Devarbetta Trek
The Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu
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- Max altitude
- 2,538 m
- Days
- 1 day
- Distance
- 13 km
- Difficulty
- Difficult
A 13 km, 6-hour one-way traverse through shola forest and open grassland to a 2,538 m summit in the upper Nilgiris. The official Trek Tamil Nadu portal rates it Tough and Bangalore Mountaineering Club rates it Difficult; wet, leech-prone slopes and wildlife add to the effort.
Photos
On the trail
The route
Day by day
Day 1 · highest point
Avalanche reception point (jeep 4 km to the Cauliflower Shola start) → Trail end point (jeep 4 km back to Avalanche reception) via Devar Betta summit
2,260 m → 2,538 m → 2,260 m
Ups and downs
Altitude profile
Where it is
Map
Trailhead and high point only — not a recorded track. Use it with a proper map.
Weather
Next 5 days on the trail
Live forecast for the trailhead and the high point. Mountain weather changes fast — check again on the morning you start.
Trailhead · Avalanche (Cauliflower Shola trail start)
at 2,260 mLoading forecast…
High point · Devar Betta (Devarbetta) summit
at 2,538 mLoading forecast…
Each day: high / low °C · rain mm and chance · snow cm · wind km/h
Weather data: Open-Meteo.comModel forecast, not an official warning. For alerts follow IMD and the local administration.
Plan the trip
How to reach
- Trailhead
- Avalanche (Cauliflower Shola trail start) (nearest town: Ooty (Udhagamandalam))
- Nearest railway
- Ooty (Udhagamandalam), about 31 km
- Nearest airport
- Coimbatore International Airport, about 108 km
- By road
- Ooty (about 31 km via Emerald and Avalanche; buses run from Ooty bus stand towards Emerald and Avalanche, most trekkers hire a taxi); Coimbatore (via Mettupalayam and Ooty); Bengaluru (about 380 km via Mysuru or Hosur)
- Drive
- About 9 h from Bengaluru
Plan the trip
Permits and fees
| Permit | Issued by | Fee (Indian) | Fee (foreign) | How to get it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trek Tamil Nadu trail booking: Avalanche (Cauliflower shola) - Devarbetta | Tamil Nadu Forest Department / Tamil Nadu Wilderness Experiences Corporation (Trek Tamil Nadu) | ₹2,699 | — | Book online at trektamilnadu.com (trail 'Avalanche (Cauliflower shola) - Devarbetta', 09:00 am slot, up to 15 people per group). ₹2,699 per adult (18+) plus 5% GST; minors aged 12-17 pay ₹1,999. The fee includes the trek permit, a forest guide, trek insurance on the route, the 4 km jeep transfers between the Avalanche reception point and the trail start/end, and light snacks. Report at the Avalanche reception point with photo ID. |
Plan the trip
Cost
Self-guided
₹3,300–6,500
With an operator
₹2,834–8,399
Per person. Independent trekking is not allowed: every walk here goes with a Forest Department guide through the official Trek Tamil Nadu booking (₹2,699 + 5% GST = about ₹2,834 per adult, ₹1,999 + GST aged 12-17, seen 18 Oct 2026). Bangalore Mountaineering Club sells it as a weekend package ex-Bengaluru at ₹7,999 + GST (tempo traveller, dorm or tent stay, meals, permit and a BMC instructor). The 'self-booked' range is our estimate ex-Ooty: the portal fee plus a taxi or bus to Avalanche (about 31 km each way) and food.
Gear
Top picks for this trek
The gear that matters most on this route, chosen from its altitude, season and risks.
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Packing checklist
Matched to this trek: altitude, season, days and the risks on the route.
Packed 0 of 21
Tick each item as it goes in the bag.
Know before you go
Good to know
- Mobile network
- Not confirmed by our sources; expect weak or no signal in the upper Avalanche forests.
- Last ATM
- Not confirmed; carry cash from Ooty.
- Nearest hospital
- Primary Health Centre, Emerald (about 15 km); Ooty for serious cases
- Water
- Streams cross the trail, but our sources do not say they are safe to drink; carry at least 2 litres per person (BMC advice).
Highlights
- Cauliflower Shola: dense, rounded stunted shola forest near Avalanche that looks like cauliflower heads from above
- Rolling upper-Nilgiri grasslands and shola patches on the way to the 2,538 m Devar Betta summit
- Wide views over the Avalanche and Upper Bhavani hills, close to Kolaribetta and Avalanche Lake
- Endemic wildlife and birds: Nilgiri langur, gaur, sambar, Nilgiri pipit, Nilgiri flycatcher and Nilgiri laughingthrush
- Official Trek Tamil Nadu trail with a forest guide, insurance and jeep transfers included
Risks
- Tiger, leopard, sloth bear, wild dog and gaur live in this forest (Trek Tamil Nadu); stay with the guide and the group and keep noise down.
- Long (13 km, about 6 hours) and rated Tough by the Forest Department; not suited to first-time trekkers.
- Leeches and rain: the portal's packing list includes leech socks and a rain jacket; trails are slippery when wet.
- Forest treks in Tamil Nadu are sometimes suspended for fire risk, heavy rain or wildlife movement; check the portal for open dates before you travel.
- Trekking here is allowed only through the official Trek Tamil Nadu booking; going in without it is not permitted.
Know before you go
Questions
How long is the Avalanche - Devarbetta trek?
The official Trek Tamil Nadu trail is 13 km one way and takes about 6 hours. A jeep covers the 4 km from the Avalanche reception point to the trail start and the 4 km from the end point back. Bangalore Mountaineering Club gives 13-14 km in total.
Can I do the Devarbetta trek on my own?
No. It runs through reserve forest in the Nilgiris, and the Tamil Nadu Forest Department allows trekking only through its Trek Tamil Nadu booking, which includes a forest guide. You can book directly on the portal or join an operator such as BMC, which buys the permit for you.
How much does the Devarbetta trek cost?
On trektamilnadu.com it costs ₹2,699 per adult plus 5% GST and ₹1,999 plus GST for ages 12-17 (October 2026). That covers the permit, guide, insurance, the jeep transfers and light snacks. Transport to Avalanche is extra.
What is the minimum age for the trek?
The portal sells tickets for adults (18+) and minors aged 12-17; a minor consent form is required. BMC accepts trekkers from 12 to 50 years on its package.
How do I reach the Avalanche reception point?
Avalanche is about 31 km from Ooty, the nearest bus stand and railway station, by road via Emerald. Coimbatore airport is about 108 km away. Most trekkers hire a taxi from Ooty because the 09:00 am start leaves little margin for local buses.
In an emergency
Save these numbers before you lose signal. Tap to call.
- 112All emergenciesIndia’s single emergency number — works in every state
- 108Ambulance
- 1077District disaster control room
You are in
District: The NilgirisTamil Nadu
- Nearest hospital
- Primary Health Centre, Emerald (about 15 km); Ooty for serious cases
- Last ATM
- Not confirmed; carry cash from Ooty.
- Phone network
- Not confirmed by our sources; expect weak or no signal in the upper Avalanche forests.
Before you set off
- Tell someone your route and when you will be back.
- Carry a charged phone and a power bank.
- Download an offline map of the route.
- Turn back if the weather turns bad — the mountain will wait.
Questions about Devarbetta
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Where this comes from
Sources
Last reviewed:
- Avalanche (Cauliflower shola) - Devarbetta — Trek Tamil Nadu (Tamil Nadu Forest Department / TNWEC) (official)
- Trek Tamil Nadu trail list, July 2026 — Trek Tamil Nadu (Tamil Nadu Forest Department / TNWEC) (official)
- Avalanche - Devarbetta - Trek Tamilnadu Atlas — Trek Tamil Nadu (Tamil Nadu Forest Department / TNWEC) (official)
- Avalanche (Cauliflower shola) - Devarbetta Trek | Bangalore Mountaineering Club — Bangalore Mountaineering Club
- Devar Betta (peak, ele 2530) - OpenStreetMap — OpenStreetMap
Photos: Jayashree Subramanian, CC BY-SA 4.0; Paramatamil, CC0
