Nilgiri Mountain Railway: India's Slowest, Most Scenic 9 km/h Journey

• The Nilgiri Mountain Railway is India's slowest passenger train, averaging 9 km/h through the Western Ghats.
• This UNESCO-recognized heritage route, built in the early 1900s, connects Mettupalayam to Ooty, covering 46 km in about five hours.
• Its slow speed is due to steep gradients, tight curves, and a rack-and-pinion system, ensuring safety on the ascent.
• The journey offers picturesque views of tea gardens, forests, and mist-covered slopes, passing through scenic stations.
• Despite its slow pace, it's a highly sought-after ride, valued for its unique heritage, vintage steam locomotives, and unhurried experience.

Why It Matters: It highlights the unique value of slow, scenic heritage travel over speed.