Ooty – Chugging Along the Mountain Railways

                                                                                         

Location Location Location! Without a doubt, Ooty’s USP lies in its location. Ooty is also known as Udhagamandalam or Ootacamund and is situated in the Nilgiri Hills in the Tamil Nadu, a state in the southern portion of India. It is also easily reachable by 2 other South Indian states, namely Kerala and Karnataka. It is by far the most popular hill resort in South India and is regarded as the Queen of the Hills. It was one of the most sought after summer retreats for colonial Britishers in India. Not much has changed since then as Ooty continues to be a popular destination for a top vacation in the hills.

It is said that half the fun of the journey is getting there. Nothing could be truer for Ooty, especially if one chooses to reach this destination by the Nilgiri Mountain Railways. One can board this train at Mettupalayam located at the foothills of the mountain and reachable by train or car from Chennai and Coimbatore. Unlike regular trains, it chugs along slowly so that you can soak in all the natural wonders bestowed upon this gorgeous destination.

This blue and cream toy train, powered by steam, is reminiscent of a bygone era and takes the elated passengers to Ooty from a very scenic route. The train itself is a marvel of engineering what with its wooden coaches and huge windows. It was designed and built by the Swiss Locomotive Works, and only a few of these engines survive today across the world.

Even though you can get to Ooty in two hours if you travel by taxi from Mettupalayam, you should ideally opt for the Nilgiri toy train journey that takes around four to five hours. The scenery surely makes up for the time that you stand to lose. You will be moving noticeably slower, but chances are that you will relish the pace with such an abundance of stunning sights to encounter on the way.

Ooty is not just a paradise for nature lovers, it also makes for a great weekend getaway for dwellers in nearby cities such as Bangalore and Coimbatore. Hotels in Ooty are choc a bloc with local tourists on weekends due to this reason. Must visit sightseeing locales in Ooty include the lovely Ooty Botanical Gardens, Ooty Rose Garden, Wax World, Doddabetta Peak, and Pykara where you can enjoy boating and watch the Pykara Waterfalls. There is also a historical dam at Pykara. For movie buffs, 9th and 6th mile are popular places for seeing a film crew in action since a lot of movies are shot here.

Its rolling tea plantations also provide a verdant background. Tea tourism enthusiasts find Ooty to be a delight. These tea addicts can also enjoy a tour to tea plantations, factories and estates to know more about the journey of a tea leaf into the kettle. They can also take home some of the Nilgiri tea to enjoy the great taste at home. There are small and handy wooden boxes of the tea sold in the marketplace to gift as souvenirs to the folks back home. After all, everybody likes a nice brew!

About the author:
Rohan Arora is a travel writer based in India. Get more information on Hotels in Ooty, Ooty Tour packages from us. Book your tour now to explore Ooty.

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