Top Station was a transshipment point for delivery of tea from Munnar to Bodinayakkanur. Top Station derived its name from its being the upper terminus of the Kottagudi Aerial Ropeway. It was also the location of the terminal railway station on the Kundala Valley Railway, built in 1902 between Munnar, Kundalai and this low point in the crest of the hills above steep cliffs. A monorail goods carriage system was initially installed along this cart route.[5] In 1908 the monorail was replaced by a 24 inch gauge railway. Kundalai is 12 kilometers (7.5 mi) west from Top Station on the way from Munnar station.[4] Some remains of Kundala Valley Railway can be seen at the Munnar Tea Museum.[6]
Tea chests arriving at Top Station from the Kundalai Valley were transported by a ropeway from Top Station 5 km downhill to the south to Kurangani, Tamil Nadu. The tea was then shipped 15 km by cart to Bodinayakkanur, then by rail to other places in India and by ship to England.[4] Remains of the ropeway station at Top Station are still visible.[6][7] The elevation at the top of the Bodi ropeway was 1,911 meters (6,270 ft).[8]
Geographyedit
Top Station shown on map of Kodai-Munnar Escape road, 1955
^"Top Station- Bodi ghat road planned". The Hindu. 13 July 2017.
^"Kurangani Top Station | Theni District | India".
^"TN Revenue officials taking essentials to tribal families".
^ abc(PDF). Sands of Time. v (1). TATA Central Archives: 5–7. January 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 July 2008.
^Minutes of Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Volume 161, by Institution of Civil Engineers (Great Britain) P332ff Thorp on Kotagiri Aerial Ropeway
^ abJose Jimmy (2007) Remains of Kundala Valley Railway, Munnar, Indian Railways Fan Club, retrieved 6/19/2007 History & Photos
^Thorp, Richard Fenwick (19 May 1904). Kotagudi Aerial Ropeway and connecting Roads in North Travancore. Minutes of Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers. Vol. Item notes: v.161 pt.3. London: Institution of Civil Engineers. pp. 332–341, paper no. 3524.
station, highest, station, lift, railway, station, tourist, destination, located, theni, district, tamil, nadu, notable, historic, transshipment, location, kannan, devan, delivered, there, from, munnar, madupatty, railway, then, down, ropeway, kottagudi, this,. For the highest station of a lift or railway see Top station Top Station is a tourist destination located in Theni district of Tamil nadu 1 2 3 Top Station is notable as the historic transshipment location for Kannan Devan tea delivered there from Munnar and Madupatty by railway and then down by ropeway to Kottagudi 4 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 sunrise View Sunrise at Top Station MunnarView point at Top Station Munnar Contents 1 History 2 Geography 3 References 4 External linksHistory edit nbsp Sunrise colors over the SahyadrisTop Station was a transshipment point for delivery of tea from Munnar to Bodinayakkanur Top Station derived its name from its being the upper terminus of the Kottagudi Aerial Ropeway It was also the location of the terminal railway station on the Kundala Valley Railway built in 1902 between Munnar Kundalai and this low point in the crest of the hills above steep cliffs A monorail goods carriage system was initially installed along this cart route 5 In 1908 the monorail was replaced by a 24 inch gauge railway Kundalai is 12 kilometers 7 5 mi west from Top Station on the way from Munnar station 4 Some remains of Kundala Valley Railway can be seen at the Munnar Tea Museum 6 Tea chests arriving at Top Station from the Kundalai Valley were transported by a ropeway from Top Station 5 km downhill to the south to Kurangani Tamil Nadu The tea was then shipped 15 km by cart to Bodinayakkanur then by rail to other places in India and by ship to England 4 Remains of the ropeway station at Top Station are still visible 6 7 The elevation at the top of the Bodi ropeway was 1 911 meters 6 270 ft 8 Geography edit nbsp Top Station shown on map of Kodai Munnar Escape road 1955Top Station offers a panoramic view of the majestic Western Ghats and the valley of Theni district Top Station is located at 10 07 24 N 77 14 02 E 10 12333 N 77 23389 E 10 12333 77 23389 Its 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 10 08 58 N 77 17 19 E 10 14944 N 77 28861 E 10 14944 77 28861 9 10 11 References edit Top Station Bodi ghat road planned The Hindu 13 July 2017 Kurangani Top Station Theni District India TN Revenue officials taking essentials to tribal families a b c Tea A Cup of Life PDF Sands of Time v 1 TATA Central Archives 5 7 January 2006 Archived from the original PDF on 19 July 2008 Minutes of Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers Volume 161 by Institution of Civil Engineers Great Britain P332ff Thorp on Kotagiri Aerial Ropeway a b Jose Jimmy 2007 Remains of Kundala Valley Railway Munnar Indian Railways Fan Club retrieved 6 19 2007 History amp Photos Thorp Richard Fenwick 19 May 1904 Kotagudi Aerial Ropeway and connecting Roads in North Travancore Minutes of Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers Vol Item notes v 161 pt 3 London Institution of Civil Engineers pp 332 341 paper no 3524 Map showing Bodi ropeway U S Army Map Service 1955 Dindigul India U S Army Topographic Command pp nc 43 08 Retrieved 24 January 2009 Department of Tourism Munnar Top Station Government of Kerala Retrieved 23 January 2009 On the Escape Route The Hindu Chennai India 17 September 2005 Archived from the original on 28 June 2006 Retrieved 12 December 2007 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Top Station 10 07 24 N 77 14 42 E 10 123396 N 77 24511 E 10 123396 77 24511 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Top Station amp oldid 1110855471, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
