Nilgiri Mountain Train Trip - A Joy Ride !

Another weekend passed by me just like that, but it wouldn’t take much time for me to realize the fact that it holds many cherished memories of a wonderful trip with a happy go lucky ‘malu gang’. The Nilgiri Hills are a range of mountains in the westernmost part of Tamil Nadu at the junction of Karnataka, holds some of the most beautiful hills stations of south India. And Ooty (Ootacamund) is often referred as the gateway to this beautiful mountain range.

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The thing of beauty that attracts most of the tourists, apart form the scenic view, is the Nilgiri Mountain railway, one of the oldest mountain railways in India. In 2005, UNESCO has inscribed it a world heritage site. And needless mentioning this 42 K.Ms stretch that connects Mettupalayam with the hill station of Udagamandalam (Ooty) has so many things for these naked eyes to rejoice.

Happy New Year

Dear Friends,

Wish you all a very happy, healthy and prosperous New Year 2008.

For me it marked as a special day and will remember it for a very long time. I started the day with a happy note and a rocking last night party, it was awesome. Hope, you guys too have enjoyed the zero night celebration at your respective places. With the same sprit and belief that the New Year will bring the same happiness and joy everyday, I am welcoming you all to this new day, new life and every new thing that’s going to happen now onwards.

Thanks,

Flames of life !!!

Flames – a beauty of strange play and beyond all proportions. It symbolizes the grace and tragedy, innocence and despair, sadness and lushness.
The beauty of flames creates the illusion of a pure sublime just like the light of dawn.

It's a wonder - yet those flames are no light, but rather darkness visible and Served only to discover sights of woe.

A Day out in Kerela

Last weekend I had been to a memorable trip of Kerela. Actually we visited two other places too and the final destination was a small village near Palakkad. Well, I was visiting Joe’s home for the first time. He had lots of things to talk about this place, particularly about the farm house and the old age house that the village people have extended their support for the poor old people to live their rest of life peacefully.

Good, I witness the fairly simple way of celebration, specifically, Christmas in a village where peace and love are neighbors of each other - far away from the noisy city crowd. Probably this was my first encounter with such an event.

A typical Kerela style breakfast followed by sweet aapam (forgot the exact name) and then we started to explore this place that was covered with trees and mountains. Indeed it was fun, and here goes some of the pictures that I have clicked my way ...

The crib, I spotted inside the church on the eve of Christmas.

People say, Kerela is a gifted greenery place … true !

An early morning view of the un-named abounded dam

Rubber tree plantation

A journey unfold !

There goes one of the most exciting train journey I can ever imagine in all these years, after postponing at many occasions and some drop out plans, finally I am able to complete the much awaited trip to west coast of India. It was my sheer luck or you can say coincidence that when I thought of booking the return tickets; I landed at the Indian Railways website to surprise myself that reservation for the newly started train between MAQ-YPR was available for that day. And then I quickly hit the button to book my tickets in it. However, I didn't mind being forced to travel at night sacrificing the sparkling views of the green route (Western Ghats) which would only possible in daylight.

Mangalore Station, MAQ- YPR express standing on PF1.

I was at Mangalore for the first time and it was overall an eventful trip with lots of memory from the konkan railways. The station at Managlore is going through renovation and you can spot loads of construction material here and there. To avoid last minute rush I was there at the platform before time. The interesting things that somebody would notice as soon as the train leaves Mangalore Station (after the Junction between the KR and enroute to SWR ) is the bridge over Netravathi River. The train hits Subrahmanya Rd Station around 10 P.M and snakes through Sakaleshpura somewhere 11.55 PM, and believe me these two hours in the dark night will show you the amazing experience of – the Man, Machine and Nature.

The best part is that you will get more than one chance to explore different types and size of tunnels on the way. Surprisingly, there are around 57 tunnels in between Subrahmanya Rd. and Sakaleshpura, which covers the major part of the Western Ghats. I was not aware of this number until I calculated it all by myself; it was really fun. This 70 K.Ms plus stretch offers the most pleasant and breathtaking scenic view to all those travel bugs.

One of the many tunnels that this train passes by ...
Another tunnel at the night, witnessing the kingdom of darkness ....

In the end, It was an unbelievable experience of traveling for me. The scary noisy sounds that comes from the train wheels when it takes a turn on the curved track, the long-dark tunnels, the night-blue sky and the depth of the mountains under the tracks is really something that one should watch out for.

Intelligence incorporated :)

Do you have better answers then this ? Just think about it.

Karwar & Murudeshwara Trip !

My exploration of west coast continued, on the next day to a quiet and beautiful place namely Kawar – a port town and the district head quarter of Uttara Kanada, was my next halt. It’s around 240 K.ms from Mangalore. The most interesting thing I found about this place is that it’s having one of those quietest beaches, which would match for an idle weekend destination for many travelers. Also it offers some great surroundings with cool scenic views. Rightly, it will be a heavenly experience for people who adore the nature.
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Well, it was on of those rare occasions when I pushed myself out of the bed for an unusually long morning walk. That turns out to be quite interesting when I discover both the highway (N.H 17) and the beach are moving together. Later on to add my curiosity had a good drive on N.H 17, that added to my realization - the journey of life never ends, and in the end, it's not the years in our life that count. It's the life in our years. Hahaa !!! though I was not so philosophical at that moment, it is just that my usual way of relating a good moment or view with some of the intellectual works.

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The sandy beach at Karwar, popularly known as the Rabindranath Tagore beach.

The day break, just opposite side of the beach... Yo yo :) sun always rises from the east.

The toy train line, along side the beach.

INS Cahpal, Warship museum.

Kali Bridge, one can have the beautiful view of the Kali river meeting with the Arabian Sea from here.

On the way to Murudeshwar..

my brunch ..

I started back from Karwar with some different plan of traveling; to my next halt at Murudeshwara. Oh ! that was a enthralling experience for me to catch three local buses (popularly known as the KSRTC’s red-bus) for around 100 K.ms. The encouraging sign there for me was that most of the people in this region can speak Hindi. That reminds me that although I went through some typical villages I didn’t find problem in communicating with the local people there.

Murudeshwara is more like a picnic sport for many. The significance of the place is due to the tallest statute of Lord Shiva. This place is also connected with the Konkan Railway and the station is around 2 K.ms from this small town. The Hotel RNS Residency is located just adjacent to the Arabian Sea, also very close to the famous Mahatobar Murudeshwar Temple. If you're planning for a stay here then this hotel could be the best option available here.

Lord Shiva, a night view of the statute from the beach

Another view of the Lord Shiva's statute

Memories from Konkan Rail Trip !

Last weekend I had been to one of my most awaited trip. The place is there in my favorite destinations list for long time. The Konkan region part of west coast of India, alongside the Arabian Sea. It's an absolute treat for the eyes. And the mode of communicate, I choose was to travel through the Konkan Railways. I already heard lots of things about this route and what best can match KR to travel there. KR is a proud witness to the dedication and immense engineering skills that are available in India. The scenic view through out the route added a little more magic to the man-machine creation.

I started my journey from M’lore Railway station with the Mumbai bound Matsyaganda Super fast Express (2620). I guess this was one of those unplanned trips with a distinct route in my mind; my last stoppage was Karwar, the district head quarter of Uttar Kannada.

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A diesel engine, Mangalore Railway Station.

The train entering into a tunnel.

A sharp curve just before Surathkal.

Those super exciting five hours were unforgettable, I didn’t realize that they passed by me just like that. The tunnels, the over bridges, the curves on the railway lines, the speed of the engine … I could find a difference in everything. Wow ! Where else you could find a train moving with more than 80 Kmph inside a 4 K.ms long tunnel ? That was just one part of it and I had yet to discover some of the other mysterious things about this route. The longest tunnel I came across was just after Bhatkal Station. I could find a number of rivers (I guess it's more than 15 nos.) and the longest bridge was over Saravathi river near Honnavar.

This picture can be best explained by the quote - “When I admire the wonder of a sunset or the beauty of the moon, my soul expands in worship of the Creator”.

Udupi Railway Station.

A guard flagging off the train.

Barkur Railway Station.

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It was not an easy task for me to pick a few pictures to blog about from those hundreds of pictures that I have taken, so I have to leave them for some other time. The good thing about all the pictures are that most of these pictures were clicked from inside the fast moving train. And to realize that I missed some of the interesting ones on that route, never-mind though.

The Dream Route Train !!

One great news for all those Indian railways fan, from 8th of Dec passenger trains between Mangalore and Bangalore (the dream rail track route through Western Ghats) is starting. It’s something that people of Dakshina Kannada desperately waiting for so long time. The ticket booking for this train Yeswantpur- Mangalore Express (No: 6517/8) is started today, and by the time I book mine the quota was almost over.

Timings :
The first ever passenger train on this route will be flagged-off at Mangalore Railway Station by the Railway Minister on 8th Dec 2007 at 11.30 AM. The corresponding train from Bangalore will leave Yeswantpur Railway Station at 8.35 PM on the same day. And from 9th Dec the regular service will begin from Yeswantpur at 8.35 PM and will reach Mangalore at 8.05 AM the next day. The train from Mangalore will leave Mangalore at 7.45 PM and will reach at Yeswantpur at 7.40 AM next day.

Route :
The train will run via Yeswantpur/Bangalore -> Kengeri -> Mandaya-> Mysore -> Krishnarajnagar -> Sakleshpura -> Kabakaputtara -> Bantawal -> Kankanadi -> Mangalore. The end to end distance will be around 503 K.ms and that will be covered by 11 hrs 30 mins of time.

Coaches :
There will be 16 coaches in the train which includes 6 ordinary, 6 sleepers, one 2AC, one 3 AC and two luggage coaches.

Fares :
The fares for traveling between the two end points will cost in Indian Rupees 119 by Second Class, 227 by Sleeper Class, 611 by 3AC and 850 by 2AC.

Most of the people know the importance of this train and the route is absolutely mind blowing, traveling through the Ghats is always a pleasure to eyes. I guess some pictures would explain it better then anything else…. Need to wait sometime. I wish the other purposed train which would run in the day light will also be flagged-off soon.