Key Points
Celebrations marked 117 years of Ooty train
Toda tribal dances captivated tourists
UNESCO World Heritage connects with Nilgiri Mountain Railway history
During the celebration, the Toda tribal women sang songs highlighting the unique features of the mountain train and performed their traditional dances. Tourists who watched with interest also danced with the Toda tribal people and enjoyed themselves. A cake was cut, and sweets were distributed to the tourists and the public.
Stella, a tourist from Bangalore, said, "I got a vacation from college and came to visit Ooty. When I arrived, I saw they were celebrating a wonderful, traditional function. Lovedale is so grand; it looks so beautiful."
Darshak, a tourist from Mumbai, said, "We just came as tourists and were lucky to be part of the 117th celebration of Lovedale station."
The Nilgiri Mountain Railway, also called the Nilgiri Hill Railway and the "Toy Train" by locals, received UNESCO World Heritage status in 2005. It is part of the "Mountain Railways of India" group, which also includes the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway and the Kalka-Shimla Railway.
Constructed by the British in 1908, this train is the only working rack railway in India today. It runs on steam engines and is managed by the Southern Railway of India. The train journey starts in Mettupalayam and ends in Ooty, passing through scenic hill stations like Coonoor, Wellington, Lovedale, and Fern Hill.
The railway line is a metre gauge that is 1000 mm long. The train slowly ascends the hills, letting people soak in the beauty of the surroundings, passing through tunnels with sharp edges and forested tunnels. The total distance that the train covers is 46 km, and it takes nearly 5 hours to reach the top point at Ooty.
