In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · India
Aruvankadu
Aruvankadu is a 30-minute stop between Coonoor and Ooty: see the Cordite Factory gate and tea gardens, then move on. Not a base.
Aruvankadu is a small Nilgiris town between Coonoor (5 km) and Ooty (12 km), known for the Cordite Factory (est. 1903) and surrounding tea and eucalyptus plantations. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway passes through, but there is little to occupy more than a short break. Most travellers use it as a quick photo stop or a lunch break on the Ooty–Coonoor road.
- Country
- India
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (heavy rain), Dec–Jan (cold and foggy)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹1,500–2,500 excl. bed · Mid ₹3,000–5,000 excl. bed · High ₹6,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- Police 112 · Fire and ambulance 112
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Tea at a roadside stall | ₹10–20 |
| Simple meal (rice, dal, vegetables) | ₹100–200 |
| Bottle of water (1 L) | ₹20–30 |
| Taxi Aruvankadu → Ooty (one way) | ₹500–700 |
| Taxi Aruvankadu → Coonoor (one way) | ₹250–400 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- CJB · Coimbatore International Airport
- About 2 h 30 min by road; taxis and buses available
Typical fares
- Taxi Aruvankadu → Ooty
- about ₹500–700 (check)
- Taxi Aruvankadu → Coonoor
- about ₹250–400 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walking covers the main road and tea gardens. Taxis and auto-rickshaws connect to Coonoor and Ooty. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway stops at Aruvankadu station (check schedule).
See and do
Known for
- Cordite Factory (one of India's oldest ordnance factories)
- Tea gardens and eucalyptus plantations
- Nilgiri Mountain Railway station
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Ooty | Taxi or bus via NH-67, about 20–30 min | About 30 min |
| Coonoor | Taxi or bus via NH-67, about 10–15 min | About 15 min |
| Kotagiri | Taxi via Kotagiri–Ooty road, about 45 min | About 1 h |
| Gudalur | Taxi via NH-67, about 1 h 15 min | About 1.5 h |
Sleep
- Aruvankadu town centre
- A few basic guesthouses and homestays; most visitors sleep in Ooty or Coonoor.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello / Namaste | नमस्तेnamaste |
| Thank you | धन्यवादdhanyavaad |
| How much? | कितना है?kitna hai? |
| Where is the bus stop? | बस स्टॉप कहाँ है?bus stop kahan hai? |
| Please | कृपयाkripya |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- Cordite Factory is a restricted area: no entry without prior permission from the Ordnance Factory Board.
- The railway station is small and may have limited services; confirm train timings in advance.
- Road NH-67 can be narrow and winding; drive carefully, especially in monsoon.
Aruvankadu is generally safe. Watch for traffic on NH-67 and slippery roads in rain. Avoid walking alone after dark on unlit roads.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Aruvankadu yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Cordite Factory (one of India's oldest ordnance factories)
- Tea gardens and eucalyptus plantations
- Nilgiri Mountain Railway station
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Tamil Nadu Tourism: www.tamilnadutourism.tn.gov.in/
- Wikivoyage: Aruvankadu, revision 5080880 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5080880
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/aruvankadu). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.