Nilgiri Mountain Railway: A summer escape to South India’s iconic UNESCO Heritage site

By SF Features Desk Feb 07, 2024 Read the article Community & Culture

Constructed by the British in 1908, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR) in Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiris district offers a unique journey from Mettupalayam to Ooty.

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It covers 46 km at a leisurely nine km per hour, traverses 16 tunnels, 250 bridges, and 208 steep curves, allowing the passengers to gain a fresh perspective of the Western Ghats.

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The inaugural journey from Mettupalayam to Coonoor took place in 1899. The NMR’s expansion continued reaching Fernhill in 1907. Eventually, it extended to Ooty in 1908.

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Spanning an elevation from 326 meters to 2,203 meters, this narrow-gauge railway was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005.

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The timeless blue and cream colour scheme of the carriages on the NMR ‘Toy Train’ has remained consistent over the years, adding to its charm.

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Managed by the Ministry of Railways, with day-to-day maintenance by the Southern Railway, the NMR is the only operational rack railway in India.

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Chaiyya Chaiyya from the film Dil Se (1998) stands out as one of the most iconic songs in Indian cinema which was shot on the NMR.

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You can book first-class compartment tickets for the ‘toy train’ in advance through IRCTC. There are also accessible general compartments.

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