Neomaxer helps you discover extraordinary journeys — explore trails, experiences, activities, hotels, and flights, all curated to inspire your next trip.
Neomaxer helps you discover extraordinary journeys — explore trails, experiences, activities, hotels, and flights, all curated to inspire your next trip.
Neomaxer helps you discover extraordinary journeys — explore trails, experiences, activities, hotels, and flights, all curated to inspire your next trip.
The Nilgiri Mountain Railway is a 46-kilometre meter-gauge toy train that climbs from Mettupalayam in the plains to Ooty at 2,200 meters, making it one of the top attractions in Nilgiris. The route passes through 16 tunnels, over 250 bridges, and gradients so steep that a rack-and-pinion system is used for traction. Built by the British between 1891 and 1908, it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005. The journey takes about five hours and crosses jungle, tea gardens, and shola forest, with frequent stops at stations that look unchanged since the colonial era.
What makes this place special
The steepest and most dramatic section where the rack-and-pinion system engages offers a thrilling rail experience, with sheer drops on both sides and dense jungle enveloping the route. This stretch is one of the most exciting things to do in Nilgiris for adventure and railway enthusiasts.
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Neomaxer helps you discover extraordinary journeys — explore trails, experiences, activities, hotels, and flights, all curated to inspire your next trip.
A tiny heritage halt perched on a ridge where the train stops to take on water offers a charming glimpse into the region’s railway history. The platform opens up sweeping views clear to the plains, making it one of the most memorable things to do in Nilgiris for travellers exploring scenic rail routes.
Working steam locomotives are serviced here, offering a rare glimpse into heritage rail operations. Arriving early allows visitors to watch the changeover before the Ooty-bound leg, making it one of the most unique things to do in Nilgiris for railway enthusiasts.