An Enchanting Ride Through the Nilgiri Mountain Railway, Tamil Nadu

🚂 A Magical Trip on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway in Tamil Nadu

Some trips are more than just a ride; they’re a feeling, a story, and a part of history that is still happening. That was exactly what my trip on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway was like. It wasn’t just about getting from point A to point B. There was a slow, rhythmic glide through time, through misty hills and green valleys, with the sound of a train from a hundred years ago echoing through the Tamil Nadu mountains.

📍 Mettupalayam Station: Where It All Started

I got on the heritage train early in the morning at Mettupalayam Railway Station, which is at the foot of the Nilgiris. The station had an old-world charm, with wooden benches, old-fashioned signs, and a nostalgic buzz of people coming and going. The blue and cream train stood proudly on the tracks, steam coming out of it like in an old movie. I was already in love, and we hadn’t even left the station yet.

🛤️ The Train Itself: A Machine That Lives and Breathes

This famous line is more than 100 years old and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was built in 1908 and is one of the last trains in India to still use a rack and pinion system, especially on its lower stretch. I picked a window seat, and I’m glad I did. The windows don’t have glass in them; instead, they have metal bars. This lets the fresh mountain air touch your face. Every turn, whistle, and tunnel was an adventure.

🌄 The Way to Ooty: Climbing Through Clouds

It takes about five hours to get from Mettupalayam to Ooty, which is about 46 kilometres. Yes, it’s slow. But that’s the magic. We went up more than 6,000 feet, through 16 tunnels, and over 250 bridges. There were waterfalls next to the tracks, monkeys waved from trees, and school kids yelled with joy as we passed through their villages. This ride felt alive all over.

🛑 Some Important Stops Along the Way:

Kallar: The place where the hills start and the view becomes magical.
Hillgrove: A station in the woods where local vendors sell tea and snacks. I got a hot vada and tea that made me feel better.
Coonoor: A lovely hill town where many people get off. But I stayed on because I wanted to get to the end of the queue, Ooty.

The scenery is like a moving painting. I lost track of how many times I said “wow” quietly to myself. The train slowly made its way through forests of eucalyptus and shola trees. Mist rose from the valley like a soft veil. Tea gardens looked like green carpets, and every turn in the track showed a new painting. At one point, we even saw a bison eating grass near the tracks. It seemed like nature had stopped so we could look at it.

🍽️ Simple Joys Onboard

There are no fancy dining cars here, but I loved that. Vendors brought hot idlis wrapped in banana leaves, lemon rice in eco-friendly boxes, and steaming hot chai. I talked to other people on the bus, some of whom were tourists and some of whom were locals. We were all amazed by the views outside.

💰 Estimated Costs for the Trip (2025)

Second Class Ticket: ₹25 (Mettupalayam to Ooty)
First Class Ticket: ₹205 (Highly recommended for bigger seats and better windows)
Snacks and food on the way: ₹150–₹200
Cab from Ooty station to hotel: ₹300–₹500

⭐ Personal Tips If You’re Planning This Trip

There aren’t many seats on the train, and it fills up quickly, especially during peak season (April to June and October to January).
Take First Class: The bigger seats and views from all sides are worth it.
Get going early: To make sure you don’t miss the train, get to Mettupalayam a day early or take the overnight Nilgiri Express from Chennai.

🏨 My Stay in Ooty

After the ride, I checked into a nice colonial-style guesthouse close to the Botanical Garden. I paid ₹1,800 a night for a cosy room with a fireplace, a hot shower, and breakfast made by hand. I spent two more days in Ooty, but nothing could compare to how happy I was on that train ride.

📌 Last Thoughts: This Ride Will Stay With You

The Nilgiri Mountain Railway is more than a way to get around; it’s a feeling. It slows you down, shows you beauty around every corner, and takes you back to a time when the journey was more important than the destination. This is how you should start if you want to get lost in the hills of Tamil Nadu.

🗺️ Location Map

🔗 Helpful Links

👩‍💼 About the Writer

Priya Singh is a travel writer and photographer from Mumbai who thinks that there is magic in everyday things. She has travelled to many of India’s hidden corners for more than ten years and writes to encourage people to see their country in a new way. She loves to travel by train, talk to people from the area, and drink cups of cutting chai.