1600 meters above the sea level, Munnar (Kerala), with its lush greenery, had once been the summer resort for the British government. Around Munnar, Kundala valley developed into a major tea plantation.
In 1902, Kundala Railway Valley plantations introduced the first mono-rail system in India. What was initially a cart trail, was converted to a unique monorail system. The monorail carts had a small wheel placed on the rail, while a larger wheel (on one side) rested on the road to balance the wagons. [This was similar to Patiala State Monorail System, introduced later, and an engine of which is preserved at the Rail Museum of Delhi.] The train was pulled by bullocks. The train operated between Munnar and "Top-Station" to carry tea leaves and other goods. The tea chests arriving at the Top Station from the Kundala Valley were downloaded to the civilization on the plains via an aerial rope-way.
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| The Kundala Valley Railway (Photo from Wikimedia Commons) |
In 1908, a 2-feet (narrow-gauge) track replaced the monorail; and steam locomotives replaced the bullocks. In 1924, a devastating flood (known as the "great flood of '99", according to local Malayalam calendar) washed away much of the tracks and the railway was closed.
Munnar never saw a train again. Today, the Railway Station of Munnar serves as a major sales outlet of KDHP (Kanan Devan Hills Plantations) that owns the tea-gardens around Munnar, and a motorable road runs, where the railway track was.
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| The erstwhile Munnar Railway Station |
A good one touch of history. Did not visit Kundala valley but saw the abandoned monorail track at Patiala.
ReplyDeleteThanks Manas. I have heard about the Patiala railway, but do not know much of it's history.
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