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Hey,
rail enthusiasts!! If you have some
time to spare, then take a slow toy
train up to the hill resorts of Shimla,
Ooty (Udhangamandalam), Darjeeling or
Matheran.
There is nothing to match the experience
of chugging up the hills, past little
hamlets and terraced fields, making
your way through tunnels and over breathtaking
bridges. Its leisurely pace offers you
a panoramic view of changing vistas.
The invigorating air and the delights
of scenic hill resorts provide a welcome
respite from the hustle and bustle of
the city. |
The
Shimla Toy Train -The toy
train journey from Kalka to Shimla is
entrancing with 107 tunnels and lofty
arched bridges. The dazzling view and
the stops at the picturesque stations
along the way - Dharampore, Taksal,
Gamma and Solan, all add up to an exhilarating
experience. Shimla is well-connected
by a broad gauge line up to Kalka. From
Kalka to Shimla, 'the toy train' covers
96-km of track in six hours.
The Shivalik Deluxe Express, chugging
its way up the beautiful hill side,
connects the Howarh - Kalka mail for
passenger going to Shimla. A luxury
train, the Shivalik Express has only
one stop-Barog, in its 4 hrs 45 minutes
journey. The train also has an attached
tourist coach called the Shivalik Palace.
And, for the honeymoon couples, the
Shivalik Queen Coach offers exclusively
designed coupes. |
| The
Darjeeling Toy Train -The most
famous of the little trains, is the
one linking the town of New Jalpaiguri
in the plains to the lovely hill station
of Darjeeling. With a 2 ft gauge, the
Darjeeling Hill Railway is indeed a
'toy train', being the narrowest of
the regular narrow gauges. The tiny
century-old engine is a connoisseur's
delight. The 86-km long Darjeeling line
has no tunnels, thus allowing the traveller
an uninterrupted view of the breathtaking
scenery of the Himalayas. The seven-and-a-half
hour ride up, is a journey especially
for rail buffs. |
| The
Nilgiri Toy Train - The Nilgiri
Mountain railway starts from the town
of Mettupalayam and thus begins a journey
full of twists and turns, as this narrow
gauge train ascends 46-km., on its way
to the hill resort of Ooty. At a maximum
speed of 33-km per hour, this 'toy train'
treks across plains, plantations and
forest clad hills. The 16 tunnels and
tall girder bridges on the way, along
with the breathtaking view, make this
toy train journey to Ooty, something
not to be missed. |
| The
Matheran Toy Train - The 77-year-old
line, connecting Neral to mMatheran,
is the main way to reach the tiny hill
resort, close to Mumbai. As a little
train wheezes up into the clear mountain
air, on can view the scenic vista of
hills and plains below. The lack of
vehicular traffic at Matheran makes
it an unusual and peaceful retreat.
The journey up to Matheran from Neral
takes about one-and-a-half hours. The
toy train runs between sunrise and sunset. |
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So folks ! Are you ready,
to start on an out-of-the-ordinary journey
up to the hills? Just
pack your sports gear and get going! |
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