Route: Bangalore – Ooty – Coonoor – Kotagiri – Bangalore
Ooty again!!! This is my 3rd trip to Ooty this year and “The queen of Hill stations” just takes my breath away all the time. The last time I was at Ooty was just a month back with my buddies to escape the summer heat at Bangalore. After planning the dates, landed at Ooty on the counting day for the Lok Sabha polls. Sober weekend it was at Ooty. And because of the so called “Season” at Ooty, the place was crowded. But again it felt good being at Ooty enjoying the pleasant weather even in peak summer.
I decided to drive to Ooty again this month with my wife. Its “Off-Season” at Ooty this time of the year and prices for accommodation is almost half the rates. This time I included a visit to Kotagiri and ride the Nilgiri Mountain Railway when at Ooty. Booked tickets for the train ride online as suggested by other TBHPians. So it was me and my wife in my trusted Swift D again to Ooty.
Preparation:
The car has done close to 20000kms and is scheduled for its service. Not much of driving in the last 2 months, just clocking close to 500kms a month. The previous day before the trip gave the car a nice wash, filled up fuel at IOC and got the air pressure checked. All bags packed, decide to leave Bangalore by 6:00AM the next day, so that we are at Ooty by noon to catch the train at 3:00PM.
Day 1 (25th June, 2009): Bangalore – Mysore – Nanjangud – Gundalpet – Ooty
Woke up only by 6:00AM and after a quick bath and light breakfast, left the house only by 7.15AM. I decided to take the flyover through City Market towards Mysore Road. Stopped at a temple for 15 minutes and we were at the outskirts of Bangalore only by 8:30AM. Mysore road was surprisingly empty and Swift D was able to stretch its legs. By 9:30AM we were parking the car at the McDonalds outlet after Channapatna. Breakfast of burger and fries, we rejoin Mysore road. Kept a steady 90-100KMPH and were in Mysore by 11:00AM. The roads were jam-packed near the Bus Stand and took almost 30 minutes to cross the City and join the Mysore- Ooty Road. Should check out the ring road to bypass the city but have heard it’s close to 25kms to join Mysore – Ooty road. We were running behind schedule but were able to make good time on the 2 lane Mysore – Ooty road. Not much traffic and in an hours time stopped at Café Coffee day before Gundalpet. The stretch between Mysore and Gundalpet is in good condition. The roads 30-40kms before Gundalpet was freshly tarred which made the ride super smooth.
Towards Gundalpet at Nanjangud
Railway tracks along the road at Nanjangud
Freshly tarred roads towards Gundalpet
After Gundalpet it’s the bad roads again which seemed to have improved from the previous time and I see some heavy machinery for road making parked near the village for the turn towards Gopalswamy hills. I also see some work going on repairing the road. I feel it might take another 2-3 months to fix this 10km bad stretch after Gundalpet. Enter Bandipur forest and keep a steady 50KMPH looking out for wildlife. Spotted herds of deer’s and near the Bandipur Tourism Office spotted some domesticated elephants having their breakfast. While I waited in the car my wife took a couple of pictures including a baby elephant with its mama elephant. Enter Mudumalai and take the left towards Masinagudi. The weather has been pleasant all along and I know it’s going to get better as we climb up the Segur Ghats.
Towards Bandipur
Domesticated Elephants at Bandipur
Inside Bandipur
Approaching the Checkpost towards Mudumalai
By 1:30PM we are climbing up Segur Ghats with Ooty another 25-30KMS to go. Tackle the hairpin bends and as we climb higher and higher, I put on my jacket as its getting colder. By 2:00PM we are inside Ooty navigating our way towards our hotel. I had the rooms booked at Nalapad Residency.
Just before the climb up Segur Ghats
Straight road towards Segur Ghats
View from the hotel balcony
It’s a decent hotel with clean rooms and bathroom situated on a quite stretch towards Ooty Lake near Rex School. The tariff is half of what it was during the “Season” time I was in Ooty last month, ranging from Rs.700-1000 during this time of the year. Check in by 2:15PM, keep the luggage in the room and after freshening up we are out of the hotel in the next 20 minutes. The railway station is just down the road less than a kilometer. Park the car at the railway station and find our way towards our coach. We still have another 10 minutes to spare and am hungry. Pick some biscuits and take some pictures of the train and the diesel loco. And settle into our seats when the train is about to leave. This is my first ride on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway and all excited. We share our seats with an Old American Couple who are taking the train all the way to Mettupalayam. Had seats towards the right side of the train which has the most scenic views.
Nilgiri Mountain Train
Just before leaving Ooty Station
1400HP Dreamdiesel!!!
The Nilgiri Mountain Railway is one of the oldest mountain railways in India. The stretch between Ooty and Coonoor, the coaches are hauled by a Diesel Loco and then by steam Loco towards Mettupalayam on this meter gauge track. The entire stretch between Ooty and Coonoor is through green hills and rolling tea estates. You come across a couple of tunnels between this stretch and tall girder bridges.
Tea estates viewed from the train
Negotiating a curve
View from the train
View from the train
About to enter a tunnel
View from the train
A bridge near Wellington
We are at Coonoor in about 45 minutes. We have another 45 minutes before the next train back to Ooty. Find a restaurant near the Railway station and have a quick lunch there. As we are getting back to the Railway station I hear the crisp whistles of the steam loco. Rush to the front to take pictures as the train is about to leave. The steam loco pulls away quite effortlessly with the steam whistle being used generously. What an experience to look at the steam loco spewing out steam and the way the pistons move. Then we head back to the train waiting at the platform for the ride back to Ooty at 4:30PM. The ride back to Ooty from Coonoor takes an extra 15 minutes because of the uphill climb. By 5:45PM we are back in Ooty and the temperature seems to have reduced drastically. Get in the car and head back to the hotel close by.
Steam Loco leaving Coonoor station
Loco shed at Coonoor taken in B/W
On the way back to Ooty
On the way back to Ooty
Ooty at night - taken from Hotel Balcony
Get back to the room to take some rest as it’s been a hectic day. We order tea and snacks to the room. Switch on the television and hear about Michael Jackson’s death. My wife is pretty saddened to hear about his death. She has been a big fan of him since childhood. Bid Adieu to the "King of Pop". His music will live on forever. Watch news for some more time and we head off to Charring cross for dinner around 8:30PM. Buy some Ooty chocolates and then decide to head over to Shinkows Chinese Restaurant near the SBI bank or Collectors Office at Ooty. We had a nice and quite dinner. The temperature outside was between 13-15 degree C. Head back to the hotel, order extra blankets and doze off by 11:00PM.
To be continued....