GODS OWN COUNTRY - WINDOW SIDE VIEW IN TRAIN - 125









The first thing that comes to  mind when a Hill Resort is mentioned in conjunction with  a Rail Journey is sure to revive memories of a Desi Film Song  in a Scandinavian Country in far off Europe or Closer Home  - The Nilagiris- Blue Mountain Express or Darjeeling ( Mere Sapnon Ki Rani Fame)  .  But all these places these  are sure to burn a very big hole in ones pocket if you do plan to visit them .

For a variety of unavoidable reasons , I had to make a second visit to Bangalore within a space of 10 days . The ensuing Pongal Festival and the Holidays associated with it made it impossible for us to get confirmed reservation for our return journey to Nellai.
I tried various options including Via Salem , Trichy , Madurai , Erode or even Chennai or Coimbatore but all had Wait Listing in Excess of 150 . 16320 Krishnarajapuram to Kochiveli AC Humsafar Bi Weekly Express  came as a savior and we could get reservation upto Kollam . Kollam to Ambas has a direct passenger train reaching Ambas at 3 .40 pm . Although 4 hours of extra journey time was involved , we still chose the same as with the phone Wifi at my disposal , I was never really sure of getting Tatkal Tickets .

Why I mention all this in such detail is the pleasant surprise the travel on the Punalur to Shenkottah section gave me .  My previous journey in this section have always been during the night and no chance to enjoy the beautiful and picturesque locales all along .

The lush green mountains with the Rubber
Plantations , The Mountain Streams , Tall Oak and Other Trees on either side of the tracks , 8 long and super long Tunnels , more than 70 odd sharp curves where one sitting by the window in the train , could  see the Two Diesel  Locomotives on either end of the train , one in the front hauling and the one behind the guard van shoving  the 15 odd rakes up the steep inclines is a sight which unfolds before ones eyes . As Truely said this is indeed  :        GODS OWN LAND

The fare charges of Rs 70 for the 2 of us with a Double Headed Locomotive for a distance of 140 Kms works out to just 25 p per km for each of us . No country anywhere in the world will offer this at such a cheap rate .Take it from me , I have been in quite a few of them as well .

When we are finally out of the COVID 19 scare which I hope and pray is sometime very soon ,

If you have not already done this , please do take time out and enjoy and savor this trip

GODS OWN LAND

Is beckoning you .

Comments

  1. Murthy13 January 2020 at 09:05

    Sounds fabulous

    ReplyDelete
  2. seshadri17 January 2020 at 06:10

    i had the same feeling when i travelled from tirunelveli to ambas this time

    ReplyDelete

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