View allAll Photos Tagged nilgiris
roh-do-DEN-dron -- rose tree, referring to flower color ... Dave's Botanary
ar-BOR-ee-um -- tree-like ... Dave's Botanary
¿ nee-lah-gee-RIH-cum ? -- of or from Nilgiri Hills (TamilNadu, India)
commonly known as: Nilgiri rhododendron • Kannada: ಪೂ pu • Malayalam: അലഞ്ചി alanchi, കാട്ടുപൂവരശ് kaattupoovarash • Tamil: ஆழிஞ்சி alinchi, பூவரசு puvarasu
botanical names: Rhododendron arboreum subsp. nilagiricum (Zenker) Tagg ... homotypic synonyms: Rhododendron nilagiricum Zenker ... POWO, retrieved 22 June 2024
book in advance to get a seat to travel the 46 km from mettupalayam to ooty in this Nilgiri queen -Mountain rail.Ihad a waitlisted ticket to had rush to unreserved passenger queue .the first 72 passenger get to travel and I was one lucky guy to get to travel this railway line.The uniqueness of this rail line lies in it being the steepest one in Asia.This is a truly amazing journey that takes tourists from a height of 1069 feet to 7228 feet. The history of the train can be traced back to the times when it was very difficult to reach Udhagamandalam - as Ooty was called in those days. Travellers needed to ride on a horse back or carried on 'dollies' through a forested path to reach Ooty. It was this access difficulty that gave birth to an idea of constructing a rail line to connect the hilly areas of Coonoor and Ooty from plains. The first thought was kept in the year 1854, however, it took around another forty years before the actual work could begin. A Swiss inventor, Riggenback worked on it, and built up the initial line upto Coonoor by the year 1899. Later, by 1908, the track was extended upto Fernhill and then Ooty.
To cope with steepness , a unique system, ABT (Alternate Biting System) is used, which is also called the rack and pinion system. In this the method, pulling the train is quiet different from the usual one. Instead of the engine pulling the train on level lines, here there are two rack bars out of steps with each other between the rail lines. On these racks, the pinions of the train climbs in the same fashion as a person climbs a ladder. The engine, while going upwards, is on the backside to push the train from behind. On the other hand, it is on the front side on the return journey downhill so as to prevent any collision or derailing.
Nilgiri Mountain RailThe journey itself from Mettupalayam to Ooty is full of scenic beauty enroute. Starting from Mettupalayam, a small place that sits on the banks of river Bhavani, the train passes through plain areas for the first five miles or so. Thereafter, in the next 12 miles the line rises to an impressive 4363 feet, and passes through nine tunnels. The tourists are treated to outstanding views of the eastern slopes of forested Nilgiris. From here, tourists can concentrate more on their left side as it is on this side that more beautiful views can be seen. The train passes amidst tranquil and serene views of Coonoor, Wellington, Lovedale to finally reach Ootacamund. It covers a total distance of 116 km and crosses 250 bridges and 16 tunnels.
In the afternoon we stayed close to town walking along quiet streets. It rained by mid afternoon so time out was limited.
I was told that this is probably the endemic four-ring, but would not know myself. If anyone can confirm the ID I will be delighted.
Mountain Railways of India
The Nilgiri Mountain Railway is a 46 Km long and runs on 1000 mm gauge railway. It connects Mettupalayam to Ooty. The first section of the Nilgiri Railway up to Coonoor was completed in 1899 by the Nilgiri Railway Company and was extended to Ooty in 1903.
Vast grasslands encircle the serenely beautiful lake at Lakkidi, a part of the Upper Bhavani backwaters.
Mountain Railways of India
The Nilgiri Mountain Railway is a 46 Km long and runs on 1000 mm gauge railway. It connects Mettupalayam to Ooty. The first section of the Nilgiri Railway up to Coonoor was completed in 1899 by the Nilgiri Railway Company and was extended to Ooty in 1903.
Mountain Railways of India
The Nilgiri Mountain Railway is a 46 Km long and runs on 1000 mm gauge railway. It connects Mettupalayam to Ooty. The first section of the Nilgiri Railway up to Coonoor was completed in 1899 by the Nilgiri Railway Company and was extended to Ooty in 1903.
I did not realize this was Nilgiri Parbat till I checked online. Initially thought this was Kamet but then stood corrected. Should not have trusted the hotel waiter's knowledge!! I was blessed with beautiful blue skies on this trip, something I have never experienced before in the Himalayas. Daughter's altitude sickness notwithstanding, this was truly an experience to remember!
Nilgiri, the wonderful place.
Location: Nilgiri Hill Resort, Bandarban.
Division: Chittagong, Country: Bangladesh.
Picture taken date: 11 December 2010
Mountain Railways of India
The Nilgiri Mountain Railway is a 46 Km long and runs on 1000 mm gauge railway. It connects Mettupalayam to Ooty. The first section of the Nilgiri Railway up to Coonoor was completed in 1899 by the Nilgiri Railway Company and was extended to Ooty in 1903.
Mountain Railways of India
The Nilgiri Mountain Railway is a 46 Km long and runs on 1000 mm gauge railway. It connects Mettupalayam to Ooty. The first section of the Nilgiri Railway up to Coonoor was completed in 1899 by the Nilgiri Railway Company and was extended to Ooty in 1903.
The Nilgiri tahr (Nilgiritragus hylocrius) known locally as the Nilgiri ibex or simply ibex, is an ungulate that is endemic to the Nilgiri Hills and the southern portion of the Western Ghats in the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala in southern India. It is the state animal of Tamil Nadu. Despite its local name, it is more closely related to the sheep of the Ovis genus than the ibex and wild goats of the Capra genus.
In the Tamil language it is called varaiaadu (வரையாடு), the term being composed of two Tamil words, wurrai a precipice, and aadu, a goat.In Malayalam it is pronounced as "Varayaadu"
Thomas the Tank Engine. It's a rack and pinion system, by the way, like the Snowdon Mountain Railway.