Nilgiri Ghat Roads
Encyclopedia
Many Ghat Roads
can be found in the Nilgiris District of Tamil Nadu
, Southern India. Nearly all of the district is located in the Nilgiri Hills, part of the Western Ghats
mountains. This area borders the states of Karnataka
and Kerala
. The hills consequently can be reached by road from three states. Most of these Ghat Roads are heavily forested mountain roads typically consisting of several consecutive sharp hair-pin bends.
-Kotagiri
-Ooty
The Kotagiri Ghat is the oldest known route into the Nilgiris. It approximately follows the route taken by John Sullivan
on his discovery trips in 1819. The distance between Mettupalayam and Kotagiri on this road is 33 km and it has only 4 hair pin bends. This road is part of SH15. It is slightly less travelled as it is a slightly longer route from Mettupalayam to Ooty than the route via Coonoor
, though as of 2006 the road condition is superior to the Coonoor Ghat. It is also statistically less vulnerable to landslips. It is possible to divert from this route to Coonoor. There is a link from Aravenu to Bandishola
.
Travellers reach Mettupalayam from Coimbatore
via National Highway 67. There are also other routes to Mettupalayam for travelers from Northern Tamil Nadu
which avoid the congestion of Coimbatore city
. One of these is via Annur
(Suburb of Coimbatore)
-Coonoor-Ooty
This is also known as the Kallar Ghat, as it follows the valley of the Kallar and Coonoor rivers. It is by far the most travelled of all the Ghat Roads as it is the main access from the home state of Tamil Nadu. It has 14 numbered Hairpin bends and was recently (c.2003) taken over to be owned and maintained by the National Highways Authority of India and is now part of NH67. A toll must be paid for vehicles entering the Nilgiris district
at Burliar. This also provides a rest stop on this route.
Due to it largely following one of the primary drainage basins in the area it is frequented by severe landslips, often closing it for several days. As of 2006 the road is still in a terrible state of repair, and can not be yet considered a "National Highway".
-Bandipur
-Mudumalai
-Gudalur
-Ooty
This is also simply known as the Mysore Ghat or Mysore Road. It is the main access route from Karnataka and Kerala. Travellers from Karnataka reach Gundlupet via the Mysore-Gundlupet NAtional Highway 212 and travellers from Kerala reach Gudalur via the continuation of National Highway 212 from Kozhikode
-Sultans Battery.
One traveller commented about this route: "The road from Mysore is arguably the most scenic with a long stretch that runs through the Mudumalai National Park, and if travelling in the early mornings or late evenings, you definitely will spot wildlife feeding along the road, even spot the odd carnivore. There are majestic stands of Eucalyptus amidst well tended tea estates as you near Gudalur, and then you drive past the Pykara Dam and Pykara falls".
As with the Coonoor Ghat, from 2003-2006 this route is in a terrible state of repair. This route towards Gudalur from Ooty is the continuation of the same "National Highway" NH67 which makes up the Coonoor Ghat. National Highway 67 terminates in Gudulur where it joins onto National Highway 212 towards Gundlupet.
This is also known as Kalhatti Ghat (or simply 'Steep Ghat'). There is a short cut-branch off the Gudalur ghat at Theppakadu in Mudumalai. This route saves approx. 30 km on the standard Gudalur route, though it is by far the steepest route and is limited to short wheel based, high power vehicles only. It has 36 hairpin bends and is closed overnight.
-Karamadai
-Geddai-Manjur-Ooty
This is a smaller ghat for local traffic, and is used as a backup road in the rare occasion that both the Coonoor Ghat and the Kotagiri Ghat are closed. The road is narrow and steep with several hairpin bends. At Geddai, half way up the ghat at 1885 feet (574.5 m), there is a hydroelectric power station http://www.nilgiris.com/manjurdam.htm. From Manjur, at the top of the ghat, the distance is equidistant to either Ooty or Coonoor via smaller district roads.
s. If so traffic is usually diverted onto one of the other ghats. The Nilgiris have been totally cut off on all routes on rare occasions. As the supply infrastructure depends on these routes, any road activity (such as a closure) is reflected on the prices. During heavy tourist seasons, a one-way system is deployed between the first two ghat roads mentioned.
Ghat Roads
Ghat Roads are the name of the access routes into the mountainous Western and Eastern Ghats mountain ranges of the Indian Subcontinent. These roads are remarkable feats of engineering and most date back to British times. Ghat roads were built to connect to the famous Hill Stations of the Indian...
can be found in the Nilgiris District of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, Southern India. Nearly all of the district is located in the Nilgiri Hills, part of the Western Ghats
Western Ghats
The Western Ghats, Western Ghauts or the Sahyādri is a mountain range along the western side of India. It runs north to south along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau, and separates the plateau from a narrow coastal plain along the Arabian Sea. The Western Ghats block rainfall to the Deccan...
mountains. This area borders the states of Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
and Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
. The hills consequently can be reached by road from three states. Most of these Ghat Roads are heavily forested mountain roads typically consisting of several consecutive sharp hair-pin bends.
Kotagiri Ghat (State Highway 15)
Route: Mettupalayam-AravenuAravenu
Aravenu is a village in Kotagiri Taluk of the The Nilgiris District, Tamil Nadu, India. The population is largely Badaga and it is thought to be an original Badaga Hatti....
-Kotagiri
Kotagiri
Kotagiri is a panchayat town in The Nilgiris District in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.Kotagiri is situated at an elevation of around 1793 m above sea level and is one of the three popular hill stations located in the Nilgiris...
-Ooty
The Kotagiri Ghat is the oldest known route into the Nilgiris. It approximately follows the route taken by John Sullivan
John Sullivan (British governor)
John Sullivan was the Collector of Coimbatore, India, who is best known as the founder of the town of Ooty.Born in London, he joined the British East India Company as a writer at the age of 15....
on his discovery trips in 1819. The distance between Mettupalayam and Kotagiri on this road is 33 km and it has only 4 hair pin bends. This road is part of SH15. It is slightly less travelled as it is a slightly longer route from Mettupalayam to Ooty than the route via Coonoor
Coonoor
Coonoor is a town and a municipality in the Nilgiris district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is known for its production of Nilgiri tea....
, though as of 2006 the road condition is superior to the Coonoor Ghat. It is also statistically less vulnerable to landslips. It is possible to divert from this route to Coonoor. There is a link from Aravenu to Bandishola
Bandishola
Bandishola is a Panchayat village in Coonoor Taluk of the The Nilgiris District, Tamil Nadu, India. The town takes its name from a nearby Shola ....
.
Travellers reach Mettupalayam from Coimbatore
Coimbatore
Coimbatore , also known as Kovai , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a major commercial centre in Tamil Nadu and is known as the "Manchester of South India"....
via National Highway 67. There are also other routes to Mettupalayam for travelers from Northern Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
which avoid the congestion of Coimbatore city
Coimbatore
Coimbatore , also known as Kovai , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a major commercial centre in Tamil Nadu and is known as the "Manchester of South India"....
. One of these is via Annur
Annur
Annur is a suburb of Coimbatore situated 29 km north of the city in Tamil Nadu, India. It is 29 km north of Gandhipuram.It lies on the Coimbatore – Mysore National Highway-209. Annur is a part of Coimbatore Rural district, which is included by the Corporation of Coimbatore...
(Suburb of Coimbatore)
Coonoor Ghat (National Highway 67)
Route: Coimbatore-Mettupalayam-BurliarBurliar
Burliar is a Panchayat village in Coonoor Taluk of The Nilgiris District, Tamil Nadu, India.- Location :It is situated on National Highway 67 between Mettupalayam and Coonoor on the Coonoor Ghat Road at an altitude of 800 to 830 metres above mean sea level.. It is also on the border between the...
-Coonoor-Ooty
This is also known as the Kallar Ghat, as it follows the valley of the Kallar and Coonoor rivers. It is by far the most travelled of all the Ghat Roads as it is the main access from the home state of Tamil Nadu. It has 14 numbered Hairpin bends and was recently (c.2003) taken over to be owned and maintained by the National Highways Authority of India and is now part of NH67. A toll must be paid for vehicles entering the Nilgiris district
The Nilgiris District
The Nilgiris District is in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Nilgiri is also the name given to a range of mountains spread across the states of Tamilnadu as well as Karnataka and Kerala. The Nilgiri Hills are part of a larger mountain chain known as the Western Ghats...
at Burliar. This also provides a rest stop on this route.
Due to it largely following one of the primary drainage basins in the area it is frequented by severe landslips, often closing it for several days. As of 2006 the road is still in a terrible state of repair, and can not be yet considered a "National Highway".
Gudalur Ghat (National Highway 212 and 67)
Route: GundlupetGundlupet
Gundlupet is a town in Chamarajanagar district in the Indian state of Karnataka. This small town is about 56 km from the Mysore-Ooty / Mysore-Calicut road and about 200 km from Bangalore. Gundlupet is the last town in Karnataka en route to Ooty or Kozhikode.The Bandipur National Park...
-Bandipur
Bandipur
Bandipur is a hilltop settlement in Tanahu District, of Nepal. Because of its preserved, old time cultural atmosphere, Bandipur has increasingly been coming to the attention of tourism...
-Mudumalai
Mudumalai National Park
The Mudumalai National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary Tamil:முதுமலை வனவிலங்கு காப்பகம், now also declared a Tiger Reserve, lies on the northwestern side of the Nilgiri Hills , in Nilgiri District, about north-west of Coimbatore in the westernmost part of Tamil Nadu, on the interstate boundaries with...
-Gudalur
Gudalur (Nilgiris district)
Gudalur , , , is a panchayat town and taluk in Nilgiris district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is said that Gudalur gets its name from Koodal + uru, meaning the Meeting Place.-Overview:...
-Ooty
This is also simply known as the Mysore Ghat or Mysore Road. It is the main access route from Karnataka and Kerala. Travellers from Karnataka reach Gundlupet via the Mysore-Gundlupet NAtional Highway 212 and travellers from Kerala reach Gudalur via the continuation of National Highway 212 from Kozhikode
Kozhikode
Kozhikode During Classical antiquity and the Middle Ages, Kozhikkode was dubbed the "City of Spices" for its role as the major trading point of eastern spices. Kozhikode was once the capital of an independent kingdom of the same name and later of the erstwhile Malabar District...
-Sultans Battery.
One traveller commented about this route: "The road from Mysore is arguably the most scenic with a long stretch that runs through the Mudumalai National Park, and if travelling in the early mornings or late evenings, you definitely will spot wildlife feeding along the road, even spot the odd carnivore. There are majestic stands of Eucalyptus amidst well tended tea estates as you near Gudalur, and then you drive past the Pykara Dam and Pykara falls".
As with the Coonoor Ghat, from 2003-2006 this route is in a terrible state of repair. This route towards Gudalur from Ooty is the continuation of the same "National Highway" NH67 which makes up the Coonoor Ghat. National Highway 67 terminates in Gudulur where it joins onto National Highway 212 towards Gundlupet.
Sigur Ghat (State Highway 67)
Route: Mudumalai-Kalhatti-OotyThis is also known as Kalhatti Ghat (or simply 'Steep Ghat'). There is a short cut-branch off the Gudalur ghat at Theppakadu in Mudumalai. This route saves approx. 30 km on the standard Gudalur route, though it is by far the steepest route and is limited to short wheel based, high power vehicles only. It has 36 hairpin bends and is closed overnight.
Manjur Ghat
Route: CoimbatoreCoimbatore
Coimbatore , also known as Kovai , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a major commercial centre in Tamil Nadu and is known as the "Manchester of South India"....
-Karamadai
Karamadai
Karamadai is a suburb of the city of Coimbatore in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.-Geography:Karamadai is located at . It has an average elevation of 353 metres .-Demographics:...
-Geddai-Manjur-Ooty
This is a smaller ghat for local traffic, and is used as a backup road in the rare occasion that both the Coonoor Ghat and the Kotagiri Ghat are closed. The road is narrow and steep with several hairpin bends. At Geddai, half way up the ghat at 1885 feet (574.5 m), there is a hydroelectric power station http://www.nilgiris.com/manjurdam.htm. From Manjur, at the top of the ghat, the distance is equidistant to either Ooty or Coonoor via smaller district roads.
Conditions
As of approximately 1993, all access roads to the Nilgiri hills are toll roads in order to facilitate the high maintenance costs of these mountain roads. As of 2006 all of these roads were in very poor condition. It is not uncommon for a route to be closed for several days or even weeks due to landslipLandslide
A landslide or landslip is a geological phenomenon which includes a wide range of ground movement, such as rockfalls, deep failure of slopes and shallow debris flows, which can occur in offshore, coastal and onshore environments...
s. If so traffic is usually diverted onto one of the other ghats. The Nilgiris have been totally cut off on all routes on rare occasions. As the supply infrastructure depends on these routes, any road activity (such as a closure) is reflected on the prices. During heavy tourist seasons, a one-way system is deployed between the first two ghat roads mentioned.