Darjeeling has become synonymous with three things — tea, panoramic views of the Himalayas, and the ‘Toy Train’. While the primary mode of transport between this hill town and the plains of Siliguri remains share-taxis and buses, the Toy Train continues to offer a nostalgic journey through a landscape steeped in history.

A legacy on rails

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR), or the ‘Toy Train’, is not merely a mode of conveyance but a living, breathing memory of a bygone era, a feat of remarkable engineering, and a piece of India’s colonial history.

Built between 1879 and 1881, this railway stretches approximately 88 kilometres from New Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling. It was conceived by Sir Franklin Prestage as a bold stroke against the formidable terrain, designed to........

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