One of Darjeeling’s most cherished heritage experiences, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR), fondly called the Darjeeling Toy Train, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that runs from New Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling. A landslide on July 5, 2024, had severely damaged the railway tracks, halting services and impacting the region's tourism and daily commute. Over the past months, the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) undertook rigorous repairs to restore the tracks and ensure passenger safety.
Multiple trial runs were conducted to test the track's stability before officially reopening the route on November 17, bringing back the toy train experience for travellers. As you plan your winter itinerary to this side of the country, here's everything you need to know about Darjeeling Toy Train’s history, route, and what makes it so special. History of Darjeeling Toy TrainThe story of the Darjeeling toy train dates back to the colonial era.
Built between 1879 and 1881, the train’s maiden trip was in the year 1880. The toy train climbs about 100 m above sea level at New Jalpaiguri to about 2,200 m at Darjeeling and covers a distance of 88 km on a zig-zag track. Offering a glimpse into the bygone era, the train, a symbol of nostalgia, is said to be running on 100-year-old diesel engines.
It comprises age-old compartments along with a narrow gauge having an aperture of two feet between them. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway was also declared a ‘World Heritage Site’ by UNESCO in the y.