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The Nilgiris
Riding The Nilgiri Toy Train To Ooty
Tunnels, tea gardens and a slow climb on the UNESCO-listed Nilgiri Mountain Railway from Mettupalayam.
The Nilgiris district covers the hill stations of Ooty (Udhagamandalam), Coonoor and Kotagiri, spread across rolling tea estates and shola forests. The cool climate has drawn visitors since colonial times.
The Nilgiri Mountain Railway, part of the UNESCO-listed Mountain Railways of India, climbs from Mettupalayam to Ooty. Doddabetta, the highest peak in the Nilgiris, and the Government Botanical Garden in Ooty are classic stops.
Coordinates: 11.4102° N, 76.695° E
Coimbatore International Airport is the nearest airport. Mettupalayam is the railhead for the toy train; buses and taxis run up the ghat road to Ooty.
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Best time to visit: March to June and September to November.
Carry a warm layer even in summer. Book the toy train well in advance, especially in April–May and on long weekends.
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Tunnels, tea gardens and a slow climb on the UNESCO-listed Nilgiri Mountain Railway from Mettupalayam.
