A New Global Honour
The iconic Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR), affectionately known as the 'Toy Train', has been featured in Lonely Planet's prestigious 'Best in Travel 2027' list. The globally renowned travel guide has highlighted the DHR as one of the top 25 travel experiences
in the world, specifically naming Darjeeling as "Best for a Toy Train journey". This recognition places the historic railway firmly in the international spotlight, celebrating it as an attraction where, as Lonely Planet puts it, "the journey is the whole point". For a railway that has captivated travellers for nearly 150 years, this latest accolade is a testament to its enduring charm and significance in an ever-modernising world.
An Engineering Marvel on a Narrow Gauge
Long before this recent acclaim, the DHR was already recognised as a masterpiece of human ingenuity. In 1999, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the first mountain railway in the world to receive such an honour. Built between 1879 and 1881, the railway tackles an astonishing climb of over 7,000 feet across its 88-kilometre route from New Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling. To manage the steep gradients, its engineers devised a brilliant system of six zig-zags and several loops, where the track spirals over itself to gain height. The most famous of these, the Batasia Loop, offers panoramic views of Darjeeling with the majestic Kanchenjunga in the background on clear days. Riding on the two-foot narrow-gauge track is to witness a 19th-century engineering solution that remains as impressive today as it was then.
A Journey Through Time
The story of the Toy Train is inseparable from the history of Darjeeling itself. Its construction was proposed in 1878 by Franklin Prestage, an agent for the Eastern Bengal Railway, not for tourism, but for commerce. The primary purpose was to transport tea from Darjeeling's burgeoning estates and other goods down to the plains, connecting the hill station to the wider world. The railway revolutionised travel, cutting a multi-day journey down to less than 24 hours. It played a vital role during World War II, moving personnel and supplies, and became an integral part of life in the hills. Taken over by the Indian government in 1948, it is now managed by the Northeast Frontier Railway, which continues to preserve this piece of living history.
The Toy Train Experience Today
A ride on the DHR is a sensory delight. While diesel engines run the full length of the line, the most popular journeys are the steam-hauled 'Joy Rides' between Darjeeling and Ghum. Ghum, at an altitude of 7,407 feet, is India's highest railway station and houses a small museum dedicated to the railway's history. As the train slowly snakes its way through the mountains, it passes so close to shops and houses in the bustling towns that you can almost reach out and touch them. The rhythmic chuff of the steam engine, the scent of coal smoke mingling with the crisp mountain air, and the ever-changing vistas of green valleys and tea gardens create an atmosphere of pure nostalgia.
