Air:
Coimbatore, 160 km away is the closest airport.
Rail:
Udhagamandalam or Ooty at a distance of 64 km is the nearest
railhead.
Road:
Gudalur, 16 km away from the reserve, is the nearest town.
Small government minibuses choose the short route along the
Sighur Ghat road and negotiate the steep climbs and treacherous
bends in one and a half hours flat. Larger vehicles prefer
the route from Gudalur to the reserve, which takes an hour
longer. Private buses or Cheran transport buses can be taken
from Ooty to Masinagudi. Buses from Ooty to Hassan, Mysore
or Bangalore, with a stop at Theppakadu, can be easily flagged
down. Masinagudi is seven kilometres away from Theppakkadu.
Buses run every couple of hours between the two points. Jeeps
can also be shared or hired at Rs 200 per trip.
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Sylvan Lodge
Beautiful bungalows are available on the banks of the Moyar
river in Theppakadu. Meals are an affordable Rs 25. Bookings
can be made at the Wildlife Warden's Office in Ooty. The maximum
period of stay allowed is one night. However, it is possible
to get permission to stay longer during the off-season period.
Tariff: Double: Rs 40 (reservation fee: Rs 2), Dormitory: Rs
10.
Hotel Tamil Nadu This is a convenient option since it is
located within the park itself and offers large, clean, spartan
rooms with beds for a family of four and also has dormitory
facilities. There is a restaurant inside, but alcohol is not
served. Advance bookings can be made at the TTDC office in
Ooty. One can book for a week's stay.
Tariff: Family rooms (four beds):
Rs 450, dorm beds Rs 50 per person.
Tel: 0423-56249.
Bamboo Banks One of the oldest private lodges, it is about
1.5 km from Masinagudi. Advance booking is required. Two rooms
and four cottages are on offer. Single rooms are not available.
The food is delicious and is served outdoors.
Tariff: Double: Rs 790 (not inclusive of meals)
Tel: 0423-56222.
Forest Hills Guesthouse Large, clean rooms are offered with
a homely touch. It is advisable to make reservations well
ahead. Meals cost extra. Breakfast costs Rs 75, lunch Rs125
and dinner Rs150, all per head charges.
Tariff: Single: Rs 550, Double: Rs 725, Triple: Rs 850.
Tel: 0423-56216.
Monarch Safari Park,
Bokkapuram,
Masinagudi.
This is a rustic, luxury option with 14 rooms on offer. The
cottages are on stilts or in machans. The open-air restaurant
is also designed on stilts. Safari trips, riding, cycling,
trekking, golf, indoor games and a meditation centre are some
of the facilities on offer.
Tariff: Rs 500-1,200.
Tel: 0423-56250/56343/56326.
Chital Walk (Jungle Trail Lodge)
Set deep in the forest, the rooms have an old-world charm
about them. An ecologically conscious establishment, it is
an ideal place to stay in, if it suits your budget. Advance
reservations are advisable.
Tariff: Double: Rs 675.
Tel: 0423-56256.
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