Darjeeling Himalayan Railway

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is a narrow-gauge mountain railway in West Bengal, India, often called the ‘Toy Train’; it links the plains around New Jalpaiguri/Siliguri with the hill town of Darjeeling and is a UNESCO World Heritage component of the Mountain Railways of India.

The route covers roughly 88 km and is famous for its engineering solutions to steep mountain gradients, including loops, reverses and the Batasia Loop, and for heritage steam and diesel locomotives. The line climbs from lowland plains to elevations above 2,000 metres, offering short scenic sections and views of the surrounding hills.

Constructed in the late 19th century, the railway opened in stages and became operational in the 1880s to serve British-era hill station traffic; it has been preserved for its historic technology and community role and continues to operate heritage services.

The line runs from the plains around New Jalpaiguri/Siliguri up into the Lesser Himalaya to Darjeeling, crossing steep terrain and serving small towns and mountain stations such as Ghum.

• Technical and UNESCO: The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is a narrow-gauge (2 ft / 610 mm) mountain railway covering about 88 km between the plains and Darjeeling and was inscribed as part of the Mountain Railways of India World Heritage site.
• Route character: The line climbs from near-subsistence plains to high mountain terrain with steep gradients and includes famous features such as loops and zigzags to gain elevation.

What to See #

• Batasia Loop: A looped spiral track outside Darjeeling that allows the train to gain height; the loop includes landscaped gardens and a war memorial viewpoint.
• Darjeeling station: The hill station terminus with its platform and heritage buildings at about 2,000 metres elevation, serving as the upper terminus for the historic line.
• Ghum station: The mountain station near the line's summit, notable as one of India's highest railway stations at about 2,258 metres and a common photo stop for the train.