Kolaribetta Trek
The Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu
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- Max altitude
- 2,625 m
- Days
- 1 day
- Distance
- 11 km
- Difficulty
- Moderate
About 5.5 km each way (11 km in about 6 hours) through shola forest and grassland, with some steep, slippery climbs at the start and then an easier dirt track to the top; the official portal rates it moderate and trekkers call it easy to moderate.
Photos
On the trail
The route
Day by day
Day 1 · highest point
Avalanche reception point (jeep 4 km to the Cauliflower Shola start) → Avalanche reception point (via Kolaribetta summit)
2,023 m → 2,625 m → 2,023 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 village reception point
at 2,023 mLoading forecast…
High point · Kolaribetta summit (microwave tower)
at 2,625 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 village reception point (nearest town: Ooty (Udhagamandalam))
- Nearest railway
- Ooty (about 31 km)
- Nearest airport
- Coimbatore International Airport (about 108 km)
- By road
- Ooty (about 31 km via Emerald and Avalanche; about 1 hour); Coimbatore (via Mettupalayam and Ooty)
- Drive
- About 4 h from Coimbatore
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) - Kolaribetta | Tamil Nadu Forest Department (Trek Tamil Nadu) | ₹1,999 | — | Book online at trektamilnadu.com (trail 'Avalanche (Cauliflower shola) - Kolaribetta'). The fee is per adult (18+); children aged 6-17 pay ₹1,549. It includes the trek permit, a forest guide, trek insurance on the route, snacks, a cap and bird pamphlet, and the 4 km jeep transfer each way between the Avalanche reception point and the trail. Group size is up to 15. Carry photo ID. |
Plan the trip
Cost
Self-guided
₹2,300–4,500
With an operator
₹1,999–2,699
Per person, ex-Ooty for self-guided. Independent trekking is not allowed: the official Trek Tamil Nadu booking (₹1,999 adult, ₹1,549 aged 6-17, seen 18 Oct 2026) already includes a forest guide and the jeep transfer, so every walk here is guided; your transport to the Avalanche reception point is extra. Thrillophilia resells it at ₹2,099 and Throughlocals at ₹2,699 (pickup extra). The self-guided range is our estimate: the portal fee plus a taxi or own vehicle from Ooty (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 19
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 Avalanche forest area.
- Last ATM
- Not confirmed; carry cash from Ooty.
- Nearest hospital
- Primary health centre, Emerald (about 17 km); Ooty for serious cases
- Water
- A trekker reports a clean stream on the way where bottles can be refilled; carry at least 1.5-2 litres anyway. Bathing in streams is prohibited.
Highlights
- Summit of Kolaribetta (about 2,625-2,630 m), one of the highest points of the Nilgiris and the highest point of Mukurthi National Park, topped by an old microwave tower
- Walking through the 'cauliflower' shola forest and open montane grassland above Avalanche
- Views of Mukurthi Peak and the Upper Bhavani reservoir
- Herds of Nilgiri tahr near the top, plus sambar deer, gaur and Nilgiri langur
- Official Trek Tamil Nadu trail with forest guides and a hot breakfast at the summit
Risks
- Tiger, leopard, elephant and gaur live in this forest (Trek Tamil Nadu); stay with the guide and keep quiet.
- The first climbs are steep and get slushy and slippery after rain; wear shoes with good grip.
- Mornings at 2,000-2,600 m are cold and mist can close in fast; carry a fleece and a rain jacket.
- The south-west monsoon (June-September) brings heavy rain to the upper Nilgiris; we found no source on whether the trail runs then, so check the portal for open dates.
- Trekking in Tamil Nadu forests 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 Kolaribetta trek and how long does it take?
The official Trek Tamil Nadu trail is 11 km out and back (5.5 km each way) and takes about 6 hours. A jeep takes you 4 km from the Avalanche reception point to the start in the Cauliflower Shola and back again at the end.
How high is Kolaribetta?
Trek Tamil Nadu gives the maximum elevation as about 2,625 m. Wikipedia and a trekker's report give 2,630 m and describe it as one of the highest peaks of the Nilgiris, after Doddabetta.
Can I do the Kolaribetta trek on my own?
No. It is inside reserved forest, and trekking is allowed only through the Tamil Nadu Forest Department's Trek Tamil Nadu booking, which includes forest guides. Some resellers (Thrillophilia, Throughlocals) sell the same guided trek at a higher price.
Where does the trek start and where should I stay?
It starts at the reception point at Avalanche, about 31 km from Ooty. Reporting is early (around 7-7:30 am), so a trekker who stayed in Kothagiri (about 2 hours away) advises staying in Ooty instead.
Is it suitable for beginners?
The portal rates it moderate and sells tickets from age 6. Trekkers describe it as easy to moderate for a reasonably fit person: a few steep climbs at the start, then a dirt road to the top.
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 17 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 Avalanche forest area.
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 Kolaribetta
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Where this comes from
Sources
Last reviewed:
- Avalanche (Cauliflower shola) - Kolaribetta — Trek Tamil Nadu (Tamil Nadu Forest Department) (official)
- Trek Tamil Nadu trail list, July 2026 — Trek Tamil Nadu (Tamil Nadu Forest Department) (official)
- Kolaribetta — Wikipedia
- TN Trek #1 - Cauliflower Shola to Kolaribetta — Venkat Kandaswamy (kvrlogs.me trip report)
- Kolaribetta Trek, Tamil Nadu — Thrillophilia
- Avalanche & Kolaribetta Trek - Nilgiris Ooty (Guided Trek) — Throughlocals
Photos: speedkrish, CC BY 3.0; speedkrish, CC BY 3.0; Michael varun, CC BY-SA 4.0
