Slow Chugging Ride In The Queen Of Hills Onboard The Toy Train

By Author: surendra rawat
Total Articles: 71
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Famed worldwide for its picturesque beauty magnified by the majestic Kanchendzonga range as the backdrop, Darjeeling has had a lot of travelers from all over the world who come to get away from the hectic life and feel the radiance of beauty here. What better way to enjoy the beauty of the Queen of hills than a joy ride in the heritage toy train that slowly chugs its way through and around the hills letting you enjoy beauty with out any hurry.

Puffing out a column of smoke and whistling as she makes her slow but steady climb up the hill the blue colored steam engine looks magnificent. Over and around the green hills she climbs with no hurry making sure that the travelers onboard have a majestic Darjeeling tour.

Built in between the early years of 1879 -1881 this blue steam engine is old as Darjeeling herself. Thus when a mention of Darjeeling is there the majestic toy train is beside her to give company as she has been doing from centuries ago. This steam powered train runs over a narrow 2 feet gauge and is one of the few such trains that remain in this sophisticated technological world. With Darjeeling tour packages ...
... enjoy the hurry free train ride which gives you enough time to take in the beauty and possibly capture it with your cameras.

At present the steam engine powered joy ride goes up to Ghoom which is the former world’s highest railway station. The tracks wind through the town as it makes it way out toward Ghoom which is also the highest elevation point of Darjeeling. Watch small children wave to you with innocent smiles on their faces, cars passing honking their horns and behind it all lays the backdrop the majestic Kanchendzonga from which flows the green hills. The train circles around a loop before disappearing into a tunnel at the memorial grounds for the brave Gorkha’s known as Batasia loop. This memorial grounds have been established for those Gorkha soldiers who gave up their lives for India.

One of the most famed writers Mark Twain said “The most enjoyable day I've spent on earth is of mixed ecstacy of deadly fright and unimaginable joy." after his first toy train ride to Darjeeling. When such famous writers have memorialized the toy train of Darjeeling in their undying words, then a ride on it should be a must when in the queen of hills.

The toy train has also been declared a world heritage train by UNESCO. Thus a ride on this train makes it a world heritage ride, something that again makes it a class apart than the other train rides.

When one takes a ride in this chugging train and looks at the yonder hills they can see the hills of Sikkim too. This too is a beautiful state that is a four hour drive from Darjeeling. One of the most beautiful places in Sikkim would be Pelling which is 135 km away from its capital city Gangtok. This place is home to the famous Pemayangtse monastery and Sangachoeling monastery. These two monasteries are among the oldest monasteries in Sikkim with Pemayangtse monastery being established at 1705 and the Sangachoeling monastery in 1697. Pelling also is home to the Khecheperi lake where it is believed that when leaves from the nearby trees fall into the lake, the birds that reside there swoop down and pick it up. Travel to this mystical and picturesque land with Pelling tours and be awed by the beauty and aura of this place.

With two beautiful places lying side by side each radiating with its own beauty and charm, it becomes a double treat to the travelers who come to holiday here.

Surendra Rawat is an eminent analyst and writer in Travel & Tourism related topics. He has authored many books on tour guide for Darjeeling tour, North East Darjeeling and Darjeeling travel agent.