Gulmohar flowers give a different hue to Melattur railway station

The picture postcards will pale before the Melattur railway station on the quaint Shoranur-Nilambur route as it is now decked with resplendent gulmohar flowers.

It is a treat for the eyes as the ubiquitous gulmohar flowers have spread out a red carpet on the platform and railway lines. The pictures of Melattur railway station with a reddish hue are currently viral on social media. Malappuram district collector Jafar Malik has also shared the striking snaps of the railway station on his official Facebook page.

The gulmohar trees will be in full bloom in summer and they will shed flowers during the subsequent spring season. The sight of open spaces carpeted with these flaming red flowers is quite riveting.

It has been a while since a train chugged through the railway station due to the lockdown restrictions. The trains running on this route are Rajya Rani Express to Thiruvananthapuram and the passenger trains shuttling between Shoranur and Nilambur. The Shoranur-Nilambur rail route is one the most charming stretches in Kerala as the trains on this stretch pass through amazing spots including a picturesque teak garden.

Shoranur-Nilambur train journey

Four rivers cut across the route -- the Kunthipuzha between Kulukkallur and Cherukara; Velliyarpuzha between Pattikadu and Melattur; Olipuzha between Melattur and Tuvvur and Kuthirapuzha between Vaniyambalam and Nilambur Road. Angadipuram, a favourite railway station of the movie makers, is a main station on the route.

Nilambur is one of the sought-after destinations of travellers. The roads winding through the teal gardens and the lush green environs are mesmerizing. The teak museum is the highpoint of Nilambur, and the bio-resource park at the facility is a haven for different varieties of butterflies. Nedumkayam, which is known for its rain forests, is 18km away from Nilambur. One can also take a refreshing dip as the Adyanpara waterfalls is near Nedumkayam. Adyanpara stands out for its pristine beauty though the waterfall may shrink during summer. Keralamkundu, a spot that recently became hugely popular among backpackers, is also near Nilambur.

The Shoranur-Nilambur railway line was laid by the British in 1921 to transport teak wood and rosewood from Ooty in Tamil Nadu. The English felled hundreds of teak trees during World War II and also took away portions of railway line on the stretch when they faced shortage of steel. The rail path was restored in 1954.

There are 14 train services between Shoranur and Nilambur and the 50km journey will give some memorable moments that could be cherished for a lifetime.