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Agaya Gangai Waterfalls
The star attraction. Agaya gangai falls plunges down a rocky gorge on the Aiyaru river, and reaching the base means walking down more than 1,000 stone steps through the forest. The descent takes about 30 to 45 minutes and the climb back up takes longer, so carry water and wear good shoes. The falls are at their fullest from August to December, after the monsoon. It is a demanding walk, so elderly travellers may prefer the viewpoint near the top.
Arapaleeswarar Temple
Located near the entrance to the Agaya Gangai steps, this ancient Shiva temple is one of the most revered shrines in the region and is referred to in old Tamil devotional literature. Local belief holds that the waters flowing past the temple carry healing properties. The temple is quiet, set among tall trees, and most visitors stop here before or after the waterfall trek.
Siddhar Caves
Kolli Hills has long been associated with the Siddhars, the mystic saints of Tamil tradition who practised meditation and herbal medicine. A short walk from the Arapaleeswarar Temple leads to small caves believed to have been used by them for meditation. The hills are still known for their rich variety of medicinal plants, which adds to the spiritual reputation of the area.
Masila Falls and Namma Aruvi
For travellers who want a waterfall without the long staircase, Masila Falls is easy to reach and has a safe spot for bathing. Namma Aruvi, a smaller seasonal cascade, is a short walk from the road and popular with families. Both are at their best after the rains and can be combined in a single morning.
Seekuparai and Selur Viewpoints
These two viewpoints on the edge of the plateau offer wide views over the plains below, with the hairpin road visible winding down the slope. Seekuparai is best at sunrise, when mist fills the valley, while Selur is a favourite for sunset. Both are well worth the short drive and make excellent photography stops.
Vasalurpatti Boat House
A small lake surrounded by greenery, with pedal and row boats available for a gentle hour on the water. There is a children's play area and a pleasant walking path, making it one of the most family-friendly stops in Kolli Hills. It is a relaxing way to spend an afternoon after the Agaya Gangai trek.
Ettukai Amman Temple
Dedicated to Ettukai Amman, the eight-armed goddess also known as Kolli Pavai, this temple sits deep in the forest and is closely linked to one of the legends behind the name Kolli Hills. According to local belief, the goddess protected the hills from harm, and she remains the guardian deity of the local communities. The setting is peaceful and rarely crowded.
Valvil Ori Statue and Semmedu Market
Semmedu, the main settlement on the hills, has a statue of Valvil Ori, the Sangam-era chieftain who ruled this region and was celebrated as a master archer. The annual Valvil Ori festival in August brings cultural performances and archery displays. The Semmedu market is the place to buy local produce such as black pepper, honey, jackfruit, pineapple and coffee grown on the hills.
Botanical Garden and Forest Walks
The forest department maintains a botanical garden and eco-park on the plateau, with walking trails, a watch tower and labelled trees and medicinal plants. It gives a good introduction to the ecology of the Eastern Ghats and is ideal for school and nature groups. Guided forest walks can be arranged locally for those who want to explore further.
Distance
290 Km
One way
Time
7 hrs
Via expressway
Starting from
₹ 11400
Plus GST
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12 Seater Tempo Traveller A/C 2/1
LUXURYAC12 Seats
₹9,502 ₹11,400
+ ₹1620 (Taxes & Charges)
8 Seater Tempo Traveller Executive A/C 1/1
LUXURYAC8 Seats
₹9,602 ₹11,500
+ ₹1620 (Taxes & Charges)
9 Seater Tempo Traveller Executive A/C 1/1
LUXURYAC9 Seats
₹9,602 ₹11,500
+ ₹1620 (Taxes & Charges)
10 Seater Tempo Traveller Executive A/C 1/1
LUXURYAC10 Seats
₹9,602 ₹11,500
+ ₹1620 (Taxes & Charges)
13 Seater Tempo Traveller Luxury A/C 2/1
LUXURYAC13 Seats
₹9,602 ₹11,500
+ ₹1620 (Taxes & Charges)
14 Seater Tempo Traveller Luxury A/C 2/1
NORMALAC14 Seats
₹10,164 ₹12,182
+ ₹1722 (Taxes & Charges)
15 Seater Tempo Traveller Luxury A/C 2/2
NORMALAC15 Seats
₹10,164 ₹12,182
+ ₹1722 (Taxes & Charges)
16 Seater Tempo Traveller A/C 2/2
LUXURYAC16 Seats
₹10,164 ₹12,182
+ ₹1722 (Taxes & Charges)
17 Seater Tempo Traveller A/C 2/1
LUXURYAC17 Seats
₹10,827 ₹12,963
+ ₹1823 (Taxes & Charges)
18 Seater Tempo Traveller A/C 2/1
LUXURYAC18 Seats
₹10,827 ₹12,963
+ ₹1823 (Taxes & Charges)
20 Seater Tempo Traveller A/C 2/2
NORMALAC20 Seats
₹11,140
+ ₹1879 (Taxes & Charges)
Where Your Journey Starts
40 km
90 Km
135 Km
180 Km
230 Km
290 Km
Departure Point
Your journey to Ooty begins from Bangalore, the gateway to South India's most beloved hill stations. Pick-up is available from any part of the city — Koramangala, Electronic City, Whitefield, Hebbal, Yeshwanthpur, Marathahalli, or Majestic. The most common route out of Bangalore takes you onto NH275, the six-lane Mysore Expressway, which is one of the smoothest and best-maintained national highways in Karnataka. An early departure between 5 AM and 6 AM is strongly advised to clear Bangalore city limits before peak traffic begins. The first 50 km on the expressway are fast, comfortable, and lightly trafficked in the early hours, setting a pleasant tone for the journey ahead. Our drivers are experienced in choosing the optimal departure window and route based on real-time traffic conditions, ensuring that the first stretch of your Bangalore to Ooty road trip is efficient, calm, and enjoyable from the very first kilometre.
Little England of Tamil Nadu
The trip starts on Hosur Road past Silk Board and Electronic City, crossing into Tamil Nadu at the Attibele check post, where the interstate permit is checked. An early start matters here, since this stretch clears in about 50 minutes before 7:00 AM but can take far longer in office traffic. Hosur is the "Little England of Tamil Nadu", a name it earned from its cool, pleasant climate during British times. Today it is a major industrial town with large automobile factories and a thriving rose-growing belt that exports cut flowers. The Chandra Choodeswarar Temple on a hillock overlooks the town. Elapsed time: about 1 hour.
Mango Capital of Tamil Nadu
NH44 widens after Hosur and the drive becomes smooth, with rocky hillocks and mango groves on both sides. Krishnagiri is the "Mango Capital of Tamil Nadu", and from April to July roadside stalls sell Alphonso, Banganapalli and Totapuri mangoes at farm prices. The Krishnagiri Reservoir and the hill fort of Syed Basha Malai are close to the highway. This is the usual breakfast stop, and the highway restaurants here are well equipped for families. Elapsed time: about 2 hours including breakfast.
Gateway to Hogenakkal, the Niagara of India
The highway continues south through dry farmland and granite outcrops. Dharmapuri is the "Gateway to Hogenakkal, the Niagara of India", the famous waterfalls on the Kaveri where coracle rides take you right up to the spray. Hogenakkal lies about 45 kilometres to the west and makes a good addition on the return journey. Dharmapuri was once known as Thagadur, the seat of the Sangam-era chieftain Adhiyaman, and the Theerthamalai hill temple is also nearby. Elapsed time: about 2 hours 45 minutes.
Steel City of Tamil Nadu
Salem is the "Steel City of Tamil Nadu", home to the Salem Steel Plant, and the "Gateway to Yercaud", the hill station just 30 kilometres up the Shevaroy Hills. It is also famous for mangoes, sago production and handloom silk. The highway bypasses the city centre, but Salem has excellent restaurants if you want an early lunch. Travellers booking a bangalore to salem cab often continue to Yercaud, and many choose to combine Yercaud and Kolli Hills in a single trip. Elapsed time: about 4 hours.
Egg City of India
Namakkal is the "Egg City of India", with one of the largest concentrations of poultry farms in the country, and it is also known for its truck body-building industry. The town's landmark is the 18 foot Anjaneyar statue that stands in the open air facing the Narasimha Swamy cave temple, carved into the base of the Namakkal Rock Fort. The temples are a short detour and take about 45 minutes. Namakkal is the last large town before the hills, so this is the right place for lunch, fuel and restrooms. Elapsed time: about 5 hours 30 minutes including lunch.
Land of 70 Hairpin Bends
The highlight of the journey. The road climbs sharply through 70 numbered hairpin bends, each marked with a signboard counting up to the top, passing through dense forest with occasional views over the plains. The kolli hills 70 hairpin bends are narrow and closely spaced, so our drivers keep to low gears, sound the horn on blind turns and make way for buses. Motion-sensitive passengers should sit in front and take a short break at one of the safe lay-bys. At the top, the plateau opens into green farmland and plantations, and Semmedu, the main settlement of Kolli Hills, the "Land of 70 Hairpin Bends", is just ahead. Elapsed time: about 6 hours 45 minutes.
Built for Bangalore IT and manufacturing teams looking for an offsite close enough for a long weekend and far enough to feel like one. Kolli Hills works well for this precisely because it is quiet — there is space for a team to be together without a resort strip around it. The package includes GST invoicing, a Proforma Invoice for PO-based approval, a named driver for the full trip, and consolidated monthly billing for registered accounts. The same corporate tempo traveller bangalore runs the Salem, Rasipuram and ghat legs and stays with the team on the plateau, with duty slips signed daily and reconciled against the final invoice. Our corporate travels bangalore desk manages the arrangement end to end, including multiple tech park pickups on the morning of departure.
The most common booking on this corridor, usually a two-night weekend. It is planned around the fact that a family will split up on the hills — some will do the twelve hundred steps to Agaya Gangai and some will not — so the vehicle and driver stay flexible through the day rather than following a fixed schedule. Luggage capacity is the practical advantage: a 17 seater takes what three cars would struggle with. A tempo traveller for family trip bangalore booking on this route is quoted per kilometre with a daily minimum plus driver allowance, and we plan the Salem meal halt and the climb timing around the age profile of the group.
For groups where cost per head decides the booking. Non-AC 9 to 14 seater tempo travellers, point to point, no frills, clean vehicle, verified driver. The hills sit above a thousand metres and stay cool through most of the year, so air conditioning matters far less here than on a plains route, which makes the non-AC tier genuinely sensible rather than merely cheap. This suits college groups, trekking clubs and community trips. The tempo traveller per km rate in bangalore for the non-AC tier is our lowest. The budget tier is about vehicle specification only — maintenance standards and driver vetting are identical across every category we operate.
Executive configuration with fewer, wider push-back seats, more legroom, better sound insulation and premium interiors. On seventy hairpin bends this is where seat quality and suspension are actually felt, so the difference on this route is real rather than cosmetic. It suits senior management travel, milestone family trips and any group carrying elderly travellers who will feel the climb. For a step further, our luxury urbania rental bangalore option in 13 to 17 seater configuration is the premium alternative on the same route, and the luxury tempo traveller bangalore tier sits just below it.
Our ac tempo traveller rental bangalore fleet covers 8 to 18 seater configurations in AC and non-AC. We operate the full range of group vehicles from the same Bangalore base, so if your headcount changes after booking we can usually move you up or down a category without restarting the process.
• Tempo traveller — 8 to 18 seater, AC and non-AC, the core vehicle for this route and the largest size we recommend for the Kollimalai bends
• Mini bus — 12 to 24 seater, for groups that outgrow a tempo traveller
• Bus — 27 to 50 seater, including Volvo and Benz coaches for large movements
• Force Urbania — 13 to 17 seater luxury van
• Cars — 4 to 7 seater, from Etios, Dzire, Innova, Innova Crysta, Innova Hycross, Fortuner and Commuter through Corolla Altis, Camry, Audi A6, Audi Q7, BMW 5 Series, BMW 7 Series, Mercedes-Benz E Class, Mercedes-Benz S Class and Rolls-Royce Ghost
Tejas Tours and Travels does not operate sleeper bus services. All our vehicles are seated configuration with push-back seats, which is why we plan Kolli Hills as a daytime drive with a hotel stay on the plateau rather than an overnight run. Nobody should be taking seventy hairpin bends in the dark, and daylight is also the only way to see the reason you came.
We quote in writing before you book and the quote itemises everything, so there are no surprises at trip end. A 20 percent advance of the total fare confirms your booking.
• Base fare and fuel charges
• Driver allowance
• Toll charges and parking fees
• Interstate tax and permit for the Karnataka to Tamil Nadu crossing
• Additional driver bata after 9:45 PM
• GST as applicable
• Final rental is calculated on total kilometres and hours from our garage to garage
Two route-specific items to note. The Karnataka to Tamil Nadu interstate permit does apply here, unlike on purely in-state runs, and it is billed at actuals rather than buried in the base rate — we arrange all documentation before departure and the driver handles the check at Attibele. The forest department also collects a small per-head entry charge at the check post at the base of the ghat, which your driver pays and which appears on the final bill at actuals.
The garage-to-garage basis is standard across the organised group transport industry in Bangalore. The meter starts when the vehicle leaves our garage for your pickup point and ends when it returns. We factor this into the written quote, so the number you approve is the number you pay.
Tejas Tours and Travels does not provide passenger insurance cover. Passengers are advised to arrange their own travel insurance if required. Vehicle insurance and full statutory driver and vehicle compliance are maintained across the fleet.
Every service below runs from both our Bangalore and Mysore bases, so a group can start a trip in one city and finish in the other without changing operators.
Our car rental bangalore service covers premium car rentals in bangalore, luxury car rental bangalore and everyday car booking across sedans, SUVs and premium marques. For eight to eighteen passengers, the tt vehicle fleet handles luxury tempo traveller bangalore requirements on both local and outstation work.
For larger groups, our bus rental in bangalore fleet runs 27 to 50 seater coaches for rental bus booking and bangalore bus booking requirements, while the volvo bus rental bangalore tier covers volvo luxury bus and luxury bus hire for conferences, weddings and large corporate movements. The mini bus rental in bangalore service sits between the two, handling minibus rental and mini bus booking online enquiries for groups of twelve to twenty-four. The force urbania rent bangalore fleet covers urbania van rental and urbania on rent bangalore bookings for premium small-group travel.
On the corporate side, corporate cab service bangalore covers corporate car rental bangalore and corporate transport services for companies running managed travel programmes. Our employee transportation services bangalore division runs office cab service bangalore, staff transportation services and night shift cab service bangalore contracts across the tech parks, with employee pick up and drop service and employee shuttle service arrangements built around shift timings.
For education clients, school transportation services covers school bus service bangalore, school bus rental bangalore and student pick up and drop service, including school excursion bus rental bangalore and college trip bus rental for annual tours — Kolli Hills is a popular botany and geography field trip destination for Bangalore colleges because of its medicinal plant diversity. Airport requirements are handled by airport transfer bangalore, covering bangalore airport cab, kempegowda airport taxi and airport cab booking with live flight tracking.
Longer journeys fall under outstation cabs bangalore, covering outstation cab booking, outstation taxi bangalore and outstation vehicle booking for multi-day itineraries. For celebrations, wedding car rental bangalore handles wedding cars for rent, marriage car rental bangalore and wedding bus rental Bangalore for guest movement. And for premium seven-seater travel, innova hycross rent bangalore covers innova hycross taxi and hycross car rental bookings. Custom tour packages combining any of these vehicles are available on request.
Booking a tempo traveller for hire in Bangalore with Tejas Travels takes under five minutes. Follow these four steps.
• Call or WhatsApp +91 9980277773, or email info@tejastravels.com. Available 24 hours, 7 days a week.
• Share your travel date.
• Share your Bangalore pickup location — area or landmark such as Whitefield, Electronic City, MG Road, Koramangala, a hotel name or a tech park.
• Share your destination or full itinerary.
• Share your number of passengers.
• Share your preferred tempo traveller configuration: 9, 12, 14, 17 or 18 seater, AC or non-AC, standard or executive.
• For corporate bookings from Bangalore tech parks, share your GST number and preferred invoicing format.
• For Kolli Hills and other hill routes, share the day-wise itinerary so we can allocate a driver experienced on the Kollimalai ghat, and tell us if the group includes elderly travellers or young children.
• For Kempegowda airport pickups, share the flight number — the driver tracks live flight status and adjusts pickup timing for delayed flights automatically.
• Within 2 hours of your enquiry, Tejas Travels sends a written quote via WhatsApp or email.
• The quote itemises every charge:
• Tempo traveller hire rate — per kilometre or flat local package
• Driver allowance
• Applicable toll and parking estimates
• Interstate permit for the Karnataka to Tamil Nadu crossing
• Forest department entry charge at the base of the ghat
• GST
• No verbal-only pricing. Everything is in writing before you commit.
• For corporate clients requiring reimbursement, a Proforma Invoice is available at this stage for PO-based approval.
• If you want to compare two configurations, request both quotes at the same time.
• Review the written quote and confirm via WhatsApp or phone.
• A 20 percent advance payment of the total fare confirms the booking and guarantees the specific vehicle on your date.
• Payment options: UPI (Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm), NEFT, IMPS or RTGS bank transfer, or credit and debit card via payment link.
• Advance receipt issued within 30 minutes.
• Your confirmation includes:
• Driver name and mobile number
• Vehicle registration number
• Departure time
• Pickup location confirmation
• Full billing breakdown — all sent to WhatsApp or email in writing
• For peak travel dates — long IT weekends, Pongal, the August Valvil Ori festival, Dasara, Diwali and New Year — book well ahead, because accommodation on the plateau is limited and fills before the vehicles do.
• Your assigned Tejas Travels driver arrives at the confirmed Bangalore pickup point 15 minutes before scheduled departure.
• The tempo traveller will be clean, sanitised, fuelled and ready.
• The driver calls you 30 minutes before arrival as a courtesy.
• During the trip the driver handles all routing, toll payments, the Attibele permit check, the forest check post and the ghat climb.
• At trip end the balance is settled after deducting the advance.
• Any additional kilometres or hours are billed at the pre-agreed rate.
Quick booking: WhatsApp +91 9980277773 with your group size, Bangalore pickup area, destination and travel date. Written tempo traveller quote in 2 hours.
Tejas Travels accepts all major digital and traditional payment methods for both the advance and final settlement at trip end.
• UPI — Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm, BHIM UPI and Amazon Pay. The fastest method, with instant confirmation on receipt. Recommended for all advance deposits.
• Bank transfer — NEFT, IMPS and RTGS. For corporate clients and larger advances. IMPS is instant; NEFT can take up to 2 hours.
• Credit and debit card — Visa, Mastercard and RuPay, via payment link sent to your registered mobile or email. Valid for both advance and full payment.
• Net banking — All major Indian banks. Payment link via WhatsApp or email. Preferred for Bangalore IT corporate PO-based approvals.
• Cash — Balance payable at the time of travel, accepted at trip end. The advance must be digital for booking confirmation. A receipt is issued.
• Corporate credit — For registered corporate accounts, with 30-day credit terms for signed Bangalore corporate clients and monthly consolidated invoicing available.
A 20 percent advance confirms your booking and guarantees vehicle availability. For multi-day hill trips from Bangalore on peak dates, a higher advance may be required.
Tejas Travels maintains a fair, transparent and tiered cancellation policy. All terms are communicated in writing at booking confirmation. There are no hidden conditions.
• More than 72 hours before departure — No cancellation charge. 100 percent of the advance is refunded within 5 to 7 working days.
• 48 to 72 hours before departure — 10 percent of the total trip fare. The advance is refunded less the 10 percent deduction.
• 24 to 48 hours before departure — 25 percent of the total trip fare. The advance is refunded less the 25 percent deduction.
• 12 to 24 hours before departure — 50 percent of the total trip fare. The advance is refunded less the 50 percent deduction.
• Less than 12 hours before departure — 75 percent of the total trip fare. Minimal or no refund depending on trip value.
• No-show, where the vehicle is deployed and the group is absent — 100 percent of the total trip fare. No refund. The full fare is payable.
• Cancellation by Tejas Travels due to breakdown or force majeure — No cancellation charge. 100 percent refunded within 2 working days, or a substitute vehicle is offered.
• Multi-day hill hire including Kolli Hills, Yercaud, Ooty and Kodaikanal — minimum 7-day notice for a full refund on overnight or multi-day tempo traveller hire from Bangalore.
• Weddings — minimum 7-day notice for a full refund. Cancellations within 3 days of the wedding date are non-refundable.
• Peak dates — Pongal, Dasara, Diwali, New Year and Bangalore long weekends require a minimum 48-hour notice for a full refund. Less than 24 hours is non-refundable.
• Force majeure — Bangalore bandhs, ghat road closures, landslides and forest department restrictions on the Kollimalai road attract a 100 percent refund within 2 working days regardless of notice period, or an alternative destination at no extra charge where the group still wants to travel.
• Modifications — date changes, vehicle upgrades and route additions with more than 24 hours notice are accommodated at no penalty, subject to availability.
To cancel, call or WhatsApp +91 9980277773 with your booking reference. Cancellation confirmation follows within 2 hours, and the refund goes to your original payment method within the stated timelines.
All refunds are processed to the original payment instrument. No cash refund is issued unless the advance was paid in cash.
• Cancellation 72 or more hours before departure — 100 percent of the advance paid, processed within 5 to 7 working days to the original payment instrument.
• Cancellation 48 to 72 hours before departure — advance minus the 10 percent charge, within 5 to 7 working days.
• Cancellation 24 to 48 hours before departure — advance minus the 25 percent charge, within 5 to 7 working days.
• Cancellation 12 to 24 hours before departure — advance minus the 50 percent charge, within 7 to 10 working days.
• Cancellation by Tejas Travels — 100 percent of the advance paid, within 2 working days on priority processing.
• Trip shortfall where actual kilometres are less than the minimum — proportional credit on the excess, settled at trip end.
• Billing error or overcharge — the full overcharged amount, within 2 to 3 working days after verification.
• Duplicate payment — the full duplicate amount, within 2 to 3 working days after confirmation.
• UPI — Google Pay, PhonePe and Paytm refunds go to the UPI-linked bank account within 3 to 5 working days.
• Credit or debit card — refund to the originating card within 5 to 7 working days.
• Bank transfer — refund to the originating account within 3 to 5 working days. The account is re-confirmed before processing.
• Cash — cash refund at the Tejas Travels Bangalore office, or via IMPS within 5 working days.
For refunds, WhatsApp +91 9980277773 with your booking reference, advance receipt and refund reason. Confirmation within 24 hours.
Experience quick and convenient booking for car rentals, tempo travellers, minibuses & buses directly from the app.
Bangalore to Shirdi
I had an excellent experience with Teja Travel. The vehicle was clean, comfortable, and very well maintained. The driver was polite, punctual, and knew the routes perfectly, which made our trip smooth and enjoyable. Their service was professional from start to finish, and the pricing was also very reasonable. I would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for reliable travel vehicle services. 👍
Chaitanya K
13/10/2025 Shirdi
5/5
Bangalore to Kerala
I am Anil Nair from Souparnika Holidays Kochin Kerala. I have 2 booking for my guests in December 2025. My guests are happy with this hotel. Thanks to the entire team One Toyota etios and one traveler booked. I think they arranged cab from out side but guest happy Second vehicle is 9 seat traveler. Driver Mr Viswantha and Lakshmi supported me for complete the 8 days package. Thanks Viswa & Lakshmi.
Anil Nair
6/9/2025 Kerala
5/5
Bangalore to Mysore
Thanks a ton to Shashikala ji for booking my tempo traveller. She has cooperated from very first day and guided us through out. Secondly i thank our tempo driver Mr. Manju who was very down to earth person and co-operated with us during our whole trip. His driving skills are perfect. I wish you good luck and thank you both from bottom of my heart !!!
Arpit Gupta
6/6/2026 Mysore
5/5
Bangalore to Ooty
We had a very good experience with the traveler we booked through Tejas travels. The vehicle was clean and comfortable, and our driver was polite, cooperative, and professional throughout the trip. The entire journey was smooth and hassle-free — everything went as planned without any delays or issues. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a reliable and comfortable travel experience!
Preetika Rattan
12/10/2025 Ooty
5/5
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The bangalore to kolli hills distance is approximately 310 kilometres, running down NH44 through Hosur, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri and Salem, then west through Rasipuram to Kalappanaickenpatti and up the ghat from Karavalli to Semmedu. Budget 6 hours 30 minutes to 7 hours 30 minutes of driving. The last forty-five kilometres are the seventy hairpin bends, and that section alone takes ninety minutes to two hours, which is the part most online distance calculators underestimate.
Pricing starts from around Rs 32 per kilometre for a 12 seater AC tempo traveller and varies with seating capacity, AC or non-AC configuration, and how many days the vehicle stays with you. The quoted fare includes base fare, fuel charges and driver allowance. Charged separately at actuals are toll and parking, the Karnataka to Tamil Nadu interstate tax and permit, the forest entry charge at the base of the ghat, additional driver bata after 9:45 PM, and GST. The final rental is calculated on total kilometres and hours from our garage to garage, and every charge is a line item in the written quote you receive within 2 hours.
A 20 percent advance of the total fare confirms your booking and guarantees the specific tempo traveller variant on your travel date. The advance must be paid digitally by UPI, bank transfer or card. A receipt is issued within 30 minutes and the balance is settled at trip end after deducting the advance.
Yes. Crossing from Karnataka into Tamil Nadu requires a valid interstate permit, billed at actuals rather than absorbed into the base rate. We arrange all permit documentation before departure, so you need do nothing. It is checked at the Attibele post shortly before Hosur, and our drivers handle it routinely. There is also a small forest department entry charge collected at the check post at the base of the Kollimalai ghat.
Yes, comfortably, and it is the largest vehicle we recommend for this climb. The Kollimalai ghat carries state transport buses daily, so the road itself takes large vehicles, but the tighter bends on the lower half are much easier in a tempo traveller than in a full-size coach. What matters more than the vehicle is the driver: every driver we put on this route has done the climb before, and they pace the ascent rather than attacking it, which is the difference between a group that arrives fine and a group that arrives unwell.
Stay overnight. A same-day return means fourteen hours in the vehicle for perhaps two hours on the hills, and it rules out Agaya Gangai entirely, since the twelve hundred steps down and back take the better part of a morning. Two nights is the comfortable shape: reach the plateau on day one for the temple and a viewpoint, spend day two on the falls and the rest of the plateau, and come down on day three. Accommodation on the hills is limited, so book it early.
October to February is the most comfortable window, with the waterfalls running well after the northeast monsoon and daytime temperatures pleasant across the plateau. January can be genuinely cold at 1,300 metres, so carry warm clothing. The hills stay cool even through summer, rarely exceeding 30 degrees, which makes them a good April and May option when Ooty and Kodaikanal are crowded. During heavy monsoon the ghat road can be slippery and visibility poor, and we may recommend rescheduling.
No. Tejas Tours and Travels does not operate sleeper bus services. All our vehicles are seated configuration with push-back seats. On this route we plan a daylight drive with a hotel stay on the plateau rather than an overnight run — seventy hairpin bends in the dark is not something we do, and daylight is the only way to see the ghat and the valley behind you.
Our fleet covers 8 to 18 seater configurations in AC and non-AC, including 9, 12, 14, 17 and 18 seater layouts, and a 17 seater tempo traveller bangalore is the most commonly booked size on this route. Below eight passengers, an Innova or Innova Crysta usually works out cheaper and handles the bends just as well. Above eighteen we would normally move you to a 12 to 24 seater mini bus, though on this particular ghat we will discuss the configuration with you rather than simply upsizing. Tell us your headcount and luggage volume at enquiry stage.
Yes, and on this route it is close to essential. Local transport on the plateau is sparse and irregular, and the attractions sit ten to twenty-five kilometres apart — Arapaleeswarar temple and the Agaya Gangai steps in one direction, Seekuparai and Selur viewpoints in another, the botanical garden and boat house at Vasalurpatti elsewhere again. The same vehicle and driver stay with you throughout, billed on total kilometres and hours with a per-day minimum plus driver allowance. Share your day-wise plan at enquiry and we quote the whole trip as one number.
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