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Darjeeling Himalayan Railway

Darjeeling gained it's name from the word Dorjee-Ling, means the place for Dorjee. The people of this region believe that the king of the gods, Indra had thrown down a thunder called Dorjee at the place where Darjeeling stands today. DHR or Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is one of the most visited tourist attraction of this Himalayan region.

Starting from New Jalpaiguri the train travels through plains till Sukna from where the uphill journey starts to reach the second highest railway station in this world, Ghoom (altitude: 7408 feet), before descending almost 1000 feet to reach Darjeeling. There is nothing in the world more exiting then riding on a small toy train across a mountaineous terrain of great beauty.

The World Heritage Darjeeling Himalayan Railway perhaps the first and still the most outstanding example of a hill passenger railway. Opened for public in 1881, the structure and construction of this line is believed a engineering feat because of the steep gradient, sharp curves, Z-crossings and loops incorporated in the line.

In the year 1879, Franklin Prestage, then the agent of Eastern Bengal Railway submitted a detailed scheme to the Bengal Government to replace the bullock cart transport system from Siliguri to Darjeeling by Railway Line. The construction of the narrow gauge line begun in 1879 and it was opened in four phases up to Kurseong on 23rd August 1880, up to Sonada 1st February 1881, up to Ghoom 4th April 1881 and the last part or up to Darjeeling on 4th July 1881.

There are:

• 6 Z-reverses

• At 177 points Hill Cart Road cries-crosses the railway track.

• There are 3 loops in the line (most famous is Batasia Loop)

• There are 5 major bridges

• There are 498 minor bridges

• Ghoom is the highest railway station in the world to be reached by a steam locomotive.

If you are interested to know more about DHR or Want to take a ride on it, you can send your reservation request to info@visitnortheast.com