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Fast Facts

It is a two day trip to Nagercoil from Bombay and the train traverses about 1,500 km as it ascends the Western Ghats from the coastal town of Bombay and travels across Andhra Pradesh and Karantaka and the flat Tamil heartland to Nagercoil . Only one direct trains links Bombay with Nagercoil. The Nagercoil Express leaves Bombay on Mondays, Wednesdays amd Fridays.

The fare between Bombay and Nagercoil by

• AC two-tier it is about Rs 1410.
• by 2nd class it is about Rs 286.

The trains connecting Nagercoil and Bombay halt at about 20-30 stations. Here's a quick round up:

Kalyan, a misty town at the foot of the Western ghats is almost a suburb of Bombay, albeit a far-flung one, and an important rail junction just outside Bombay in Thane district. The Malangarh fort is nearby but it is in ruins. Kalyan in fact is a very old town dating from 2nd century and was an important market town right through the centuries and there are monumnets to testify this.

Lonavala, a pretty hill station in the Sahyadri hills, is famous for its chikki or nut candy and its foggy, cool weather. The town can serve as good jumping off point for seeing the nearby Bhaja and Karla caves.

Pune, once the capital of the Maratha empire and the summer capital for the Bombay Presidency, is a lively, typically Maharashtrian town.

Sholapur, an industrial city is the centre of Maharshtra's cotton growing industry.

Gulbarga , three hours north of Bijapur was once the capital of the Bahamani sultans in the 14th century and is a Muslim town packed with mosques. It is also the hometown of Hazrat Bandah Nawaz Gesu Daraz, a Sufi saint, responsible for promoting Islam in this neighbourhood and the priest to the Bahamani rulers. The town's urs festival at the magnificent Dargah and tomb (built by him) attracts pilgrims by the thousands. However women are not allowed inside the mausoleum. Gulbarga's fort and masjid are of interest too.

Raichur is an interesting border town that has had Andhra, Karanatakan and Maharashtrian influences through history. Today it is an important cotton growing centre. The ruins of Raichur's fort are quite something.

Adoni is another major cotton town. It is located very close to the tomb of Malik Rahman Khan, which is a special target for pilgrimages.

Guntakal, a town with a population of about 100,000 and an important rail head.

Gooty, the town of the impressive Vijayanagar Fort and definitely worth a visit. Interestingly one of the governors of Madras, Thomas Munro died here.

Virudhunagar is a city of the Nadars, the metropolis' most populous caste. A number of famous temples are situated close to Virudhunagar.

Anantpur was once an important East India Company centre and is situated very close to the Cuddappah and mica rich Seshachamal Hills.

Dharamvaram is a silk centre.

Krishanpuram is a temple town. The village temple is famous for its Nayaka sculpture.

Erode is a handloom centre and is situated in of the most fertile belts of the state where a variety of cash crops are grown.

Karur has a rich past and is believed to have been the capital of the Cheras and is an important archaeological site.

Madurai is one of the important industrial centres of Tamil Nadu. Madurai's Meenakshi temple is one the best samples of the flamboyant Vijaynagar-style temple architecture. A visit to Madurai is a must inclusion on any South India itinerary.

Nagercoil is an important rail junction. The town is beautifully located nestled in the Western Ghats and has some interesting temples and churches.

Great Railway Journeys

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