[mykal shoemaker]

Waterfalls, tea estates.
Its non stop entertainment for your eyes.















There was this beautiful waterfall,so close to the track. Engine driver stopped the vehicle for few minutes,for us to have a good view.







You'll see numerous other water trails, if you visit after a rainy season.

[mykal shoemaker]

After Coonoor, we have a major halt at HillGrove station.
We get around 10 minute for water filling @ the engine.

The monkeys in that area are mentioned in the BBC documentary too, as they very well know the timings and those precious 10 minutes to get maximum food.

Snaps from Hillgrove:

[mykal shoemaker]

Everyone in the train have their best ever travel.

[mykal shoemaker]

the train reached mettuppalyam by 5:45 PM and passengers going to Chennai and other parts went to the other platform where connecting train arrives.

We had a pick up arranged by the hotel people.

After doing quick round of Ooty next day,we returned to Bangalore.
Used Gudallur route this time,than the masinagudi one.

[IronH4WK]

the picture of the train on the bridge after the Wellington station - standing under that bridge is where i clicked my first photo using a Miranda Sensomat with a 50mm lens and B&W film. i was in 4th grade and my dad was teaching me photography

[kraft.wagen]

Amazing pics there Mykal, the train travel has made me feel so nostalgic
waiting for more pics

[mykal shoemaker]

I'm planning an upward journey and more photos.
Its one of the best thing you can do in south India.


Let me resize the other pics and post few more in coming days.

Thanks a lot for sharing your memories @ ironhawk and kraftwagon.

[verditer]

Beautiful.

I'm going to Ooty this weekend, and thinking of including this train trip - but is it always on demand and need to book tickets in advance, or can I just walk up to the station and get tickets?

[m8002?]

Suggest you book it in advance. You can book online at the IRCTC site.

It becomes really crowded in weekends and tourist seasons.

[gkveda]

Originally Posted by m8002?

Suggest you book it in advance. You can book online at the IRCTC site.

It becomes really crowded in weekends and tourist seasons.

Sorry for revoking a very old thread. But, need some guidance. hence, had to revoke

We have booked tickets from Ooty to Mettupalayam on 1st Nov and tickets are in Waiting List - WL23 to 30

Here are my questions:
1. What is the possibility of getting seats confirmed? More importantly, if we do NOT get confirmation, do we get seats in unreserved Compartments? Please give some tips to get seats and enjoy the journey
2. Train starts at 2 PM and reaches by 5 15 PM. We need to return back to Ooty hotel same day. Hence, are there frequent buses available to come back from Mettupalayam to Ooty?
3. What are the MUST SEE sightseeing places in Mettupalayam? I could not get any thing in internet search. We do not mind coming back without sight seeing places if time does not permit(Meaning - If there are no frequent return buses)

Kindly reply

[m8002?]

Originally Posted by gkveda

Sorry for revoking a very old thread. But, need some guidance. hence, had to revoke

We have booked tickets from Ooty to Mettupalayam on 1st Nov and tickets are in Waiting List - WL23 to 30

Here are my questions:
1. What is the possibility of getting seats confirmed? More importantly, if we do NOT get confirmation, do we get seats in unreserved Compartments? Please give some tips to get seats and enjoy the journey
2. Train starts at 2 PM and reaches by 5 15 PM. We need to return back to Ooty hotel same day. Hence, are there frequent buses available to come back from Mettupalayam to Ooty?
3. What are the MUST SEE sightseeing places in Mettupalayam? I could not get any thing in internet search. We do not mind coming back without sight seeing places if time does not permit(Meaning - If there are no frequent return buses)

Kindly reply

Thats a very old thread.
1. I am not sure of that. My tickets were confirmed when I booked.
2. There are very frequent buses from Mettupalayam/Coimbatore to Ooty. Returning back shouldnt be a problem.
3. I am not aware of any tourist spots in Mettupalayam. Its just a small town in the foothills before you start the climb to Ooty.

Have a nice vacation.

[abhijeetp]

Originally Posted by gkveda

Sorry for revoking a very old thread. But, need some guidance. hence, had to revoke
-----
y hotel same day. Hence, are there frequent buses available to come back from Mettupalayam to Ooty? ..
Kindly reply

If you just want to enjoy train journey , I will suggest just do Ooty-Conoor-Ooty. This part is more scenic.

If possible try to book Connor-Ooty return journey in first class. The first class is in front and engine is at the back. So the first few seats of the first class can get a front view with railway track in front.

[gkveda]

Originally Posted by m8002?

Thats a very old thread.
1. I am not sure of that. My tickets were confirmed when I booked.
2. There are very frequent buses from Mettupalayam/Coimbatore to Ooty. Returning back shouldnt be a problem.
3. I am not aware of any tourist spots in Mettupalayam. Its just a small town in the foothills before you start the climb to Ooty.

Have a nice vacation.

Thank you very much for your reply. Both Point 2 and 3 are really useful for my planning. So, if there are many buses from Mettupalayam to Ooty, and no tourist spots around Mettupalayam, we will plan to return by bus, immediately after getting down from train.

Originally Posted by abhijeetp

If you just want to enjoy train journey , I will suggest just do Ooty-Conoor-Ooty. This part is more scenic.

If possible try to book Connor-Ooty return journey in first class. The first class is in front and engine is at the back. So the first few seats of the first class can get a front view with railway track in front.

Thanks. But, we have already booked tickets till Mettupalayam(Although it is in Waiting list). So, we will utilize it to fullest extent

The issue is, there are no trains from Mettupalayam to Ooty after 2 PM. The only train from Mettupalayam to Ooty is at 7 AM in the morning. So, we need to stay in Mettupalayam and return only next day if we have to return by train. So, planning to return by Bus journey only

[VWAllstar]

Amazing thread. I need some help from you all so that even I can add few more picturesque photographs to the thread

I am driving down to Ooty in my own car and will be at Ooty for 2 nights. I shall be doing the Kabini Safari in the morning as I drive down from Mysore and post that towards Ooty.

I see that the Ooty Toy Train has the below schedule:

Mettupalayam 7:10 AM to Ooty 11:55 AM
Ooty 02:00 PM to Mettupalayam 05:30 PM

Now by road Ooty to Mettupalayam is nearly 2 hours. Since I have my car, how can I plan the trip?

I can take the Ooty 02:00 PM to Mettupalayam reaching at 05:30 and then take a taxi from there back to Ooty. Please do suggest.