The Nilgiris’ second hill station, and the one that still feels unhurried.
Pykara sits about 20 kilometres past Ooty, and most people see it as a half-day add-on rather than a destination in its own right — which undersells it a little. The lake and river here are genuinely calmer and less commercial than anything closer to central Ooty.
A fair number of Tamil films have used the grasslands and shola forest around Pykara as a backdrop, and once you’re standing there looking at the mist over the water, it’s obvious why.
October to May. The falls carry the most water from October to December, right after the monsoon. Peak summer (April-May) is fine for the lake but the falls thin out noticeably.
A short list of stops most of our Pykara packages build the day around — not an exhaustive list, but the ones worth planning your time for.
Speed boats and pedal boats on a reservoir formed by the Pykara river, framed by eucalyptus and shola forest.
A two-stage waterfall a short drive from the boat house, fuller and more dramatic just after monsoon than in peak summer.
Open rolling grassland used in several regional film shoots — a nice stop simply to walk and take photographs without a fixed itinerary.
Home to the Nilgiri tahr; entry requires forest department permission arranged in advance, so let us know ahead of time if you want to try.
Pick a duration, tell us your vehicle preference, and we’ll send a firm quote on WhatsApp — usually within minutes during business hours.
Every vehicle in the fleet below comes air-conditioned, with an experienced driver who knows the ghat roads well. Rates are per-day starting prices — pick what fits your group size and send us the trip details for a confirmed quote.
| Vehicle | Comfort | Capacity | Starting Rate | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sedan Cars | ||||
| Sedan | AC With Driver | 4 Seats | Rs. 2,300per day onwards | |
| SUVs & MUVs | ||||
| Toyota Innova | AC With Driver | 6-7 Seats | Rs. 3,500per day onwards | |
| Mahindra Xylo | AC With Driver | 6-7 Seats | Rs. 3,000per day onwards | |
| Toyota Innova Crysta | AC With Driver | 6-7 Seats | Rs. 4,000per day onwards | |
| Toyota Innova Hycross | AC With Driver | 6-7 Seats | Rs. 4,500per day onwards | |
| Tempo Travellers | ||||
| Tempo Traveller 14-Seater | AC With Driver | 14 Seats | Rs. 6,500per day onwards | |
| Tempo Traveller 18-Seater | AC With Driver | 18 Seats | Rs. 7,000per day onwards | |
| Urbania Fleet | ||||
| Urbania 12-Seater | AC With Driver | 12 Seats | Rs. 6,500per day onwards | |
| Urbania 16-Seater | AC With Driver | 16 Seats | Rs. 7,500per day onwards | |
| Urbania Luxury 10-Seater | AC With Driver | 10 Seats | Rs. 15,000per day onwards | |
| Mini & Large Buses | ||||
| Mini Bus 21-Seater | AC With Driver | 21 Seats | Rs. 6,000per day onwards | |
| Mini Bus 35-Seater | AC With Driver | 35 Seats | Rs. 9,000per day onwards | |
| Bus 50-Seater | AC With Driver | 50 Seats | Rs. 13,000per day onwards | |
Rates shown are starting prices for a standard one-day itinerary within the district. Final fare depends on total distance, number of days, toll/permit charges and season, and is confirmed by our team directly on WhatsApp before you pay anything.
Rates Last Reviewed:
July 2026
Pykara is reached via the same Coimbatore-Mettupalayam-Ooty ghat road, continuing about 20 km past Ooty town — roughly 3 hours 15 minutes total from Coimbatore.
Ooty railway station is the nearest stop on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway; Pykara itself has no station.
Coimbatore International Airport, about 3-3.5 hours by road including the Ooty stretch.
Most of our packages do Ooty’s main sights first, then Pykara in the afternoon when it’s quieter and the light is better for photos.
Not by default — it needs a separate forest permit arranged ahead of your visit. Mention it when you enquire and we’ll check availability.
Pedal boats are usually a flat 30-minute slot; speed boats run shorter timed rides. Either way, plan for an hour at the boat house including the queue.
Send us your dates and group size on WhatsApp, and we’ll get back with vehicle options and a firm price.
