Gudalur

Gudalur is a small town near Ooty in Tamil Nadu, India. Gudalur is a cheap alternative to Ooty as there is very little traffic and accommodation is not that expensive. Nature is the main attraction of Gudalur.

Village scene from Mangorange village near Gudalur

A Dargah in Mango Orange village, near Gudalur

Projecting Temple at Pykara

Gudalur town

A place with mountains, valleys, evergreen forests, spices, tea, coffee, paddy and vegetables. Gudalur is the meeting point of three cities -- Mysore, Ooty and Calicut.

Gudalur is three hours by bus from Mysore. You can also reach here from Kozhikode and Ooty by bus. There is no rail link. When you come to Gudalur from Mysore, the road is two track with a toll booth in the middle. The major tourist attraction is the S.G.S.Ashram with an aviary, library and museum inside. There are good restaurants like Rhythm.n.Hues, The Evergreen, the Grand View and Vishnu Cafe before reaching the airport. This is a very silent airport as no flights are operational now. Before airport there is a scenic place with a lake and bend in the road.

After Kadakola town, there are two Punjabi dhaba restaurants offering private outdoor huts. There is a riverside temple at Sujathapuram and also India's oldest railway bridge is located here. Cafe Coffee Day has an outlet here. Royal Hotel provides Kerala style food. Nanjangud town has many lodges and restaurants. Many Kerala restaurants dot either side of the road. There is a drive-in-cafe 15 km from Nanjangud. There is an outlet of Cafe Coffee Day another ten kilometer forward. The stretch of road from Gundlupet to Gudalur is a single line track passing through two national parks. You can find humps every 300 meters and the driving is very unpleasant. The road from Gudalur to Ooty is a very scenic uphill route but traffic blocks are very common near the Frog Hill viewpoint. They last for one or two hours.

The ubiquitous yellow autorickshaws are easily available everywhere. They do not charge much.

Government-operated government bus services are also available from all nearby locations and main areas.

• Bandipur. (updated Nov 2015)
• Chandanamalai temple. (updated Apr 2015)
• Devarshola. (updated Nov 2015)
• Devon Estate. A beautiful tea estate close to town. (updated Nov 2015)
• 🌍 Frog Hill (Frog Hill View) (view point). Frog shaped mountain (updated Apr 2015)
• Hanging Bridges. (updated Apr 2015)
• 🌍 Mudumalai National Park. 
• 🌍 Needle Rock, 5 km. Fantastic view point (updated Apr 2015)
• Undulating Tea Estates (wherever you look). (updated Apr 2015)
• Tropical Gene Pool Garden (Nadugani). 2424 acres area. 47,000 plants. second best of its kind in the world. Museum of butterflies. Accommodation, food and trekking facility. (updated Jul 2018)

Gudalur is an ideal place to stay if you are interested in visiting the tea gardens on the way to Ooty. Pykara lake is only 30 km away

• Mango Orange village, Pandallur, Devala (17 km). Excellent place for trekking. (updated Jul 2015)

• Ganesh Bakery, Ooty Road. (updated May 2015)

• Archies Curry Lounge, Ooty Road (1 km), ☏ +91 4262 263 907. (updated May 2015)
• Hotel Runs, Ooty Road. Hotel has a good non-vegetarian restaurant. 
• Indian Coffee House (ICH), Mysore Road. ICH offers quality vegetarian food. 
• Suya Mess, Mysore Road (2 km). (updated May 2015)

• Anasuya Regency Hotel, Police Station Road, ☏ +91 4262262463. (updated May 2015)
• Cafe Inn, Chevidipet, Mysore Road (2 km), ☏ +91 94871 31734. ggtgrand.com (updated May 2015)
• GGT Grand Hotel, Mysore Road (1 km), ☏ +91 4262261290. (updated May 2015)
• Hyrana Homestay, Calicut Road, Near the Orphanage (3 km). Cottages inside a tea estate. ₹1,500. (updated May 2015)
• Misty Grove Resort, Nadugani (2 km). Upmarket property. (updated Aug 2015)
• Rockgardens Holiday Resorts, Mysore road, ☏ +91 94862 55687, drsamnilgiris@yahoo.com. (updated Apr 2015)
• Runs Hotel and Restaurant, Ooty Road (1 km). Good Rooms ₹500. (updated May 2015)
• S. S. Lodge, Ooty Road, ☏ +91 94435 23811. ₹300. (updated May 2015)
• Star Lodge, Near new court, ☏ +91 4262262260. ₹500.00. (updated May 2015)
• Venus Hotel, Near Bus Stand. ₹500. (updated May 2015)
• Swamy Dormitory, Mela Gudalur. This place has good views but restaurants are available only down the hill. (updated Jan 2016)
• Hilltop Lodge, Akkad Road, Opp. Hanafi Masjidh, ☏ +91 9442081354. There are 23 rooms in total. ₹200 for a single room, ₹500 for a double room with bath. (updated Jan 2022)

There mobile network coverage of B.S.N.L. There is a post office run by India Post.

• Gundlupete
• Bandipur National Park

• Devala Village
• Kannur
• Kozhikode
• Mysore
• Ooty