Top Station

Top station is located amidst scenic surroundings on the border of Kerala (Idukki) and Tamil Nadu (Theni). Top Station was a transhipment point for delivery of tea from Munnar to Bodinayakkanur.

Top Station derived its name from its being the uppermost located railway station on the Kundala Valley Railway, built in 1902 between Munnar, Kundalai and this hilltop location. Top station is located amidst scenic surroundings on the border of Kerala (Idukki) and Tamil Nadu (Theni), at an elevation of 1,700 mts. Top Station was a transshipment point for delivery of tea from Munnar to Bodinayakkanur. Top Station derived its name from its being the uppermost located railway station on the Kundala Valley Railway, built in 1902 between Munnar, Kundalai and this hilltop location.

Railway Station in Old Munnar

A monorail goods carriage system was soon installed along this cart route. In 1908 the monorail was replaced by a 24 inch gauge railway. Some remains of Kundala Valley Railway can be seen at the Munnar Tea Museum. Tea chests arriving at Top Station from the Kundalai Valley were transported by a ropeway from Top Station 5 km down-hill to the south to Kottagudi, Tamilnadu. The tea was then shipped 15 km by cart to Bodinayakkanur, then by rail to other places in India and ship to England. Remains of the ropeway station at Top Station are still visible. Elevation at top of Bodi ropeway was 1,911 meters.