: This historical building still retains the old-world charm. It was once the rail station during the British era, which was then known as the Kundaly Valley Light Railway. It now houses the head office of Kanan Devan Hills Plantations (KDHP) Ltd., with the ground floor functioning as an outlet.
Most visitors to Munnar are not aware that there was a well-connected railway system in the plantation town during the British period, which was later dismantled following a heavy flood in 1924.
In the ‘Facets of a Hundred Years Planting,’ an in-house publication by Tata-Finlay Ltd, there are references to the railway system and interesting facets of life in Munnar during the period. It says there was a mono rail before the light railway was set up. “In 1908, the mono rail was replaced by the light railway, which took one-and-a-half years to be completed,” says the book.
All equipment, including the steam engine, were imported from the U.K. and brought to Munnar in pieces to be re-assembled here. The British East India Company’s engineering division was entrusted with the task of reassembling the equipment. The book says initially it was planned to run the locomotives on wood fuel. However, due to steep curves, it was impractical and the use of Indian coal was adopted. The goods and men were carried by the railway from Munnar town to Madupetty. The monorail undertook the service from there to Top Station. .
The railway station was also a storage facility for rice and tea. It was occasionally used to hold church services. There were four engines in use and there was a first-class compartment for the British managers. “The train journey was slow due to frequent derailment and elephants crossing the track, “ the book says adding that by the Second World War, the railway system disappeared from the Munnar landscape.
“It was decided to dismantle it as the damage in the flood was found beyond repair in the Munnar-Madupetty section.”. The road network was then stressed for transportation of
tea and a ropeway was completed in 1926.
The building is now maintained with least damage to its historical importance, said an official of the KDHP. Occasionally, British tourists come in search of the erstwhile railway here, he
said adding that a wheel of the train had been kept at the Tata Tea Museum.
