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There is nothing to match the
experience of chugging up the hills. If you have some time to
spare, then take a slow toy train up to the hill resorts of
Shimla, Ooty (Udhagamandalam), Darjeeling or martheran.
Start on an out-of-the ordinary
journey up to the hills:
SHIMLA:
The toy train journey
from Kalka to shimla is entrancing with 107 tunnels and lofty
arched bridges. The dazzling view and the stop at the
picturesque station along the way add to the experience.
Access to Shimla: Shimla is
connected by a broad gauge line up to kalka. From Kalka to
Shimla, the toy train cover 96 km. of track in six hours.
OTTY (UDHAGAMANDALAM):
At a
maximum speed of 33 km. per hour, this toy train treks across
plains, plantation 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.
Access to Ooty: Ooty is
connected by a narrow gauge line from Mettupalayam, which
serves as the railhead for mainline trains.
DARJEELING:
The most famous of
the little trains, is the one linkine the town of New
Jalpaiguri in the plains to the lovely hill station of
Darjeeling. The 86 km. Darjeeling line allows the traveller an
uninterrupted view of the breathtaking scenery of the
Himalayas. Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) recognised as
"World Heritage Site" by UNESCO.
Access to Darjeeling: New
Japaiguri, the starting point of the hill train to Darjeeling,
has direct connections to Calcutta, Delhi Guwahati and other
places in India.
MATHERN:
The 77 year old line,
connected Neral to Matheran, is the main way to reach the tiny
hill resort, close to Mumbai. As the little train wheezes up
into the clear mountain air one can view the scenic vista
of hills and plains below.
Access to Matheran:
The toy train to Matharan commences from Neral (on Mumbai-Pune
line). The journey upto Matheran takes about one-and a half
hours. The toy train runs between sunrise and sunset.
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