The legendary toy train of Darjeeling, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, offers a unique and fun-filled experience. The DHR attracts many tourists from all across the globe. Transporting commuters to Darjeeling from the New Jalpaiguri Station of West Bengal, this heritage train ride witnesses amazing sights of the Eastern Himalayan region laden with picturesque tea estates. The setting of the train journey has a vintage charm, an essence that Darjeeling has preserved and carried for years. Hop on for a ride on this legendary toy train to explore Darjeeling, a summertime retreat for the Britishers that is still popular amongst the masses of the country.
The DHR toy train is a narrow gauge railway that is 2ft wide. It offers daily passenger rides and climbs up to 7,200 ft above the sea level. There are special tourist trains of DHR that connects Darjeeling to Ghum, the highest train station in the country. This train journey is known for having one of the most scenic mountain railway circuits in the world. Get ready to treat your eyes with scenic villages, green sheets of tea gardens, lush green woodland, echoing valleys, and the majestic Himalayas on your toy train voyage.
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 1999. Being the second railway to earn the title and the honour, it became one of the shining stars of Indian Tourism. With stops at thirteen stations, the train embarks on a scheduled 78 kilometre journey between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling. Until 1878 the only connection between Darjeeling and Calcutta was through a horse carriage called Tonga that started from Siliguri. The same year the construction of a steam car tramway was initiated by the British Government of India, proposed by Franklin Prestage. The government hired Gillanders, Arbuthnot and Company to work on the project. By 1880 in March the famous gauge tracks were installed. On 4th of July 1881, the DHR company inaugurated the railways.
Riding the DHR toy train is a coveted experience for many tourists. Being accorded the status of UNESCO World Heritage has many special reasons behind it. The train stops at Ghum, the highest railway station of the country situated at a height of more than 7,000 feet above sea level. On the way to Ghum, you will enjoy thrilling curves and bends while cutting through the steep slopes of the mountains.
Taking you around the hills of Darjeeling, this joy ride is the best way to explore the town. You get to traverse along the mountain slopes as well as the lower plains. The iconic tea plantations set in the middle of quintessential Himalayan beauty serves as a visual treat during your journey through the mountains. Along with that, you get to experience a one of a kind train ride that operates through a steam engine pulling small compartments in an untouched and tranquil atmosphere.
The construction and planning of the toy train are greatly ingenious for its time. The laying of the tracks was a huge geographical challenge back in the day as engineers had to work taking the steepness of the mountains into consideration. Several unique designs were conceptualized and implemented in the making of the railways which makes DHR stand out as an engineering marvel.
Before the times of modern technology, constructing a railway line on the mountains was a huge challenge during the colonial days. The gradients were steep and found all over the face of the hill. The engineers came up with the great idea of creating loops to allow the train to climb and descend the mountain. On the train ride up the hill, you will experience a double loop at Chunabhatti. Similarly, at ‘Agony Point’ you will encounter a single loop. These loops help the train climb with ease.
The same theory was applied for the descend at the Batasia Loop. This loop not only adds to the functional value of the DHR railways but also serves as a popular tourist site for nature enthusiasts. The trail loops around a flower bed garden on one side and a vista of Eastern Himalayan valley on the other. You can also see the grand Kanchanjunga covered in snow while going through this loop.
The second major problem was to deal with gradients that were too extreme for even the loops to take on. Herbert Rumsey was the contractor when the Darjeeling Himalayan Railways project was hit with the issue of tracing the trail tracks. He was struck with the idea of creating Z shaped reversals – this Eureka moment has an interesting story behind it. At a Royal ball, Rumsey confessed his frustrations to his wife of not being able to move forward, referring to the railway line. To which his wife responded by telling him to move backwards instead. It is known to have become the genesis of the zig-zag route that the train takes to elevate. You will see the train move a substantial distance forward and moving diagonally back the same distance to then move forward again. These back and forth movement of the train will give you a thrill during your journey.
Tunnels are used as a bypass through mountains and hills to reach the other side and are a common feature in train rides. However, in the DHR lines, no tunnels were constructed through the mountains because of which the trains run on the surface of the same. This lets you enjoy uninterrupted views of the valley and the snow capped mountains along with the unique experience of witnessing the trains ascending and descending the hills.
The phenomenal experience of riding in the heritage train is a must on your trip to Darjeeling. One of the very first of its kind in the country, the toy train ride offers you a picturesque view of the Himalayan Range. It is an exciting and relaxing trip to embark on where you get a glimpse of the life lived on the Darjeeling Hills. There are several services that DHR provides as a part of its tourism efforts. Apart from the steam engine trains, you can also opt for a joy ride train journey and Jungle Safari Special journey.
The joyride starts from the Darjeeling Railway Station and takes approximately two hours to reach its destination. The scheduled trains run from morning to evening depending on the demand during the season. You will make a stop at Batasia Loop for 10 minutes where you can visit the flower gardens exhibiting numerous exquisite wildflowers. You can also get a picture of the snow-covered Kanchenjunga basking in all its glory. While you’re here visit the War Memorial in the flower garden that was built to commemorate the soldiers of Gorkha Regiment.
The train halts at Ghum for 30 minutes which allows you to visit the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Museum. The museum is in the premises of the Ghum Railway station. Visit this museum and check out the old engines and pieces of equipment and learn the history behind the making of the railways.
You can avail steam engine trains as well as diesel ones. You can opt for the heritage steam toy trains for an authentic experience that dates back to the colonial times. However, the steam train tickets are more expensive than diesel ones.
The Jungle Safari train journey is a three hour round trip journey between Siliguri Junction and Rangtong Station. It halts in Rangtong for 20 minutes. Rangtong is a village at an altitude of about 1,400 feet. The journey commences in the morning and returns in the afternoon. There is a limited frequency of the trains depending on the demand and season.
The Jungle Safari tours through Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary. If you love nature, then this ride will be a big treat for you. You will have a beautiful view of the Tindharia Valley while observing the forests and wildlife around you.
Darjeeling is the queen of hills that offers a unique experience of the Himalayas. The Darjeeling Himalaya Railway lines are functional throughout the year as the weather in the mountains is always pleasant. To help you better understand the weather in the Eastern Himalayas, read on:
The panoramic vistas and the iconic Darjeeling atmosphere from the train are a sight to behold and worth capturing. The vintage charm of the passengers and the old stations are a once in a lifetime experience that you would like to keep a visual memory of. Cameras and photography are not restricted while travelling on the DHR. However, as you ascend the hills, the connectivity of mobile phones tends to get weaker.
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is a first of its kind mountain railway service where you get to experience the vast beauty of the Eastern Himalayan valley. The journey is vintage-esque, charming, and filled with joy. It’s an adventure you must embark on to have an affair with the timeless elegance of Darjeeling.
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