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Whistle Through South India’s Incredible Train Journeys

Mettupalayam And Bodinayakanur Train Routes, Tamil Nadu

  • Location

Tamil Nadu, India

  • Nearest Airports

Coimbatore International Airport (CJB)

  • Nearest Railway Stations

Coimbatore Junction (CBE)

  • Highlight

A scenic passage through the Nilgiri Mountains, showcasing Tamil Nadu’s hill stations and the ‘Cardamom Capital’

  • Duration

7D/6N

The Indian Railways that takes a winding course across the country’s topography, from South to North, from East to West, does not limit itself to the train routes most travelers are well aware of. Some routes are unexplored, not quite highlighted in the tourist handbooks, and two such incredible train journeys are the Mettupalayam and Bodinayakanur routes in Tamil Nadu.

The narrow-gauge steam train rumbles from Mettupalayam to Ooty, stumbling on the rail tracks of the Nilgiri Mountain Railway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that often gets sidetracked by mainstream tourism. The train itself has classic blue-and-cream coaches with marginally large windows that you might have seen in the movie ‘A Passage to India’. On the first stretch, i.e. the Mettupalayam-Coonoor stretch, you can expect vintage steam locomotives and a peek at its technical marvel.

And right afterwards, as crowded as Madurai is, taking the train to Bodinayakanur is bound to open you up to the inexplicable beauty of the Western Ghats, lush green landscapes, and rolling tea gardens.

Highlights of the Tour:

  • An opportunity to feel a steep climb from 326 meters at Mettupalayam to over 2200 meters at Ooty.
  • The whole scenic route covers 250+ bridges and 16 tunnels.
  • Misty mountain slopes, waterfalls and tea plantations pass by as the train twists around the sharp hairpin bends across deep valleys and mountain cliffs.
  • A train journey that climbs steep gradients gradually, thanks to its Abt rack-and-pinion system, a rare and singular instance in South India.
  • Bodinayakanur Train Route:
  • This is a two-hour rail corridor connecting Madurai Junction (MDU) to Bodinayakanur (BDNK) in Tamil Nadu, spanning no less than approximately 90 km.
  • The seat arrangement goes like this: Sleeper Class (SL), General Seating (GS), and Second Seating (2S)
  • The train passes through stations like Teni, Andipatti, and Usilampatti, that are equally beautiful
  • Upon arrival in Bodinayakanur, consider visiting the nearby tea estates, trekking trails, and stunning viewpoints that the region offers.

A Seven-Day Itinerary on South India’s Unique Train Routes

Day 1: Arrive in Mettupalayam

Only 38 km north of Coimbatore, Mettupalayam is considered to be the entry point to the Nilgiri Hills, also known as the Blue Mountains. A quaint town along the banks of the Bhavani River. The rail track from downtown Mettupalayam connects the plains to the hills of Ooty, through a stopover at Coonoor.

In Mettupalayam, you will see the backbone of Tamil life, with fields lined with trees like coconut, bananas and areca nuts. You can also drop by Arulmigu Vanabadrakaliamman Temple to admire the architecture of the South Indian temples.

Duration: 3 hours

And from this station, you will board South India’s most underrated train that will transport you to the jade-like tea-plantations of Coonoor in 3 hours. Here is a sneak peek at the route: Mettupalayam – Kallar – Adderly – Hillgrove – Runnymede – Coonoor.

Spend the day in Coonoor, learning about a variety of trees and plants at Sim’s Park, a grounded way of getting introduced to Tamil ecology.

Coonoor railway station

Duration: 1 hour

The Nilgiri mountain range continues to impress you with its moving pictures of the green landscape. The ride on this day is shorter. Within an hour, the train will pick you up from Coonoor and drop you right at the colonial-era charm of one of the most cinematic hill stations in the country called Ooty. Route to be taken: Coonoor – Wellington – Aruvankadu – Ketti – Lovedale – Ooty.

No South Indian journey can be complete without little nibbles on the popular snacks such as idly (fermented rice cake), dosa (a thin, savory pancake or crepe made from a fermented batter of rice and lentils) and sambar (lentil-based vegetable stew or soup). Ooty has a name for its chocolate, so be sure not to miss out on a handful.

If you are a trekking enthusiast, a much-concealed hiking spot is Avalanche Lake. To learn about the local life in Ooty, you may spend the whole day in Toba Village, where the indigenous Toba people have spent millennia inhabiting the Nilgiri mountains.

nilgiri mountain foothills

The distance between Ooty to Madurai is 215 km. You will be in transit on this day.

Duration: 2 hours

Just a two-hour train ride away from Madurai is Bodinayakanur, which many of you surely have never heard of. If you are on an early bird adventure, you need to take the Madurai-Bodinayakanur Express departing at around 8:20 am from Madurai Junction and arriving in Bodinayakanur at 10:30 am Indian Standard Time (IST).

Take the day-tour to nearby tea estates like Kannan Devan Hills Tea Museum or Ooty Tea Estates, where you can learn about the tea-making process and blow steam with a fresh cup of tea in hand.

Bodinayakanur is cooler than the plains, but temperatures can still rise in summer. So, pick your season wisely. Bodinayakanur is fondly referred to as the ‘Cardamom Capital of India’.

Don’t forget to visit Kolukkumalai Tea Estate, the world’s highest tea plantation at 2160 meters.

Here in Bodinayakanur, you can experience the temple-architecture of Periya Nayaki Amman Temple dedicated to Goddess Amman, and Kuchanur Suyambu Sri Saneeswara Bhagavan Temple dedicated to Lord Shani (a Hindu deity). Be sure to sample tea and the region’s main spice, cardamom.

Oothamparai Falls located in Bodinayakanur, Tamilnadu

Make your way back to Madurai by train or taxi for an onward journey.

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