India Southern Serenity Tour - September 2024 - Flipbook - Page 4
Day 6: Friday 06 September
- Ooty to Coimbatore via Coonoor
This morning we will be picked-up and transferred to Ooty
railway station to connect with the Toy Train to Coonoor
In 1854, plans were made to build a mountain railway from
Mettupalayam to the Nilgiri Hills. However, it took the
decision-makers 45 years to cut through the bureaucratic
red tape and complete the construction. The line was
completed and opened for traffic in June 1899. In 1907, the
railway received four Double Fairlie locomotives to work the
line. These were part of a batch built by the Avonside Engine
Company in 1879 and 1880 for service in Afghanistan, but
had been in store since 1887. The Fairlies continued in use
until at least 1914.
Day 7: Saturday 07 September
- Coimbatore to Munnar
This morning, we will visit Isha foundation, a spiritual
organization that was founded in 1992 near Coimbatore, by
Sadhguru. Set at the foothills of the Velliangiri Mountains
near Coimbatore, Isha Yoga Center is a vibrant and powerful
space for those seeking inner transformation and an
established state of wellbeing.
Later, we will drive to Munnar (127kms/4hrs)
Accommodation: Windemere Estate
2 nights Planter9s Room incl breakfast
Rest of the day is at leisure.
The Nilgiri Mountain Railway is a 1,000 mm metre gauge
railway in Nilgiris district, Tamil Nadu, India, built by the
British in 1908. The railway is operated by the Southern
Railway and is the only rack railway in India. The railway
relies on its fleet of steam locomotives. NMR switched to
diesel locomotives on the section between Coonoor and
Ooty. Local people and visitors led a campaign to return to
steam locomotives in this section. In July 2005, UNESCO
added the Nilgiri Mountain Railway as an extension to the
World Heritage Site of Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. The site
then became known as Mountain Railways of India
1215 hrs: Departure from Ooty railway station
1315 hrs: Arrive at Coonoor railway station
Upon arrival at Coonoor railway station, we will be met and
then continue the drive to Coimbatore by road (85Kms/4 hrs
hill drive)
Day 8: Sunday 08 September
- Munnar
Today, we will be taken on a tour of Munnar and visit
Pothamedu, to see the tea, coffee and cardamom
plantations.
After that, we will visit the Tea Museum. This museum is
basically a demo model of a working tea factory and shows
the basic processes of tea making. This museum was
established by Tata Tea and features rare exhibits and
photographs that trace the tea industry, right from its
formative years to the modern times. We will also visit a tea
plantation and tea factory to see the processes involved.
Day 9: Monday 09 September
- Munnar to Periyar
This morning, we will be picked up and drive to Periyar
(109kms/4hrs)
On arrival, we will be transferred to our hotel.
Upon arrival, we will be transferred to our hotel.
Hotel:
WH Hotel by ITC Coimbatore
1 night deluxe city view room including breakfast
Rest of the evening is at leisure.
Hotel:
Hotel Spice Village – CGH Earth
1 night Spice Garden Cottage including breakfast
This afternoon we will visit a spice plantation, a nearby
garden where various species of spices and other aromatic
plants are cultivated.