Mangalore Train
...beautiful Western Ghats....Southern India....
The Hassan-Mangalore Line. ....well over 40 tunnels, cuttings, embankments, viaducts and a gradient of 1 in 45 between Sakleshpur and Subramanya Road, in difficult terrain of the Sahyadri Range. Providing an easy access to the hinterland from the west coast, the line helped with the movement of coffee, iron ore, forest products etc.
The line passed through 3...
more... distinct geographical areas. the plateau between Hassan and Sakleshpur (31 Miles), the Ghats between Sakleshpur and Subramanya Road (36 Miles) and the Plains between Subramanya Road and Mangalore (50 Miles), descending from 3000 odd feet at Hassan to 24 Feet at Mangalore. The highest point in Sakleshpur was at 3200 feet.
..... it passed thru lush coffee estates and paddy fields of Malenad. Halting at Sakleshpur for 15 minutes. the passengers helped themselves to steaming hot idli, vada with sambar and Chutney, washed down with coffee or tea on the platform.
The scenic part of the journey begins at Sakleshpur. The station located in the heart of the town, is at a lower level than the NH 48. The line moves gradually away to the south from NH 48, descends steadily thru a series of loops after Donigal, .........Kumaradhara River or one of its tributary passes along side of the track at many places. The travel is slow, meandering, affords vast vistas of hills, dense green deciduous forests. the train barely traveling at 20 MPH. We pass thru a series of short tunnels, bridges and viaducts. one of them fairly tall at 125 feet, built on a gentle curve.
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...... dense forest cover.the line clinging to the ledges on the hillside, NH 48 barely visible as a thin line far to the North. It takes 3 hours to complete the Ghats. ..... ...... ........ A few passengers get off to go to Subramanya Temple, about 5 miles south. Near the station, one glimpses the majestic Kumara Parvath (also called Kumaradhara), nearly 4000 feet tall. The station is located in a picturesque valley, surrounded by lofty hills.
By C L I X