Coimbatore, Palani & the forests · Tiger reserve below the Nilgiris
Mudumalai group trip guide
Mudumalai: Tiger reserve below the Nilgiris in Coimbatore, Palani & the forests, Tamil Nadu. From Palakkad it is 163 km by road, 4–5 hours with stops. Groups give it 1 day. A 17-seater tempo traveller with driver from Palakkad costs ₹14,000–17,100 for a 2-day round trip, as of Oct 2026.
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Photo: Timothy A. Gonsalves, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped), via Wikimedia Commons
- From Palakkad
- 163 km by road
- Time to give it
- 1 day
- Best season
- October to May
- Fare from Palakkad
- ₹14,000–17,100 round trip (Oct 2026)
- Nearest airport
- Coimbatore (CJB)
Mudumalai tiger reserve lies where Tamil Nadu meets Karnataka and Kerala, on the road from Ooty to Mysuru; its dry forests hold elephants, gaur, deer and tigers.
The Theppakadu elephant camp, one of the oldest in Asia, and the village of Masinagudi are the bases for visitors.
How many are going?
Slide to your group size: the vehicle that fits, and its fare to Mudumalai from each city, from the tables below.
Fits your group
Tempo Traveller 17-seater or Force Urbania (luxury van)
13–17 or 10–17 seats
₹6,800–8,400 for a full day (250 km)
Chennai → Mudumalai
₹33,100–40,800
Tempo Traveller 17-seater · 557 km one way · 3 days, round trip
Tap a route:
Indicative fares from the tables on this page (see the notes under them); operators quote the exact price.
Why groups go
A wildlife day between Ooty and Mysuru for families and school groups.
Forests & wildlife
How far is Mudumalai
Road distance from our route catalog, one way.
| From | Road km | With stops | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chennai | 557 km | 11–12 h | – |
| Coimbatore | 168 km | 4–5 h | – |
| Madurai | 355 km | 7–8 h | – |
| Tiruchirappalli | 345 km | 7–8 h | – |
| Karur | 271 km | 6–7 h | – |
| Palakkad | 163 km | 4–5 h | – |
Group fares from Palakkad
Round trip with driver, 2 days, by vehicle.
| Vehicle | Seats | Round trip, 2 days |
|---|---|---|
| SUV / Innova | 6–7 | ₹9,800–12,900 |
| Tempo Traveller 12-seater | 9–12 | ₹11,900–15,000 |
| Tempo Traveller 17-seater | 13–17 | ₹14,000–17,100 |
| Tempo Traveller 20–26 seater | 18–26 | ₹16,100–20,300 |
| AC Coach 40–49 seater | 36–49 | ₹30,200–40,700 |
Indicative range, updated Oct 2026; actual quotes from verified operators may differ. For a round trip with driver: vehicle hire at the class's ₹/km band (minimum 250 km a day), driver allowance ₹500 a day, night halt ₹300, 5% GST. Tolls and parking are extra, at actual cost. State entry tax for crossing the border is not included yet; operators add it on the quote. Post your trip for exact itemised quotes.
Indicative range, updated Oct 2026; actual quotes from verified operators may differ. For a round trip with driver: vehicle hire at the class's ₹/km band (minimum 250 km a day), driver allowance ₹500 a day, night halt ₹300, 5% GST. Tolls and parking are extra, at actual cost. State entry tax for crossing the border is not included yet; operators add it on the quote. Post your trip for exact itemised quotes.
When to go and how long
- Best season: October to May.
- Time to give it: 1 day.
- Who goes: Wildlife lovers, Families, School groups.
Add on nearby
Arriving from abroad or another state
- Nearest airport: Coimbatore (CJB).
- Nearest railway station: Udagamandalam or Mysuru.
- Operators quote the airport or station pickup with the whole trip: put your arrival in the request.
Operators for Mudumalai
Approved operators who take groups to Mudumalai. Ask for quotes here: your request reaches them through the platform and you compare itemised offers.
Nalkco Trip Mentors
VerifiedVehicle Owner
Palakkad, Kerala
163 km by road from Mudumalai (Theppakadu)
2 vehicles · 16 seats
- Replies in ~10 min
Saravanabhava Translinks
Vehicle Owner
Karur, Tamil Nadu
271 km by road from Mudumalai (Theppakadu)
Fleet details on request
Seventree holidays
Vehicle Owner
Bengaluru, Karnataka
Serves Mudumalai (Theppakadu)
Fleet details on request
R M A Travels
Vehicle Owner
Puducherry
Serves Mudumalai (Theppakadu)
Fleet details on request
Official pages and sources
Opening hours, tickets and permits change: check them on the official pages before you travel.
How booking works
- Post your trip onceDates, pickup, places and group size. It takes two minutes and costs nothing.
- Verified operators quoteWe invite up to 6 verified operators near you, aiming for 3 quotes, and invite more if fewer reply within 2 hours.
- Compare itemised quotesVehicle, driver allowance, night halts, tolls and taxes, line by line, side by side.
- Book and pay the operatorAccept a quote and pay the operator an advance (25%) directly. No Yippigo fee: free until 31 December 2026.
Questions groups ask
Palakkad-la irundhu Mudumalai-ku evvalavu dooram? (How far is Mudumalai from Palakkad?)
163 km by road: 4–5 hours in a tempo traveller or bus with tea and meal stops (group vehicles average 45–50 km an hour, about 35 on ghat roads). Road distance from our route catalog.
Mudumalai-ku tempo traveller-ku evvalavu aagum? (What does a tempo traveller to Mudumalai cost?)
Round trip from Palakkad (163 km one way, 2 days) with driver: 17-seater ₹14,000–17,100, 40–49 seater bus ₹30,200–40,700. Indicative, as of Oct 2026; post the trip for the exact rate.
What does a group trip to Mudumalai cost?
Round trip from Palakkad with driver: SUV / Innova ₹9,800–12,900; Tempo Traveller 12-seater ₹11,900–15,000; Tempo Traveller 17-seater ₹14,000–17,100; Tempo Traveller 20–26 seater ₹16,100–20,300; AC Coach 40–49 seater ₹30,200–40,700. Indicative, as of October 2026, with driver allowance and 5% GST; hotels, food and entry tickets are extra.
How many days do we need for Mudumalai?
1 day. With the drive from Palakkad, plan 2 days in all. A wildlife day between Ooty and Mysuru for families and school groups.
When is the best time to visit Mudumalai?
October to May.
Which vehicle for our group?
4 people: Sedan; 7 people: SUV / Innova; 12 people: Tempo Traveller 12-seater + Force Urbania (luxury van); 17 people: Tempo Traveller 17-seater + Force Urbania (luxury van); 26 people: Tempo Traveller 20–26 seater; 45 people: AC Coach 40–49 seater.
How do we reach Mudumalai from abroad?
Nearest airport: Coimbatore (CJB). Nearest railway station: Udagamandalam or Mysuru. Operators quote the airport pickup and the whole trip with a driver.
- Free to post
- Compare itemised quotes
- Pay the operator a 25% advance only after you accept a quote
- Operators quote only once their vehicle's papers are approved