As tourist inflow into the Nilgiris picked up for the extended weekend due to Christmas holiday on Dec. 25, the roads of Udhagamandalam and Coonoor towns choked with tourist traffic.
One resident from Udhagamandalam, visiting from Mysuru in Karnataka, said the Theppakadu to Udhagamandalam Road, through Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, witnessed long lines of tourist traffic on Dec. 22 evening. “What would usually take us 90 minutes to traverse, ended up taking almost double that time, as we had to navigate crowds of tourist buses and cars all making their way up the hill,” said the resident, R. Smitha.
On Dec. 24, Udhagamandalam town witnessed heavy traffic, especially along the Ettines Road, due to tourists making their way to the Government Rose Garden, apart from the Garden Road, the Ooty Bus Stand and along the Ooty to Gudalur Road.
