MANUAL OF THE NILAGIRI DISTRICT. 17 



1872 and completed in 1875, — also follows this spur and valley. CHAP. II. 

 Its total length is 20 miles. It has a uniform gradient of one in general 

 seventeen feet, excepting the two miles at the foot, which are Desckiption. 

 nearly level. It is bridged, and in no part less than nine feet, 

 and generally fifteen feet wide. This road is little used except 

 by passengers and traffic connected with estates in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Kotagiri. There was also an ascent from Devanai- 

 kenkota to Dimhatti by Tenad and Kil-Kotagiri below 

 Rangasami's Peak, and Nidunkiilum. The distance is 20 

 miles. 



Some years after the construction of the Kotagiri ghat, this — Coonoor 

 line was projected. It was completed in the year 1833. Start- ^^^* 

 ing from Mettapollium it runs due west to the village of Kalar 

 along the level, a distance of nearly six miles, crossing in its 

 course two streams — the Bhavani and Kalar. From Kalar the 

 ascent begins. The road follows the northern side of the gorges 

 of the Kateri and Coonoor rivers, the distance from the foot to 

 the Coonoor bridge at the head of the Pass being nearly nine 

 miles. This ghdt, the original alignment of which is very faulty, 

 was constructed by the Corps of Pioneers under Lieutenant 

 LeHardy. The average gradient is about 1 in 12, but towards 

 the top the gradient is as steep as 1 in 5, and in some places it is 

 reversed. The new ghdt, which was completed in 1871, was 

 traced and constructed chiefly by Lieutenant, now Colonel, Law. 

 It begins the ascent at Kalar, and is 16 miles long. Its 

 gradient is 1 in ]8| feet. It has 32 timber bridges, of spans 

 varying from 12 to 70 feet. Its width is about 18 feet. It 

 follows the northern side of the gorge for about 13 miles, 

 crossing and recrossing the old ghat at no less than nine points. 

 It then passes to the western side of the gorge of the Coonoor 

 river, and meets the old pass at the bridge at the head of the 

 gh4t. Its great defect is its numerous zigzags, of which there 

 are no less than twelve. 



The views in the ascent are very striking, the road winding 

 through deep ravines and under lofty crags, whilst far below 

 rushes the Coonoor river, forming beautiful cascades in its 

 downward course. On the opposite side stands the Hulikal 

 Drug — a grand bluff, wonderfully diversified with scarp and 

 crag, relieved with bright green foliage in each cleft or hollow, 

 whilst its base is covered with rich tropical forest, gradually 

 passing into stretches of waving bamboo. Much primeval forest, 

 above the elevation of three or four thousand feet, has been 

 destroyed, and its place supplied by coffee plantations, among 

 which are seen here and there the houses, sheds and huts 

 belonging to the estates. 



