The capital of the Nilgiris, Ooty, has been the preferred travel destination for tourists. Snuggled among mountains, this picturesque place is well-known for its glittering blue lakes, emerald valleys, tribal hamlets and beautiful botanical gardens. The quintessential town also provides opportunities for activities like trout fishing, trekking and rafting.
Ooty, also known as Udhagamandalam is well connected with its neighbouring cities through road. The nearest city Coimbatore is located at a distance of 87 km from Ooty and is well connected with air, rail and road services.
There is no direct train from Ooty to Coimbatore, however you can travel till Mettupalayam and from there board on a bus, cab or another train till Coimbatore. Tourists planning an excursion to Ooty prefer to travel through the toy train as it gives a charismatic experience of getting closer to nature. The slow yet spectacularly scenic toy train voyage is worth a visit.
Nilgiri Mountain Railway
The Nilgiri Mountain Railways recognised as the World Heritage Site winds its way through beautiful valleys, magnificent mountains, verdant grasslands and gurgling streams. The historic train built by the Britishers in 1908, is an outstanding example of the engineering and technical solutions rendered to the issues of carving the railway line through the craggy mountains.
The Britishers had built the railway line seeking a relief from the scorching heat of the plains and it has become a major tourist attraction today.
Train Schedule
There are no direct trains from Ooty to Coimbatore, one needs to travel from Ooty to Mettupalayam by 06137 Udagamandalam - Mettupalayam Special Train and then take the 12672 Nilgiri Express train from Mettupalayam to Coimbatore.
Take the 06137 Udagamandalam to Mettupalayam train that departs from Ooty at 14:00 hours and reaches Mettupalayam at 17:30 hours. For the onward journey Southern Railways runs the 12672 Nilgiri Blue Mountain Express which leaves Mettupalayam at 21:20 and reaches Coimbatore at 22:15 hours.
You can even take any of the 4 passenger trains from Mettupalayam to Coimbatore; however there is no advance reservation available for these trains and they do not operate on Sundays. Check for the train timings in the timetable below:
Time Table for Ooty to Coimbatore Toy Trains
| Train Number | Train Name | From Station | Departure time | To Station | Arrival Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06137 | UAM MTP SPL | Udagamandalam (UAM) | 2:00 pm | Metupalaiyam (MTP) | 5:30 pm |
| 12672 | NILAGIRI EXP | Metupalaiyam (MTP) | 9:20 pm | Coimbatore Jn (CBE) | 10:15 pm |
Ticket Booking
It is recommended that you reserve your tickets for the Nilagiri Express and the Toy Train in advance as there is a huge demand for the toy train. You can book your tickets online through Indian Railways website www.irctc.co.in. The train has first class, second sitting and general seats.
Railway Station Codes
- Coimbatore (CBE)
- Metupalaiyam (MTP)
- Udagamandalam (UAM)
Train Class & Seats
12672 Nilgiri Blue Mountain Express
- First Class AC: 18 Seats
- Second Class AC: 9 Seats
- Third Class AC: 122 Seats
- Sleeper: 66 Seats
06137 Udagamandalam to Mettupalayam
- First Class: 16 Seats
- Second Sitting: 214 Seats
- Unreserved/General
Things to note
- No restrooms in toy train, use them at the Railway Station before boarding.
- Not more than 4 tickets per person at the booking window.
- Huge Crowd on holidays/weekends and during the peak season.
- Book at least two to three months in advance.
- There is no catering service in the toy train hence do pack your Tiffin boxes.
Explore the panoramic views of the stunning hill station as you take on the magical train ride. The marvellous train ride that moves you through dark tunnels, hairpin bends and across major bridges remains carved in your mind forever.
