Well, after a couple of quiet days in Chennai (laundry, shopping, took fabric to the tailors), we ventured forth on the night train to Mettupalayam. We had sleeping berths reserved in an air conditioned car, triple bunks facing each other on one side of the main aisle, with a double bunk along the wall on the other side.
Once the train got under way at llpm, we all retreated to our bunks due to the early arrival time (5:30 am in Coimbatore, and 6:30 in Mettupalayam). We had a quick but tasty breakfastt at the station , and then proceeded up the mountains to Ooty.
It was a beautiful drive, with amazing vistas, on a crazy narrow road with no shoulders, tight corners, and plenty of traffic (oncoming & overtaking with only inches to spare!).
After checking in at our hotel and freshening up, we joined a small bus tour of Ooty & nearby Coonoor. We stopped at the 'Thread Garden' (amazing handiwork with embroidery thread!), the lake & boating docks, and some amazing viewpoints before reaching Wellington Cantonment (permanent military station) which now houses the Defence Services Staff College for all three branches of the Indian military.
Nearby is a beautiful park, botanical gardens and then the lush tea estates around Coonoor and throughout the Ketty Valley. We saw monkeys often by the road, and some jungle bison wandering in among the tea bushes. I also got to try Some great street food: American sweet corn with butter & masala (spice blend) and banana slice coated in dal & fried.
The clouds had started rolling in while we were on the tea plantation so when we reached our last stop at the highest point in the Nilgiris, we were unable to see the amazing vista that was below us. I could see the tops of Some of the neighbouring hills and could just imagine looking back over Coonoor & Ooty below.
The next day we hired a taxi to take us to some sights north of Ooty. We first stopped at a couple of viewing areas that have been used in Indian movies and then at Pykara Falls (water levels are very low right now). We then drove down 36 hairpin bends into the valley containing the Mudumalai (big/old hills) Wildlife Sanctuary.
After lunch, we hired a jeep & driver to take us into the reserve. Since it was mid afternoon we did not expect to see any of the 73 tigers but we did see 1 wild elephant, some mongooses (not mongeese!), peacocks, 2 more types of monkeys, and lots of spotted deer, as well as plenty of beautiful flora that was new to me.
After that, it was back up the mountain side to our hotel.
The next day, we took the miniature train (they call it the 'Toy Train') from Ooty back to Coonoor and then a local bus to Coimbatore.
Both the Toy Train (as 1 of 3 Mountain Railways of India) and the Nilgiri Mountains (as part of the Western Ghats) are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
It was a beautiful drive, with amazing vistas, on a crazy narrow road with no shoulders, tight corners, and plenty of traffic (oncoming & overtaking with only inches to spare!).
After checking in at our hotel and freshening up, we joined a small bus tour of Ooty & nearby Coonoor. We stopped at the 'Thread Garden' (amazing handiwork with embroidery thread!), the lake & boating docks, and some amazing viewpoints before reaching Wellington Cantonment (permanent military station) which now houses the Defence Services Staff College for all three branches of the Indian military.
Nearby is a beautiful park, botanical gardens and then the lush tea estates around Coonoor and throughout the Ketty Valley. We saw monkeys often by the road, and some jungle bison wandering in among the tea bushes. I also got to try Some great street food: American sweet corn with butter & masala (spice blend) and banana slice coated in dal & fried.
The clouds had started rolling in while we were on the tea plantation so when we reached our last stop at the highest point in the Nilgiris, we were unable to see the amazing vista that was below us. I could see the tops of Some of the neighbouring hills and could just imagine looking back over Coonoor & Ooty below.
The next day we hired a taxi to take us to some sights north of Ooty. We first stopped at a couple of viewing areas that have been used in Indian movies and then at Pykara Falls (water levels are very low right now). We then drove down 36 hairpin bends into the valley containing the Mudumalai (big/old hills) Wildlife Sanctuary.
After that, it was back up the mountain side to our hotel.
The next day, we took the miniature train (they call it the 'Toy Train') from Ooty back to Coonoor and then a local bus to Coimbatore.
Both the Toy Train (as 1 of 3 Mountain Railways of India) and the Nilgiri Mountains (as part of the Western Ghats) are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Looks beautiful there. Continue having a great time.
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