Climbing steeply from the plains of Mettupalayam through dense tropical rainforests and tea valleys to the misty heights of Ooty (2,203 m), the Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR) is a UNESCO World Heritage marvel. Operating on a century-old rack-and-pinion gear system with vintage steam engines, riding this 'Toy Train' is one of the world's most romantic railway journeys.

The Route Options & Timings

1. The Full Mettupalayam to Ooty Route (4.5 Hours)

Departs Mettupalayam at 7:10 AM, climbing through Kallar, Hillgrove, and Coonoor to arrive in Ooty by 12:00 PM. Passes 16 tunnels and 250 bridges.

2. The Short Popular Coonoor – Ooty Shuttle (1 Hour 15 Mins)

Ideal for tour package travelers with private cabs. Your Tripmakes cab drops you at Ooty railway station, you take the picturesque toy train ride down to Coonoor through Wellington military cantonment, and your cab picks you up at Coonoor station!

💡 Tripmakes Toy Train Booking Tip

Tickets for the Mettupalayam–Ooty train sell out months in advance on IRCTC. However, for the Ooty–Coonoor shuttle, unreserved tickets can be bought at the station counter 1 hour before departure for ₹30–₹75 per seat.