News Desk: The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) is set to introduce three new luxury chartered toy train services this summer, offering tourists a unique blend of heritage rail travel, mountain landscapes, forests, trekking, tea gardens and Gorkha culture. The initiative, being launched in joint collaboration with the Forest Department, is said to be the first of its kind in the country.
The most premium offering, titled ‘Maharani Great Escape’, is inspired by a historic night journey undertaken in 1920 by Indira Devi during her stay in Darjeeling. Beginning in March, the service will operate on every full moon night. The train will depart from Darjeeling at 5:30 pm and travel via Tindharia, Rangtong and Sukna to Gulma. The journey will feature Tibetan tea, cultural dance and music performances, dinner arrangements and the opportunity to witness tea plucking under the moonlight.
The second service, ‘Baghira Jungle Trail’, is being launched in collaboration with the Kurseong Forest Division. The experience will begin at Dow Hill at 10 am with a two-hour guided trek from Tung to Kurseong, where tourists can choose from different trekking routes. The itinerary includes visits to the Forest Museum, Heaven View Point and an ancient Buddhist monastery. The journey will then continue by toy train from Kurseong via Mahanadi, along with a visit to the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Museum. Forest guards and trained guides will accompany visitors for safety.
The third service, ‘Tea Timber Trail’, will operate between Sukna and Tindharia. The chartered toy train will halt at Sipahijhora Tea Garden in Rangtong, where tourists will experience tea leaf plucking, factory visits and tea tasting sessions. Local cuisine and handicraft shopping facilities will also be available.
DHR Director Rishabh Chaudhary stated that the initiative aims to enhance heritage tourism while creating immersive experiences for visitors. Kurseong Forest Division DFO Debesh Pandey said the collaboration will promote eco-tourism while ensuring environmental conservation and visitor safety.