Kumaar Holidays : MUNNAR TOP STATION

Kumaar Holidays

No. 42, Chowdary Nagar Main Road,

Valasaravakkam, Chennai-600087

Cell: 78109 86933 / 7810896933 / 93810 61000

E-mail: kumaarholidays1@gmail.com

Website: www.kumaarholidays.com

Top Station is tourist destination in the Kannan Devan hills of Tamilnadu. It is part of Theni District in the state of Tamilnadu. Top Station is notable as the historic transshippment location for Kannan Devan tea delivered up here from Munnar and Madupatty by railway and then down by ropeway to Kottagudi.This area is popular for the rare Neelakurinji flowers. The Kurinjimala Sanctuary is nearby. Top Station is the western entrance to the planned Palani Hills National Park.

Top Station was a transshipment point for delivery of tea from Munnar to Bodinayakkanur. Top Station derived its name from its being the uppermost located railway station on the Kundala Valley Railway, built in 1902 between Munnar, Kundalai and this hilltop location. A monorail goods carriage system was soon installed along this cart route. In 1908 the monorail was replaced by a 24 inch gauge railway. Middle Station (Kundalai) is 12 kilometers (7.5 mi) west from Top Station on the way from Lower Station Munnar. Some remains of Kundala Valley Railway can be seen at the Munnar Tea Museum.

Tea chests arriving at Top Station from the Kundalai Valley were transported by a ropeway from Top Station 5 km down hill to the south to Kottagudi, Tamil Nadu. The tea was then shipped 15 km by cart to Bodinayakkanur, then by rail to other places in India and ship to England. Remains of the ropeway station at Top Station are still visible. Elevation at top of Bodi ropeway was 1,911 meters (6,270 ft).

Top Station offers a panoramic view of the majestic Western Ghats and the valley of Theni district. Top Station is located in 10°07′24″N 77°14′02″E Theni district Tamil Nadu and overlooks the Theni district within that state. Elevation is 1,880 meters (6,170 ft). It is 6.6 kilometers (4.1 mi) southwest of the highest point on the old Kodaikanal-Cochin escape road at 2,260 meters (7,410 ft) on the eastern shoulder of Vandaravu Peak,