – Chengalpattu – Chennai |
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Popular sights/monuments that you will encounter along this route:
- Mettupalayam View Point, Jaganari Slopes R.F: Stop at this viewpoint for its breathtaking sights and take pictures of the town below.
- Sri Paanduranganathar Temple, Salem: A popular Hindu temple of the region where you can take a quiet peaceful stop.
- Veedur Dam, Vidur: A beautiful dam and tourist attraction, good for a brief stopover.
- Palar River View Point, Chengalpattu: This quiet spot offers beautiful vistas of the Palar River.
- Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Vandalur: A large zoo with natural enclosures for Asian mammals.
Places to eat on this route:
- Adyar Ananda Bhavan A2B Veg Restaurant, Salem: Affordable South Indian meals and snacks offered in a family-friendly environment.
- Dindigul Thalappakatti Restaurant, Ulundurpet: A popular local restaurant chain serving traditional biryani with a good ambiance.
- Oorvasi Veg Restaurant & Cafe Lounge, Tindivanam: A South Indian restaurant that’s popular with travelers.
- Taj Restaurant, Kattankulathur: Local restaurant serving veg and non-veg Hyderabadi food.
Ooty to Chennai Road Condition via Route 1:
The Ooty to Chennai road condition via NH79 is excellent. It is the fastest route, has tolls but no road closure.
Route 2: Ooty to Chennai via NH38
This is a longer route to cover the Ooty to Chennai distance and it also takes more time. The distance from Ooty to Chennai along this route is approximately 600 KM. You can expect regular Ooty to Chennai traffic on this route. Please check for live traffic updates and follow real-time maps to get a better idea of road conditions.
Here’s a basic Ooty to Chennai road map for this route:
| Ooty – Karur – Villupuram – Tindivanam – Chengalpattu – Chennai |
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Popular places along the way:
- Veedur Dam, Vidur: A beautiful dam and tourist attraction, good for a brief stopover.
- Tropical Butterfly Conservatory, Allur: An interesting place with a large collection of butterflies in their natural habitat.
- Palar River View Point, Chengalpattu: This quiet spot offers beautiful vistas of the Palar River.
- Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Vandalur: A large zoo with natural enclosures for Asian mammals.
Places to eat on this route:
- Banana Leaf Restaurant, Perambalur: Popular spot for non-vegetarian food and biryani along the highway.
- Oorvasi Veg Restaurant & Cafe Lounge, Tindivanam: A South Indian restaurant that’s popular with travelers.
- Taj Restaurant, Kattankulathur: Local restaurant serving veg and non-veg Hyderabadi food.
Ooty to Chennai Road Condition via route 2:
The Ooty to Chennai road condition via NH38 is good. It is a longer route and it has tolls but no road closure.
Ooty to Chennai best route
The above routes are both good options for traveling from Ooty to Chennai. They both offer ample food stops and interesting sights along the way. However, Route 1 is faster and more direct so if you want to save time and still enjoy a gorgeous road trip, then Route 1 is your best option.
Other means of traveling from Ooty to Chennai
How to reach Chennai by train?
There are no direct trains that cover the Ooty to Chennai distance by train. The nearest railway station in Ooty is in Udagamandalam. Train travelers must stop at Mettupalayam Railway Station, and catch a train to Chennai Central Railway Station, or book a cab from there to Chennai.
You can visit the Indian Railways website for your Ooty to Mettupalayam, train bookings, or choose your options from the multiple online portals. The fastest train to Mettupalayam is Nilagiri Express (12671). The total time taken from Udagamandalam to Mettupalayam by train can vary from 3 to 4 hours. The time taken from Mettupalayam to Chennai by train can vary from 9 to 10 hours. Therefore, for updated train timings, check with IRCTC for their latest timetables.
How to reach Chennai by flight?
Ooty does not have flight connectivity so you cannot fly directly from Ooty to Chennai. The nearest airport is Coimbatore International Airport (CJB), which is about 87 KM from the hill station. Chennai is served by Chennai International Airport.
The average Coimbatore to Chennai flight duration is 1 hour and usually costs between Rs 2000 to 9000 depending on the airline, flight route, booking window, available deals, and the travel season. For your Coimbatore to Chennai flight booking, visit any online travel portal or check with the airlines’ direct website. You can hire a reliable Savaari airport cab in Ooty for a convenient ride to Coimbatore airport.
Attractions in Chennai for Sightseeing
Chennai and its vicinity is blessed with endless natural and man-made wonders, making this the perfect starting point for uncountable road trips and places to visit nearby. From historical ancient towns to exotic beaches, there are endless possibilities for long vacations or quick weekend getaways from Chennai, every few hundred miles. Check out the best road trips you can embark on for a quick weekend getaway from Chennai.
- Marina Beach – the most popular and busiest beach in the city with recreational options.
- Kapaleeshwarar Temple – a 7th-century Shiva temple, known for its ornate Dravidian architecture.
- Government Museum – a state-run museum preserving historical artifacts and archeological findings dating back to Bronze Age and more.
- Edward Elliot’s Beach – the quieter urban beach of the city and a popular local and tourist haunt.
- Santhome Cathedral – the most famous cathedral of the city, known for its 19th-century Gothic architecture.
- Dakshina Chitra – a heritage museum with cultural exhibits and an arts center.
- Valluvar Kottam – a heritage site and cultural venue dedicated to the historical poet Valluvar.
- Semmozhi Poonga – an expansive botanical garden with more than 500 varieties of exotic plants and flowers.
[Also read: Guide to Chennai’s beaches: Tourist attractions for all travellers]
Savaari Recommends – Popular Places to Eat in Chennai
Chennai is a town that’s known for its rich historical and cultural heritage. Like any metro city, Chennai offers a varied palette that can satisfy any traveler’s taste buds.
These are some of the best-rated places to eat in Chennai –
- Murugan Idli Shop, E. 149/1, 6th Avenue, opp. Velankanni Church, GOCHS Colony, Besant Nagar
- Pumpkin Tales, 37, 20, Bheemanna Garden St, Alwarpet
- Amelie’s Cafe and Creamery, 6, Seshadri St, Venus Colony, Alwarpet
- Nair Mess, No.22, Mohammed Abdullah Sahib, 2nd St, Chepauk
- Animal Kingdom Theme Restaurant, 44, 1st Main Rd, Gandhi Nagar, Adyar
Hotels and Resorts in Chennai
| Place Name | Address | Phone Number |
| Ilara Hotels & Spa | 1A, 1B, 1/13, Old Mahabalipuram Rd, OMR, Navalur, Tamil Nadu | 098846 88882 |
| Green Meadows Resort | 4, 364 A, Anna Salai Rd, Palavakkam Kuppam, Palavakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu | 099449 90950 |
| Mango Nest Nature Resort | No:1, River View Enclave, Teesta Street, 3 Road, Manapakkam Main Road, HL: Families:, Chennai, Tamil Nadu | 095823 36006 |
| Sarojini Gardens | Nazarathpettai, Tamil Nadu | 098844 12558 |
| The Green Leaf Resort | 5/79, SH 49, near Buhari Hotel, Raja Nagar, Neelankarai, Chennai, Tamil Nadu | 044 4852 0060 |
Nearby Road Trips from Chennai
| Destinations | Distance | Duration |
| Chennai to Kanchipuram | 74 km | 2 hours |
| Chennai to Trichy | 331 km | 6 hours |
| Chennai to Rameshwaram | 558 km | 10 hours |
| Chennai to Coimbatore | 505 km | 9 hours |
| Chennai to Pondicherry | 165 km | 3 hours |
| Chennai to Kodaikanal | 528 km | 10 hours |
| Chennai to Madurai | 462 km | 8 hours |
| Chennai to Tirupati | 133 km | 4 hours |
| Chennai to Hyderabad | 627 km | 12 hours |
| Chennai to Bangalore | 347 km | 7 hours |
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