It's always hard to say goodbye to a place like Ooty. As I stood on the platform at Udhagamandalam Railway Station, bag on my back and cool mountain air around me, it finally hit me that this was the last chapter of my short but memorable Ooty trip.
Today's plan was simple — to take the famous Nilgiri Mountain Railway from Ooty to Coonoor, before continuing my journey home.
The Historic Nilgiri Mountain Railway
The Nilgiri Mountain Railway isn't just a train route — it's a piece of living history. Built by the Madras Railway Company, the line from Mettupalayam to Coonoor was completed in 1899, and later extended up to Ooty in 1908. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway is also famous for its rack-and-pinion system, which enables it to navigate some of the steepest gradients in Asia. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it remains one of the most scenic and fascinating railway routes in India.
There are four daily services to and from Ooty. Three of them — at 9:15 AM, 12:15 PM, and 5:30 PM — run between Ooty and Coonoor, while the 2:00 PM train continues all the way to Mettupalayam.
For my journey, I chose the Ooty to Coonoor route, a short but stunning 1.5-hour ride through misty hills, tea gardens, and eucalyptus forests. I booked my second-class ticket for ₹168 on IRCTC — highly recommended, since these trains fill up fast.
A Ride Through Time
As the train slowly began to move at 9:15 am, the rhythmic chugging of the biodiesel engine echoed through the station.
Watching the hills roll by, it's easy to understand why. The world outside looked like a painting — clouds floating over tea estates, little villages tucked into the slopes, and the distant whistle of the train echoing through the Nilgiris.
It's no surprise this railway became a Bollywood favorite — the iconic "Chaiyya Chaiyya" song from Mani Ratnam's film Dil Se.. was filmed along this very route.
After a two-hour ride, we arrived at Coonoor Railway Station, which serves as the main hub of the Nilgiri Mountain Railway. Here, you’ll find the Steam Locomotive Shed, a designated World Heritage Site. This location houses the metre-gauge steam locomotives that operate on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway between Mettupalaiyam and Coonoor. It is an excellent spot to observe historic steam locomotives in action. Additionally, the shed and repair facility below is worth a visit.
It's fascinating to think that the original steam locomotives, built in Switzerland starting in 1914, were once the lifeline of this railway. Today, steam engines still operate on the Mettupalayam–Coonoor stretch, while the Coonoor–Ooty section uses bio-diesel engines built at the Golden Rock Railway Workshop in Tiruchirappalli.
From Coonoor to Coimbatore
After reaching Coonoor, my train adventure came to an end, and the next leg of my journey began.
I had already booked a seat on the KSRTC Sultan Bathery–Coimbatore Superfast bus, which was scheduled to reach Coonoor around 12:55 PM. The conductor called ahead and confirmed an earlier arrival — the bus rolled in at 12:10 PM, right on time.
The ride from Coonoor to Coimbatore was scenic as well, winding down through the lush Nilgiri hills. We made a brief lunch stop at Mettupalayam, but since I'd already eaten in Coonoor, I skipped the meal and just enjoyed the view.
By 3 PM, we reached Coimbatore. I had lunch at Shri Aarvee Hotel, a well-known local spot, before catching the 4 PM Coimbatore–Thiruvananthapuram Swift Superfast Air Bus back to Thrissur.
The ride was so comfortable that I drifted off to sleep and woke up only when we arrived — right on time at 7 PM.
Reflections
As the bus rolled into Thrissur, I realized how much this short trip had meant to me. Ooty's mist, the calm of its gardens, the nostalgia of the toy train — all of it came together like pieces of a perfect travel story.
Though the journey was short, it felt complete — a reminder that sometimes, it's not the number of days that matter, but the moments that stay with you long after the trip ends.
Until the next adventure… 🚂🌄
