A journey through the Nilgiri Mountain Railway

Since I saw the Hindi movie 'Dil Se' , travelling in Nilgiri Mountain Railway had been my dream. Since then I had fantasized with the song "Chal Chaiyya Chaiyya" in which Shahrukh Khan dances with Malaika Arora and other dancers.

Nilgiri Railway is one of the three railway lines in India that has made it to the UNESCO listed World Heritage Sites. The Nilgiri Express is also known as the Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR) or the Blue Mountain Railway. 

The train covers 46 kilometers from Mettupalayam to Ooty in five hours. For a shorter visit, we can prefer Ooty to Coonoor.  With a  lot of excitement, I reached  Ooty (also known as Udagamandalam) station in the morning.

They are running a trip between Ooty and Coonoor  for tourists.  This trip starts from Ooty at 9 AM and reaches Coonoor at around 10.15 AM. This will return at 4:30 PM and reaches Ooty by 5:45 PM. One way is just Rs.10/-  and you don't have to wait in the queue, as they have a separate reservation window just opposite the station.

There were five stations between Ooty and Coonoor (Fern Hill, Lovedale, Ketti, Aruvakkadu, and Wellington).  The train runs on a meter gauge track which is rare elsewhere.The old steam engine is replaced by diesel engine which runs with jetropha diesel. Running at a speed ranging between 15-20 kilometer per hour, NMR offers the perfect choice  to enjoy the delightful scenic beauty of the Nilgiris.

The train passed  adjacent to the  Ooty lake.  Some prominent songs and visuals of  Bollywood, Tamil and Malayalam movies were shot along the Ooty Lake that spreads across 65 acres of the land in Ooty.  You can enjoy the picturesque beauty of the eucalyptus trees that cover the lake.

Gorgeous views of tea plantations; houses atop on the small hills and lush green field added up to the beauty.

If you remember the Malayalam movie ,' Classmates' , there was a song, where this train was seen and even in Priyadarshan’s  ' Summer in Bethlehem'  this toy train appears in some of the scenes.

Several movies have featured this train,which was started by the British in 1908.  The beautiful scenes of nature - mountains on one side and deep valleys on the other  is something you can cherish. There are about three tunnels on the way to Coonoor where the train pass through.

Running along the narrow gauge through the Eucalyptus forests, the Nilgiri Toy train is yet another historical mountain railway in India.

Ketti station is the 3rd station and lies exactly midway between Ooty and Coonoor and the valley lies just ahead of the station. After the train left Ketti station , I was completely spell bound by the view I was offered by this majestic valley.  Make sure that you  get a window seat on the right side if you are travelling from Ooty to Coonoor.

After crossing Aravankkadu station, the train passed through a big arch bridge.

Then the toy train curves its way through dense forests. With every turn that the train took, our hearts skipped a couple of beats.

After an hour of shrieking with excitement and taking a dozens of  photos, we saw the Coonoor station in the distance.  Deep valleys, forests, cultivation , tunnels, mountain ranges, picturesque beauty all around  make you feel that the train should not stop at Coonoor.  Do not forget to capture those moments for your memory forever.  For me, the entire train journey felt like I had been transported into a Bollywood movie!

If you are holidaying in Ooty, your trip will not be complete, if you miss the toy train journey.

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Trip to Pykara and Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary

If you are holidaying in Ooty and have one more day in your hands, the best option is to explore Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary which is around 31 kms from Ooty. En route you can visit Ooty's iconic locations such as Pine forest, Film Shooting point and Pykara Falls -  all in a day.

Pine forest
Blessed with lush and serene environment,  Pine forest offers you a chance to spend some peaceful moments with your loved ones. Spread over a small downhill area, the towering pine trees is a sight to behold.

The brown earthy pine forests amidst misty clouds have been beautifully visualized in many movies.  Do you remember the Hindi film ' Barfi' , the scene where Ranbir Kapoor went on a cycle ride with Ileana D’Cruz ? Well, it  was shot here. The song "Teri Umeed" from  the Hindi movie ' Deewana' was shot on the backdrop of these pine forests. One can easily spot the pine trees in the movies such as "David" and  'Raaf" along with movies from other languages as well.

Film Shooting spot
Situated about 7 kms from Ooty, this location is on the way to Pykara.  Also known as 9th mile, this is a popular destination around Ooty.  You can enjoy the landscape by walking around the area and you have an option for horse riding as well.

Many cine shoots have been done here and hence it got its name and popularity.  Scene from the song "Aisi Deewangi" was shot here. The stunning views of the mountain ranges and a stretch of clear meadows will mesmerise you.

Pykara Falls

Pykara is the largest river in the Nilgiris District and is located about 20 kms from Ooty on the Ooty-Mysore Road.

And a long walk from the main road will take you to the entrance of the Falls. After taking entry tickets, you have to walk down the steps. En route you can enjoy the forests, river flowing next to it and the mountains that surround the region.

It gets down majestically in a series of cascades and the last two falls of 55 meters and 61 meters are known as Pykara Falls. Some of the famous movie songs including songs from ' Mr. Perfect' , the Telugu movie, were shot here.

Mudumalai wildlife sanctuary

The Mudumalai National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary also a declared Tiger Reserve, shares boundaries with Karnataka and Kerala.

After 2 hours journey from Ooty, we reached Mudumalai. We were excited for a Safari and for me this was my first safari.  The Safari is conducted by the Forest Department  in  their vehicle and is available only from  7 am to 10 am and from 3 pm to 6 pm. We  managed to reach the place well in time. The bus safari ride costs  Rs 135/- per head,  for 40 minutes. The first part of the safari was through well maintained roads.

You can spot deer, Bison, Peacock and birds, but you can spot wildlife animals very rarely. We were in constant lookout for wildlife but only saw few spotted deer and Macaques.

Deer are plenty all through.

No luck after that since we  didn't see any wildbeast or  big cats.  However, spotted one beautiful Peacock.

However we enjoyed Mudumalai Safari. Then we moved to the parking area. I could not  resist myself from clicking  my camera when I saw  beautiful blossomed gulmohar trees,  near the  parking area.

On our way back to Ooty, just after sunset, my camera gave me a striking image of stunning sky coloration with a black contrast of the hillside.

It was a day very well spent and will be cherished for a long time.

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Trip to Ooty and Coonoor sight-seeing

I was planning a summer holiday with my family and I wanted to do something different. Then I thought,  why not head to the south to enjoy the beauty of the Queen of the Nilgiris, Ooty.

The summer, especially  the months of April-May, is the ideal time to visit Ooty. Situated deep within the Nilgiri Hills, surrounded by many scenic spots, lush green meadows and beautiful lakes, the hill station Ooty has many offerings. This place is desired by the movie makers and most of them have achieved success.

Ketti View Point

Ketti is a small town in Nilgiris district and located en route to Coonoor.  Ketti valley is the second largest valley in the world which houses 21 villages. To reach this place, you need to drive along the Ooty-Coonoor road (NH67) for around 4 km.

From Ketti View Point,  you can get a full view of the local valley through a telescope. If your camera has enough zooming capacity, you can spot an ancient church in the valley.

Coonoor Tea Garden

Set at an altitude lesser than Ooty, Coonoor is a little village that offers some amazing view points. Just 20 kms away from Ooty, it has some marvelous tea plantations. If you are a fan of Hindi movies, you can see the place where Sajan movie was shot.

Coonoor Tea Garden

The chilly weather is something that will charm any nature passionate. You can visit outlet of tea plantations from where you can purchase tea, eucalyptus oil, spices and fruits or sip a tea  in different flavor. They will show you the  extraction of eucalyptus oil from leaves  and you can smell the fragrance of the oil wafting through the air during extraction.

Dolphin Nose

Dolphin Nose is an enormous rock formation that looks exactly like  a dolphin's nose. There are two ravines on both sides of Dolphin's Nose. From one side,  you can clearly see the Catherine Falls. You can enjoy the beauty on both sides through a telescope. In the other ravine, you can spot where the Coonoor stream meets the Kotagiri stream.

Catherine Falls from Dolphin's Nose

Sims Park

Sim’s Park is constructed and named after J. D. Sim, the Secretary of the Madras Club in 1874. Spread over an area of about 12-hectare, this garden is built following the Japanese style. It has a huge collection of about 1,000 plant species. It is mainly noted for its annual fruit and vegetable show held in May. You could also opt for boating in the lake nearby.

Doddabetta Peak

Dodabetta Peak is the highest point in the district at a height of about  2623m. Approx 10 kms from Ooty town, this  mountain peak is one of the tourist attractions in Ooty. It is better to visit this place as early as possible to avoid crowd. This is the right place to see the Sahyadri/Western ghat ranges. The song ' Dekha hai pehli baar ' from the famous Bollywood movie 'Sajan' was shot at Doddabeta. There again one can view the surroundings through a telescope.

Dodabetta Peak View Point

One can see as far as the plains of Coimbatore and the  Chamundi Hills (Mysore) if the climate is clear.  If you want to capture the best possible views of the valleys below, this is the place to be.

View from Doddabetta Peak

Doddabetta Tea factory

We also visited one of the tea factories where the workers eagerly showed us the process by which tea was made. The person in-charge explained to us the whole process of  manufacturing tea.

Coonoor visit will not be complete if you miss a visit to a tea factory. You can also sip a cup of masala tea or chocolate tea.

Botanical Garden

At the end of the day's trip, we visited the widely known Government Botanical Garden. The garden is divided into six separate sections called Lower Garden, New Garden, Italian Garden, Conservatory, Fountain Terrace and Nurseries.

Indian film industry have utilized these Botanical gardens wonderfully in song sequences and other prominent situations.

McIvor House: The oldest building in Ooty Botanical Garden

A major part of the Hindi movie 'Maine Pyar Kiya' was shot in Ooty and the song  'Kabootar Ja' was shot in the Botanical Gardens. You can catch a glimpse of these gardens  in ' Geethanjali '  as well as Priyadarshan’s Malayalam movie ' Kilukkam'.

There is a wide range of flora and  indigenous vegetation that includes monkey puzzle trees, paper bark trees, and old fossilized trees. Towards the top, you can find vast stretches of land covered with pine trees. The garden houses a precious collection of flowers along with other exotic species of plants in different layers. The camping scene in the Hindi film "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai" was shot here. It's beauty attracts nature lovers and honeymooners every year.

If you are a nature lover, interested in trees, plants, bushes and shrubs, this is the place to be!

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Gudi Padwa Festival Celebrations in Mumbai

Women dressed in traditional Maharashtrian attire take part in a bike rally at Girgaon,Mumbai,Maharashtra

Gudi Padwa is celebrated by people across the state of Maharashtra, India,  as the Marathi New Year. A colourful Gudi is hoisted atop doors and outside windows on this occasion. A Gudi is a bamboo stick covered with red, yellow or saffron cloth with a pot made of silver,copper or bronze decorated with garlands, mango and neem leaves and red flowers. On this day,  people begin their day with a holy bath and wear new clothes. The women of the house wake up early to draw a rangoli in the front yard.

I was fortunate to witness a grand procession in connection with Gudi Padwa near Girgaon, Mumbai. Here then, is the Gudi Padwa Festival Celebrations through my lens.

People admire a rangoli made at Girgaon, Mumbai,Maharashtra as part of the celebrations

Women dressed in traditional Maharashtrian attire take part in a bike rally at Girgaon,Mumbai,Maharashtra

Women take a selfie during a procession on the occasion of Gudi Padwa in Girgaon,Mumbai,Maharashtra

Women beat drum during the procession of Gudi Padwa in Girgaon,Mumbai,Maharashtra 

Women beat drum during the procession of Gudi Padwa in Girgaon,Mumbai,Maharashtra  

'Shobha Yatra' to welcome the Hindu New Year on occasion of Gudi Padawa in Girgaon,Mumbai,Maharashtra

Women dance at Gudi Padwa procession in Girgaon,Mumbai,Maharashtra

School children participate in a Shobha Yatra on the occasion of Gudi Padwa in Girgaon,Mumbai,Maharashtra 

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An evening stroll through the Sagar Upvan at Colaba, Mumbai

I walked along Shahid Bhagat Singh Road on my way to Sagar Upvan. It is lined with restaurants, cafes, shops and market bazaars - that makes the city tourist friendly. Then I turned from Shahid Bhagat Singh Road to Dumayne Road to enter Sagar Upvan. Spread over 12 to 14 acres, Sagar Upvan aka BPT Garden was  a Garbage dump yard in the year around 2000.  Located behind Colaba bus Depo, the garden is maintained by the Mumbai Port Trust.

The stroll took me past lush green lawns, many potted flowering plants, a glass house, a stone plaza and a cactus house. The garden is filled with various kind of trees -  banyan, palm, bamboo and blossoming flowers.  There are boards displaying the common name as well as the scientific name of every tree. The garden has many sections: Rock Garden, Cactus Garden, Sea-Shore Point and plant nurseries. The rock garden has an interesting landscape.

Overlooking the sea, crowds stroll at Sea-Shore Point and relax on the benches under trees to enjoy the cool evening.. Here crowds gather together to enjoy leisure time.

Blossoming flowers are seen in huge varieties and few Cactus too around the clean walking tracks and green lawns. 

When the dusk began to hover over the garden, I had the chance to experience the garden in the golden hour. Lucky for me, it was a picture perfect day and I was able to enjoy for few hours wandering around.  I hope you enjoyed the stroll. 

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Velas Turtle Festival and Harihareshar Visit

Are you looking for a weekend destination around Mumbai especially in summer? Participating in the famous turtile festival at Velas, a bonus visit to  Harihareshwar, hugged by golden beaches and delicious home made food -  a perfect choice, all in two days.

About Turtle Festival:-

The Olive Ridely turtle lays eggs at multiple places along the Maharashtra coastline. Velas in Ratnagiri district is the place where most of the action is concentrated. For years, the eggs were being stolen, sold and eaten. That along with pollution and fishing has driven the Olive Ridelys to near extinction.

Sahyadri Nisarga Mitra, in joint collaboration with the Forest Department, Ratnagiri, Kasav Mitra Mandal Velas and the Velas Gram Panchayat are trying to save the Ridelys. They conduct the Velas Turtle Festival in Mar-April time frame every year. During this festival, thousands of newborn Oilve Ridley Turtles are released into the sea.

Day 1:

We started  our journey in a private bus from Mumbai at around 11.30 PM. Hardly five hour journey will take you to Velas village in the early morning. Most of the village houses open their doors to the tourists for a nominal fee that includes all meals. This was homestay at its best.

After freshening up, we headed for the beach where the turtle hatchery is located. It was a long walk from the village to the hatchery at the beach.

Just a few feet away, one small area is cordoned off. That's the hatchery. Posters describing details about Olive Ridley Turtles were fixed on the fencing and I noted few of them:-

1. Olive Ridley Turtles are the smallest and the most abundant of all sea turtles found in the world.
2. These turtles are omnivores eating variety of prey including crabs,shrimps,lobsters,alage etc
3. Male olive Ridley turtles can be distinguished from females by its tail, which sticks out beyond the carapace.
4. The females come to nest on the same shore every year where they were born.
5. Large groups of females gather off shore for nesting, this phenomenon is called 'Arribada'
6. It is said that only 1 hatchling in 1000 will survive and reach adulthood.
7. These turtles are listed as 'Threatened' species in Red Data Book by IUCN.

Turtle eggs collected from all over the beach are brought here and again buried in sand - with a wooden stick next to it indicating the date on which they were put there. When the eggs are about to hatch, the movement increases.  These are then brought to the surface and a basket is kept on top of them.

People had gathered around the barricades with lots of excitement and had positioned their cameras as well. We were lucky to witness the journey of two baby turtles.  The coordinators explained the do's and dont's while placing the baby turtle on the sand. Our eyes were set on the baskets from where the turtles had to be taken to the sea. The baby turtle was placed on the sand. With effort, it raised its head and decided to hit the waves.

With shiny eyes and a precautionary look around, they started their maiden walk into the sea. The waves are in sight now.

It was picked up by a bigger wave and then the baby reached  its home.

Besides the Turtle festival, Velas is also famous for its simple home stays and delicious Konkani food. The houses in the village were simple and quite interesting. The narrow pathways and coconut trees on both sides reminded me of my home village in Kerala.

After the Velas beach visit, we headed for the nearby Bankot Fort. The road towards the fort is narrow. Bankot is a very beautiful fort and surely worth a visit.

The secluded, small, square shaped fort close to the sea offers a breathtaking view of the Savitri River meeting the Arabian Sea beneath. Sitting on the top of the fort and watching the waves in the sea is a sight to behold.

We bid goodbye to the fort and started back towards the village. Delicious Konkani meal was awaited  us. The food was served on banana leaves which gave a typical village feel.

After having lunch and taking few hours of rest, we headed back to Velas beach at around 5 pm. This time we were lucky to witness the maiden march of three baby turtles into the sea.

When the sun sinks down, the sea shivers with a colorful light. We spent few hours at the beach, having fun and clicking photos.

It was getting dark, we headed back towards our house in the village.

Day 2:

In the early morning, we woke up at around 4 am and went for stargazing. Lying down on the top of the rock and watching the sky  full of stars is something to be experienced and cannot be explained. We saw some shooting stars, Jupiter and some constellations.

We had our breakfast and were ready for Harihareshwar temple visit. Boat service is available to cross the river and we took our bus along with us in the boat.

Harihareshar, known as Kashi of the South, is famous for its temples.  A parikrama of this pilgrimage site can be a delightful experience. We have to climb a few steps to reach the  top of the area.

Harihareshwar is renowned for its tranquility and picturesque beach. En route you will get a beautiful view of the beach.  It is one of the finest sea shores in India.

Then we walked down the long winding path cut between two hillrocks before reaching the sea.

Sitting on the rocks and watching the waves, just an arm away , was a memorable experience.

The hill rocks were studded with beautiful rock sculpture.

Then we started our return journey to Mumbai. En route we had a pit stop for lunch.

Witnessing a baby turtle finding its way to the sea by those baby steps is an unforgettable moment. We enjoyed the village, the stay, the food, games, stargazing, the ferry ride, fort and the journey. I highly recommend to visit this place at least once in a lifetime.

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