Travel

Scenic Train Journeys from Chennai: Ooty, Pamban and Booking

The Ooty toy train and the new Pamban sea bridge are the standout rail trips from Chennai. Here is how to plan them and book within the 60-day window.

19 October 2026

Chennai FalconMr. Parthasarathy aka Chennai Falcon is passionate about…

Updated 2026-10-29, 2:05 AM

Two of the most scenic rail journeys in south India start within a day of Chennai: the metre-gauge climb from Mettupalayam to Ooty, which rises from about 330 metres to about 2,200 metres in 46 km, and the run across the sea to Rameswaram on the new Pamban bridge. Both can be booked through IRCTC, and both sell out fast in the December holidays.

Seats on regular trains can now be booked only 60 days ahead, not 120 as before, so if you want a Christmas or Pongal trip, the window is open now or about to open. Here are the journeys worth taking, and how to get the tickets.

The Nilgiri Mountain Railway

IRCTC Tourism’s Nilgiri page gives the numbers that make this line special. The track from Mettupalayam to Udhagamandalam is 45.88 km of metre gauge, with a steepest gradient of 1 in 23 and curves as sharp as 17.5 degrees. Between Kallar and Coonoor the train runs on a rack, at no more than 13 km an hour. The section has 250 bridges, 32 of them major, and 16 tunnels.

The line opened in June 1899, and the Coonoor to Ooty extension followed around 1908. Stations on the way include Hillgrove, Coonoor, Wellington, Aravankadu, Ketti and Lovedale.

How to do it from Chennai:

Take an overnight train from Chennai Central to Mettupalayam, or to Coimbatore and then the short road trip.
Board the morning toy train from Mettupalayam. It is the climbing section, and the one people come for.
If you cannot get a seat for the full run, book the shorter Coonoor to Ooty stretch, which has more trains.

Seats are limited. In the 2025 summer special, for example, the Mettupalayam to Coonoor portion had 40 first-class and 140 second-class seats, Onmanorama reported. Sit on the right side going up for the valley views.

Across the sea to Rameswaram

The new Pamban bridge, opened on 6 April 2025, is India’s first vertical-lift railway sea bridge. PMIndia describes it as 2.08 km long with 99 spans and a 72.5-metre lift section that rises 17 metres to let ships pass. It replaced the 1914 bridge across the Palk Strait.

The same day, the Prime Minister flagged off a new Rameswaram to Tambaram service, which Swarajya reported as running daily between Chennai and Rameswaram over the bridge. Egmore also has direct Rameswaram expresses. Book a daytime arrival if you can: the crossing is the best part, and in the dark you will see little.

Shorter scenic runs

Chennai to Tirupati: the morning Sapthagiri Express from Chennai Central runs through farmland and the Eastern Ghats foothills. A Southern Railway notice from May 2024 listed it at 6.25 am. Check NTES for the current time.
Chennai to Jolarpettai: the Bengaluru line climbs gently past the Javadhu hills, and Jolarpettai is the railhead for Yelagiri.
Chennai to Mayiladuthurai and the delta: a flat but lovely run through paddy country, and the rail route to Tharangambadi.

IRCTC tourist trains

IRCTC also sells all-inclusive Bharat Gaurav tourist trains with fixed itineraries, travel, stays and sightseeing in one fare. Most departures are from north Indian cities heading south, rather than from Chennai. One announced in September 2026 leaves Jammu Tawi on 14 November for a 13-day circuit to Tirupati, Rameswaram, Madurai, Kanyakumari and Srisailam, at Rs 26,895 per person in economy class, ETV Bharat reported.

For Chennai residents these packages are worth watching on the IRCTC Tourism site, because circuits from the south do appear from time to time. Read the inclusions carefully: meals, room sharing and the class of travel vary between economy, standard and comfort categories.

Booking tips

The 60-day rule: since 1 November 2024, the advance reservation period for most trains is 60 days, not counting the day of travel, Onmanorama reported. Some daytime trains have shorter limits, and foreign tourists keep a 365-day window.
Set an alarm for the opening day and log in a few minutes early. Popular trains fill in minutes.
Save passenger details on your IRCTC account in advance.
For the toy train, book as soon as the window opens. Its seats are a fraction of a normal express.

Quick answers

How long is the Ooty toy train route?

About 46 km from Mettupalayam to Udhagamandalam, according to IRCTC Tourism.

How far ahead can I book train tickets?

60 days for most trains, since November 2024.

Is there a direct train from Chennai to Rameswaram?

Yes. The Rameswaram to Tambaram service launched in April 2025 runs over the new Pamban bridge, and Egmore has direct Rameswaram expresses too.

Are there IRCTC tourist trains from Chennai?

Only now and then. Most Bharat Gaurav departures start in north India; check the IRCTC Tourism site for current circuits.

Information checked against official sources on 18 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules can change; confirm on the linked official pages before acting.