Coonoor railway station of Tamil Nadu has now become not just a station but a wonderful tourist destination. The old retiring rooms of this station of Nilgiri Mountain Railway, included in the UNESCO heritage list, have been opened for tourists in low budget.
Sleeping on a bench while waiting for a train at a railway station or using a bag as a pillow to sleep, all these are now things of the past. Coonoor Railway Station, situated amidst the Nilgiri hills in Tamil Nadu, is now giving a royal experience to the passengers. This station of Nilgiri Mountain Railway, included in UNESCO’s World Heritage List, is gaining a lot of headlines on social media for its unique ‘Heritage Stay’.
The beauty of this station, which includes 19th century British architecture, remains intact even today. The wooden paneled waiting rooms and the old railway yard are special attractions here. The old retiring rooms of the station have now been converted into rooms with modern facilities. Here, more attention has been given to cleanliness and comfortable environment than luxury.
There is complete silence at the station after the departure of the last train at 4 pm. This is a great opportunity to experience the cool breeze and peace, away from the noise of the cities. For those who have to catch a 7 am train, staying at the station is the best way to avoid the morning rush.
But not everyone can stay here. For this you must have a confirmed ticket to or from Coonoor. It is mandatory to provide 10 digit PNR number for booking. Online booking cannot be done on waitlisted tickets. One can stay here for a minimum of 3 hours and maximum of 48 hours. Aadhaar card or any other government identity proof and booking receipt will be required to be shown at the time of check-in. The rates here are much lower than other hotels in Nilgiri. Depending on the grade of the rooms, the rent for 12 hours ranges from Rs 100 to Rs 800. It can be up to Rs 1500 for 24 hours. The rent for dormitory beds is even lower, just Rs 50 to Rs 300 for 12 hours. IRCTC charges a service charge of Rs 20 on rooms and Rs 10 on dormitories.
Nilgiri Toy Train is quite crowded, so it is better to book tickets and rooms 1-2 months before the journey. One more thing, if your train ticket gets cancelled, the room booking will also get canceled automatically. For those who seek unique experiences rather than luxury in their travels, this stay at Coonoor Railway Station will be no less than a memorable gift.