VESTIGES OF THE RAJ

Anaimalai railway station lies a little south of the intersection of the railroad with the road to Topslip. The ambience is that of a typical village railway station you would find in many award-winning movies. I gathered from the old villagers that this station used to be the beehive of action about 3 or 4 decades ago when timbers logged from the nearby forest were offloaded here enroute to the ports on the west coast. This was virtually the only transport option (the bus service used to be very limited) for the people around this village in those days which helped to carry their produce to the markets located in far off places. There is a remnant of a good shed on the northern side of the station covered with thick vegetation, which is used by the locals as public convenience. This Railway Station is a living reminder of our colonial past. The iron rails which support the structure display faded names of manufacturers of the colonial era from Birmingham etc. I have loitered around this place a lot during my childhood and it brings back memories of my childhood whenever I visit this place.