From
primarily a cultural tourist destination for several decades, India
has emerged as one of the most sought-after adventure destinations
for discerning international travelers. Perhaps no other single
country in the world offers the variety of adventure opportunities
as India does.
It
is quite amazing to know that the 83-km stretch between Siliguri and
Darjeeling can be covered by boarding on a Toy Train in about 8 hours. The
journey to the hilltop is just breathtaking and cannot be experienced
anywhere else in the world in-spite of the narrow-gauge line. Construction
of the railway line up to Darjeeling was completed by July 1881 and was
named as Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. Darjeeling Toy Train now a 117 years
old fantasy- turned out to be much a pioneering work of appreciation. The curved railway tracks connecting Siliguri in north Bengal with Darjeeling is a prodigy of tiny rail engine with its commodious coaches. The technique of constructing the track on hilly terrain was adopted from the ways of an Australian specialist whose work assisted the engineers in avoiding the requisiteness to dig tunnels, by extending the tracks through loops.
This railroad constructed on cutout track of the Himalayan Hills and the loops named Sensation Corner are one of the best viewing site over the down valley. There are no tunnels through out the entire passage, facilitating the passengers to enjoy the voluminous vista of the miraculous hill topography.
Earlier Reverie
In the beginning this passenger coach was festooned with the canvas roofs and wooden seats. The coach was divided in to 3 segments - a first class carriage for 6 passengers, a second class carriage for 8 people and third class- a uncovered trolleys for a load of 16 passengers. During those times the cost for the complete project came out to be Rs.52, 000.
Picturesque Turf
The train channels through a divergence of a spectacular panorama, as cruiser begins from Siliguri. The terrain is just fabulous with variegated vegetation, first there are the dense jungles and then the tea plantations are seen clinging to the steep terraced mountains.
Soon Sukna, the first station exhibits thick foliage of Sal and Teak trees dotted with purple bougainvillea, royal red poinsettia and exotic mauve of the orchids.
By the time it reaches Chunbhati and crosses the loop, it covers the height of 672.9 m. After drive past the green trysting place of Tung Chutlinkpur, and Jorebunglow, the toy train arrives at Ghoom- 2,257.65 m above sea level - one of the heights train junctions in entire Asia. Additional 6 km ride downhill from here, past Retreat Halt and West Point Halt takes one to the destination-Darjeeling, at 2,076 m above sea level.
Enjoying the world-renowned Darjeeling tea and cherishing the majestic tableau of the Himalayas on board - of one of redecorated trains, is really a mesmerizing experience.
This Toy Train track crisscrosses the track at 177points allowing 3 loops in the line. The most famous being the Batasia Loop between Ghoom and Darjeeling. The track also passes through 5 major and 498 minor bridges. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway possess its own workshop at Tindharia where the entire repair work of locomotive carriages and wagons is undertaken, besides manufacturing its spare parts.
The main junctions
While passing through the Himalayan Valley the cruiser halts at New Jalpaiguri, Siliguri Town, Siliguri Junction, Sukna, Rong Tong, Tindharia,, Gayabari, Mahanadi, Kurseong, Tung, Sonada, Ghoom and finally Darjeeling .
The Dawning of a New- Sprung Saga
The new millennium also bestowed its fortunes on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railways. All efforts are undertaken to mark the excursion correspondent to the prevalent times- the diesel engine was thus introduced on June - 2000 and was flagged off by the Railway Minister of India, Ms. Mamta Banerjee in New Jalpaiguri.
Access to Darjeeling
New Jalpaiguri, the starting point of the hill train to Darjeeling, has direct connections to Calcutta, Delhi, Guwahati and other places in India.
