Back in 1969, the song 'Mere Sapno Ki Rani Kab Aayegi Tu' from the film Aradhana beautifully captured the landscapes of Darjeeling along with its epic train! Do you remember the song where the charismatic Rajesh Khanna is driving in a jeep with his friend while the beautiful Sharmila Tagore is travelling by train?
Well, who can forget this amazing song and the train ride?! Since then, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway range has been one of the famous film-shooting spots in India. Even the recent film Barfi was extensively shot in Darjeeling and the "Toy Train" plays an important role.
Declared as the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999, the Darjeeling Toy Train is also a historical attraction. This narrow gauge railway is one of the classic destinations to visit in India.
Don't you want to know more about this mountain railway of India? Check out this photo tour which will make you plan a trip right away!
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History Of The Darjeeling Toy Train
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway was built by Gillanders Arbuthnot & Co. It began the operations in the year 1881. The earliest line was from Siliguri to Darjeeling.
PC: Rupam Dey
Darjeeling Train Route
The Darjeeling Toy Train travels from New Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling and covers a distance of 78 km.
PC: Sankara Subramanian
A World Heritage Site
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway along with Kalka-Shimla Railway and Nilgiri Mountain Railway is declared as a World Heritage Site under the Mountain Railways of India.
PC: Mjanich
Stations Along the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
The train starts from New Jalpaiguri via Siliguri, and the stations that come along this route are the Sukhna Station, Rangtong Station, Tindaria Station, Mahanadi Station, Kurseong Station, Tung Station, Sonada Station, Jorebunglow Station, Ghum Station, Batasia Loop and finally the train reaches Darjeeling.
PC: Aranya449
Highest Station in India
The Ghum Railway Station is the highest-altitude railway station in India. Now there is also a museum in the first floor of the station building.
PC: P.K.Niyogi
Darjeeling
The hill station of Darjeeling is one of the top hill stations in West Bengal. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) forms an integral part of the Darjeeling tourism.
PC: Ekabhishek
Management Of The DHR
It came under the Government of India after the Indian Independence. Now, all the services are managed by the Indian railways, a wing of the Government of India.
PC: Vikramjit Kakati