FindItMore | The Nilgiri Mountain Railway is popularly known as Toy Train, which operates from Ooty in Tamil Nadu. It is the memorable journey that moves through the Nilgiri ranges. In 2005, it was declared as the UNESCO World Heritage site. The train had started its journey from 1899. It covers a total distance of 46 km in 5 hours. It was built for the cherishing of British citizens to escape from the heat.
Journey:
The train starts its journey from Mettupalayam, which is located along the river Bhavani. For the first 5km, it will travel along the flat planes, and then for 12 km, it travels through a height of 4,363 ft. It travels through many hilly slopes, verdant forests, dark tunnels, and fantastic places like Ootacamund, Kellar, Lovedale, Wellington, and Coonoor. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway is the steepest railway system in Asia.
Route:
On its way from Mettupalayam and Ooty, there are seven main stopovers like Lovedale, Kallar, Coonoor, Adderly, Kateri Road, Runnymede, and Hillgrove. From Mettupalayam to Kallar, there are pretty paddy fields. After that, there is a 21km ride from Kallar to Coonoor, which is filled with turns and twists through many tunnels.
Then the train reaches the highest point of the route, Fern Hill. Connor is the 2nd largest hill station which is famous for tea estates. Droog Fort, Sim’s park, Lamb’s Rock, Law’s Fall, and Dolphin’s Nose are some of the few attractions in Coonoor.
Later the train will take a downward turn towards Ooty, which is located in the state of Tamil Nadu. It is the famous hill station well known for film shootings. Wax World, Ooty Lake, St.Stephen’s Church, Rose Garden, Tribal Museum, Stone House are some of the famous attractions in Ooty. The train will later pass through many stations where there will be no passengers, but you can find only the crew for the maintenance of the engine.
Construction of railway tracks on mountains is not an easy task. It is a great level of engineering. The train is painted in blue and cream, with rustic wooden coaches who have large windows that offer the most spectacular views! The train has both classes and a general class compartment. A first-class compartment offers a more comfortable journey. You can book tickets two months before the date of your trip on the IRCTC website.
Best time to travel
The best season to travel on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway journey in summer. Besides the train ride, you can even enjoy the activities like hand gliding and trekking. Summer is the best time to see awesome places around Ooty. You can see the other side of this area during monsoons. Rain-washed Nilgiri mountains will surely offer you a splendid view.
Best ways to reach Mettupalayam
By Air
Coimbatore is the nearest city to Mettupalayam. You can just reach this place in an hour from the airport.
By Road
The road is the best way to reach Mettupalayam. It is well connected with all the roads of Coimbatore. There will be buses running from Coimbatore starting at 5 a.m.Between the two places, there will also be passenger trains running.
