Darjeeling's Heritage Toy Train Gets Six Special Services For Puja Season

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) will introduce six special joyride services from October 1, 2026, giving visitors to the Darjeeling hills more ways to experience the UNESCO-listed railway during the Durga Puja season. The additional services will include four one-way diesel-hauled trips between Darjeeling and Ghum and two round trips between Kurseong and Mahanadi, with both steam and diesel locomotives on the latter route.

For travellers planning a Puja break in Darjeeling, the new services offer shorter alternatives to the longer Himalayan railway journeys. The proposed fare is INR 800 for each Darjeeling-Ghum trip, while the steam-hauled Red Panda between Kurseong and Mahanadi is priced at INR 1,530 and the diesel-operated Mukta Dhara at INR 1,030. The services are being added specifically for the period when the hills see increased tourist traffic, bringing the heritage railway into an already busy festive itinerary.

Six New Services Across Darjeeling's Heritage Railway

The special programme will cover two sections of the DHR. Four single-trip services will connect Darjeeling and Ghum, all hauled by diesel locomotives. The announced timings are 9:20 am and 11:25 am from Darjeeling, with return-direction services from Ghum at 10:25 am and 12:30 pm.

The other two services will run as round trips between Kurseong and Mahanadi. The steam-hauled Red Panda will offer the more traditional railway experience. On the other hand is Mukta Dhara, named after Rabindranath Tagore's 1922 play and operated by diesel locomotive A special run of Mukta Dhara is also planned at Mahanadi Railway Station towards the end of September, ahead of its regular festival-season operation.

The services are being introduced by the DHR under the Northeast Frontier Railway, with the stated aim of giving visitors more opportunities to experience the railway's heritage, landscapes and cultural associations during Durga Puja. Rather than extending the full New Jalpaiguri-Darjeeling journey, the programme concentrates on shorter sections that can be incorporated into a holiday based in the hills.

What The Toy Train Means To Darjeeling

The DHR is not simply a tourist train added to Darjeeling's attractions. Built between 1879 and 1881, the 88.48-kilometre narrow-gauge railway connects New Jalpaiguri with Darjeeling, climbing from the foothills to more than 2,200 metres at Darjeeling. Its route uses zigzags and loops to negotiate the steep Himalayan terrain.

That engineering history is central to its UNESCO status. The DHR was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1999, and was subsequently incorporated into the larger Mountain Railways of India property alongside the Nilgiri Mountain Railway and Kalka-Shimla Railway. UNESCO describes the railways as functioning examples of late 19th- and early 20th-century engineering that helped establish transport links through difficult mountainous terrain.

The railway's significance also extends beyond the journey itself. UNESCO's original assessment noted the DHR's influence on the social and economic development of the region, while its continued operation makes it a form of living heritage. That makes the addition of seasonal services relevant to heritage tourism, visitors are being offered access to an operating piece of railway history rather than a static attraction.

What Travellers Need To Know Before Booking

The new services begin on October 1, making them relevant to travellers planning Darjeeling around the Durga Puja holiday period. The Darjeeling-Ghum rides are the simplest option for visitors staying in Darjeeling, while the Kurseong-Mahanadi services require travellers to make their way to Kurseong. Bagdogra is the nearest airport, around 90 kilometres from Darjeeling, while New Jalpaiguri and Siliguri are the nearest major railheads for reaching the hills. Road access is available from Siliguri via several routes.

Ghum is one of the key points on the railway and sits at about 2,258 metres above sea level. The Darjeeling-Ghum section also connects with the wider sightseeing circuit around the Batasia Loop and Ghum. Existing DHR services can be booked through railway reservation channels, including IRCTC, but the specific booking arrangements and availability for these newly announced festive services should be confirmed once the railway releases them.

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