What to expect
Pykara Lake
A reservoir on the Pykara River near Ooty, popular for boat rides amid forested banks and grazing bison herds. This dam guide is organized from Gudalur in The Nilgiris district, with practical planning for routes, timing, nearby stays, food, operators and direct local inventory. Use it to compare what to see, how long to spend, when to go and which verified stays, local guides, jeep or taxi operators, food stops, permits and safety-aware activity providers should be verified around Pykara Lake.
Practical guide
Plan Pykara Lake
Typedam
Nearest baseGudalur
Best timeOctober to March is the cooler, drier season in the Cauvery delta
Time neededAbout an hour
EntryRs 20 entry, boating extra (indicative — confirm on site)
Nearest town/baseGudalur
DistrictThe Nilgiris
Place typedam
Time neededAbout an hour.
A reservoir on the Pykara River near Ooty, popular for boat rides amid forested banks and grazing bison herds. This dam guide is organized from Gudalur in The Nilgiris district, with practical planning for routes, timing, nearby stays, food, operators and direct local inventory. Use it to compare what to see, how long to spend, when to go and which verified stays, local guides, jeep or taxi operators, food stops, permits and safety-aware activity providers should be verified around Pykara Lake.
Pykara Lake is planned from Gudalur, one of the travel bases in The Nilgiris district. Use Gudalur for stays, food and local transport, then plan this place as a focused stop.
Visiting
Pykara Lake — at a glance
Timings9:00 AM - 5:00 PM daily
Best timeApr-Jun and Sep-Nov; avoid heavy monsoon Jul-Aug
Entry: Rs 20 entry, boating extra (indicative — confirm on site)
Getting here
How to reach Pykara Lake
Nearest railway: Udagamandalam (UAM), ~19 km; nearest airport: Coimbatore (CJB) ~103 km
Combine with a visit to nearby Pykara Falls
Getting there
How to visit
- Base yourself in Gudalur or nearby in The Nilgiris, then confirm the last-mile route locally before travel.
- If access depends on temple, museum or seasonal rules, check on the day before you go.
Timing
Best time
October to March is the cooler, drier season in the Cauvery delta.
Weather in Pykara LakeSeasonal guide
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Visitor notes
Safety
Good to know
On the map
Where Pykara Lake is
Photos
Pykara Lake in pictures
Stay · eat · do · rent · see · shop
Stays, food & things to do near Pykara Lake
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What’s near Pykara Lake
Good to know
Pykara Lake — frequently asked
When is the best time to visit Pykara Lake?
October to March is the cooler, drier season in the Cauvery delta.
What are the entry fee and timings at Pykara Lake?
Entry: Rs 20 entry, boating extra (indicative — confirm on site). Timings: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM daily. Fees and timings are indicative — confirm on site before you travel.
How do I reach Pykara Lake?
Base yourself in Gudalur or nearby in The Nilgiris, then confirm the last-mile route locally before travel. If access depends on temple, museum or seasonal rules, check on the day before you go.
How much time do I need for Pykara Lake?
About an hour.
What else is near Pykara Lake?
Nearby you can pair Pykara Falls (2.4 km), Glenmorgan (5.6 km), Theppakadu Elephant Camp (8.0 km), Kalhatti Falls (9.3 km).
Read next
Stories, legends & history of Pykara Lake
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Image credits
- Pykara Lake:Shanmugamp7 · CC BY-SA 4.0