Locals celebrate 115th anniversary of Ooty Mountain Hill Railway toy train service

The 115th anniversary of the Ooty Mountain Hill Railway toy train service was joyfully observed by the local community. The Todar people, deeply connected to the land, celebrated this occasion by singing songs about the mountain train in their native language and performing traditional dances, drawing the attention of tourists. This hill train service originated during British colonial rule, commencing on June 15, 1899, between Mettupalayam and Coonoor, and was later extended to Udagai Hill station on October 15, 1909. Each year, October 15 is commemorated as Nilgiri Mountain Railway Day, acknowledging its 16 tunnels, 216 arches, 250 bridges, and the distinction of being Asia's longest and steepest meter gauge railway. UNESCO designated the Nilgiri Mountain Railway as a World Heritage Site on July 15, 2005. To mark the occasion, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway Trust, under the leadership of founder Nataraj, welcomed tourists with flowers and shared the train's unique features, followed by a celebration featuring cake-cutting and the distribution of sweets to all.#mountainrailway #nilgiris #ooty Subscribe to The Times of India's YouTube channel: http://goo.gl/WgIatuFor daily news & updates and exclusive stories, follow the Times of IndiaFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/TimesofIndiaInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/timesofindia/Download the app: http://toi.in/3SLUCa80Follow the TOI WhatsApp channel: https://bit.ly/3RYl0J9Follow TOI+ for well-researched and in-depth news and analysisFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/timesofindiaplusTwitter:https://twitter.com/TOIPlusInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/toi_plus/