Sometimes I wonder why some of us really love a comfortable train journey. In my entire lifetime, I haven’t heard anyone saying they love a bus journey. Whether it is the chaos of the cities, or an unyielding monsoon, train manages to keep a rhythm within itself. It doesn’t try to alter the world for us , except it presents the view from it.
Nilgiri Mountain railway is one among the UNESCO world heritage list. Train whose major stretch is powered by steam ,starts from Mettupalayam which is near to Coimbatore and ends in Ooty by covering 46 kms in 5 hours. Probably the slowest train on earth, it just moves through the pristine and serene nilgiri forest, cowling numerous bridges and tunnels with gasping steam and spells the vibrant forest into a mythical land. For some still moments with nature, it stops at couple of vantage points apart than stations which offer light refreshments. More or less the train itself was like movie house which presented nature in a widest canvas we can never imagine.
To catch the train, you need to go to Mettupalayam which is 35 kms away from Coimbatore which is well connected by road and rail. Mettupalayam is a modest town with good lodging options. The train starts at 7:10, has only 3 compartments and it is highly recommended to book tickets in advance. Out of 3, one is a general compartment and you have to be there in queue at least 90 min before the departure of train to get a ticket. The “general” compartment is not an option unless you are ready to take a chance. The train is powered by steam but uses diesel instead of coal to boil the water. The steam engine which provides stiffest thrust to move the train through tougher gradient, is changed to a diesel engine when it reaches the finer plains of Coonor.
If you have an chance , sit on a your left side to enjoy the nature. The return train starts from Ooty at 2pm.
Some Pictures
1 comment:
Nice photos..
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