May 02, 2013 11:37 AM
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(Updated May 02, 2013 11:35 AM)
This is my second visit to Ooty (Udgamandalam) - Day of visit 9/3/2013. Booked tickets to -and -fro. We've to book tickets for Heritage train too in advance [Toy Train]. This is also available at ticket counters and Irctc.
If you are coming from Chennai. Do board a direct train to Mettupalayam. Which will come at 6:15 and the Heritage train from here starts at 7:10. The station master here provides you facilities for you to get ready and a room is available under his premises which is charged INR 200/day.
Boarded Kongu Express from Kacheguda to Coimbatore.
8/3/12: I reached Coimbatore. Stayed in my brothers hostel in TNAU. It was hot in Coimbatore. 9/3/12: I started to bus stand early in the morning at 5:30 to reach Mettupalayam. You'll have good number of buses to Mettupalayam and also Ooty. This is just a 40 Km trip along the valley and green locales.
The land is wet, seemed it rained heavily in early hours in Mettupalayam. The railway station is just a furlong distance from the bus bay. I boarded the train which started exactly at 7:10. It is a three coach train. Mostly the visitors are foreigners. In just few minutes the train stopped. We got down because of Boulder slip. The works happened till 8. We have to stop for three times for a similar track disruption.
The complete train journey will take 4 hours. This will not be like your regular train journey. At every small stations that come you'll step down unknowingly to get the glimpse of nature. The road trip above would not take more than 1:30. But this is 90 percent different from the road trip to above.
It is too ..tool...cool up on the hill. Good that I took a sweater. It really helped and made me move further. You can enjoy your time with exotic locations. People here are cooperative. Like botanical Gardens and lakes that you see. Try also to be at vegetable market to catch the glimpse of few unseen vegetables.
You can get essential oils from many stores. This is the place to fill you bag with tea varieties and rare oils. Auto travel is big time punishment. Agreed that these are hills up and down but 100/- per two km is too much. I inquired the petrol prices at the oil bunk it is the same cost like elsewhere. Yet these guys are polite. What to do we dont know what to do we hire. That's where we fall for them. They fill pockets.
If you are in a gruop best to hire a taxi or tempo and get a good package for all..might be in thousands.
They might make it 100/- per Km soon. It is best to board our two wheeler in train and enjoy there and board back. Even if commissioned by the local police.
Enjoy trip guys it is worth going. Reduce your AC bills this summer and chill here with natural effect.
