My Way On Highway: Day 42, Singing Chaiyya Chaiyya In Ooty

Waking up early morning after a night of bonhomie with friends who have come especially to meet you in Ooty is a challenge. But we did it and what better, we took them along. Full credit to the sun that gently nudged us out of slumber peeping in from our hotel room’s BIG glass window! That’s how Day 42 of MyWayOnHighway started for us amidst the mesmerizing misty Nilgiri Mountains. 

On Top Of The World

Berry Hills Resort, our fairytale abode in Ooty (Thank you MakeMyTrip!) has cotton-candy clouds for company. Located on the illustrious Dodabetta Peak, the highest in the district, this charming stay offers an enchanting view of Ooty’s landscape. The garden with its iron bench is the perfect setting to curl up with your favourite book and a cup of filter coffee. Our taste buds too are being spoilt silly by the extremely talented chef here. We were in mood for some regular North Indian food and his concoctions satiated our craving real fine. By the way, the Tea Museum nestled in a green spot above the hotel is run by the same management and offers a comprehensive peek into the history of the world’s favourite beverage.

Look What We Discovered

In our quest to take the road less travelled, we headed 28 kilometres outside of Ooty to experience the scenic vistas of the Avalanche Lake. Often referred to as Avalanchi, this water body is quite a hit with the travellers post monsoons because then the full waters offer a great site for trout fishing. Unfortunately, that was not the case today as the lake, formed in the early 1800s due to a huge landslide, was low on aqua. To our relief, the shola grasslands ahead of us had something more spectacular in store – the Upper Bhavani Lake. Cars don’t go beyond a certain point, at which you need to board a mini bus that will take you to the top of the hill. Honestly, the 30-minute long drive was an uneventful one. A modest stop by the valley was quite a dampener and I had almost given up when suddenly I was at a loss for words. The destination, Upper Bhavani Lake, was mystical to say the least. Mirroring the raw beauty of Leh and Ladakh but after adding its own shades of lush green flora and red soil, this mist-laden stunning lake is the perfect muse for the creative mind. Temperatures are about 5 degrees lower than that of the Ooty heartland, so do not make the same mistake that I did – carry a warm sweater along.

On our way back, we spotted plenty a cabbage rolling down the magnificent Nilgiri Mountains. Even carrots are grown here in abundance.

Chal Chaiyya Chaiyya

Nilgiri Mountain Railway aka NMR enjoys a celebrity status in Ooty and beyond. Boasting of several documentaries and movies featuring it, this more than humble initiative was started by the British in 1908. The Indian audience remembers it from the cult Chaiyya Chaiyya song from Dil Se with Shahrukh Khan dancing atop this World Heritage Site. Running at a speed ranging between 15-20 kilometer per hour, NMR offers the perfect pace to soak in the green-tastic beauty of the Nilgiris. We took the Ooty-Coonoor-Ooty roundtrip for just 10 Rupees.

A word of advice: Do not get into the tout trap. Standing at the ticket counter 45 minutes before the train departure is the best way to get tickets. There are four trains running daily.

The train was originally started to connect Kallar to Ooty, covering a distance of 26 kilometres traversing through 250 bridges, 208 curves and 16 tunnels. Kids simply love the ride. Let the tunnel approach and you can hear the young Turks hooting. No wonder the NMR enjoys a status among the top bio hotspots of the world. Nature lovers will appreciate the stepped carpet of flourishing tea plantations, cabbage farms and groups of Eucalyptus trees.

Go with realistic expectations and you will really enjoy yourself.

Phew! The mountain drive today was fun but a tad tiring. Think will get some rest now as tomorrow brings yet another road trip to Bengaluru.

(Photo Credit: Tariq Khan)