Darjeeling Trip: Toy Trains to Tea Estates

Any trip to Darjeeling can not be considered complete without visiting it's tea estates, for which the place is renowned all over the world. The heritage toy trains are also a major tourist attraction of Darjeeling. The scenery, that unfolds before your eyes, while taking a ride in the toy train, can be a surreal experience. During my trip, i had the opportunity to explore these two famous T's of Darjeeling, i.e. Tea Estates and Toy Train.

Tea Estates

As we all know, Darjeeling is one of the largest producer of premium tea in the world and the place reaches to all Indian homes through the rich aroma of tea produced here. While having Darjeeling tea sitting at your home may be a stimulating experience, a stroll through the tea gardens and interaction with tea workers may also be a memorable one. 

Tea Garden at Mirik, Darjeeling

There are many tea estates in Darjeeling area and some of them were established in the post-independence era by our colonial cousins. In fact the tea plantation was introduced in this area by the Britishers only. One can visit these gardens after taking permission from the manager of estate. Some tea estates in Darjeeling area also offer vacation packages to tourists to experience life in the gardens along with stays in heritage bungalows, plus musical and cultural activities that are rarely found anywhere else in the world. 

Some of the most renowned tea estates are : Makaibari, Glenberg, Happy Valley, Singtom and Gomtee.

Toy Trains

Apart from the tea gardens, Darjeeling has one more major tourist attraction, which finds it's place in the wishlist of each tourist travelling to the hill station, i.e. the toy trains of Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR). It has been accorded UNESCO World Heritage status due to engineering acumen and creative skills employed in it's construction, making it the 2nd Railway in the world to receive such status. The toy trains are also the legacy of the British rule. Operating on narrow gauge tracks since 1880s, these steam engine toy trains offer unique ride through breath-taking landscapes, picturesque mountains, villages and shops on the way with children waving at you. 

Though DHR operates toy trains between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling covering total distance of around 80 kms, the most preferred section by the tourists is Ghum (the highest railway station of Asia) to Darjeeling, a 7 km long track. The train moves along the hilly terrain with snail's pace, taking around 2 hours to complete 14 km journey from Ghum to Darjeeling and back. The train operates 04 times a day between Ghum & Darjeeling. One advice for travelers wishing to board these joyride trains - Please book your tickets in advance, as you may not get it over the counter due to heavy rush of tourists.  Online Ticket booking may be made through the website of IRCTC.

Tourists, while reaching Darjeeling city by road, can see the toy train running parallel to the Hill kart road and climbing up to the famous Batasia loop. 

It stops here for 10 minutes giving the tourists opportunity to capture the magnificent views of Darjeeling town and snow caped ranges of Mt. Kanchandzonga. Batasia loop has itself been developed as a tourist place with manicured garden and a war memorial at the centre.

Toy Train near Batasia Loop

View of Mt. Kanchandzonga from Batasia Loop

Joyride Train 

View of Darjeeling Town from Batasia Loop

War Memorial built in the honor of Gorkha Soldiers

The place has been picturized in many Hindi and Bangla movies and the most notable of them is the song "Mere Sapno Ki Rani" from the movie Aaradhana picturized on the superstar Rajesh Khanna, Sharmila Tagore and Sujeet Kumar. You can compare the Batasia loop of 1969 (the year, Aaaradhana released) and now. I will leave you with the melodious and evergreen tune of the legendary music composer S D Burman. Enjoy!

Itinerary for 8 days tour to Mystic Sikkim

The hill state of Sikkim has a wide variety to offer, from the capital town of Gangtok with its own culture and lifestyle to the forbidding mountain scapes that have remained unchanged through centuries.

Though i personally feel that every day in Sikkim has different colour and every place has it's unique natural beauty and it's not possible to cover every nook and corner of the state even in years, however one can visit the most scenic places of Sikkim to get an idea , how panoramic and picturesque, the entire state is. 

For those planning a trip to Sikkim, i am posting an itinerary, which may help making their trip an unforgettable one. A 7 nights and 8 days tour should be sufficient to capture Sikkim at its scenic best.

Itinerary

Amidst the grandeur of the mountain peaks, lush valleys, fast flowing rivers and terraced hills, Sikkim offers a spectacular and unique experience. Within a matter of hours one can move from the sub-tropical heat of the lower valleys to the cold of the rugged mountain slopes that reach upto the areas of perpetual snow.

Day 1: New Jalpaiguri- Gangtok- 124 kms (4-5 hrs) 

Arrive in New Jalpaiguri by train or fly into Bagdogra. Hire a Taxi for approx. four and half hour's journey to Gangtok. Plenty of hotels and lodges, you will get in and around Gangtok.

Day 2: Gangtok Local Sightseeing

An early morning trip to Tashi view point (offering fabulous views of Kanchenjunga) followed by a full day sightseeing of Gangtok. Other tourist attractions in Gangtok are Rumtek Monastry; one of the largest and sacred Buddhist Monastry in Sikkim, Banjakhari Waterfalls, Ganesh Tok, Hanuman Tok and Saramsa Garden. 

Kanchanjenga Amusement Park may also be an option for those intending to spend leisure time with their kids.

Rumtek Monastry

Banjakhri Waterfall

Day 3 : Gangtok- Chungthang- Lachung 116 kms (5-6 hrs)

Local Sightseeing of Gangtok is just like a starter before the main course. The adventure begins, when one heads for North Sikkim. You may start your journey of Lachung Valley early morning after having breakfast and take luncht at Chungthang which is at the confluence of Lachen and Lachung valleys. Halt at Lachung for the night. Lachung itself is a very scenic place located at the altitude of around 10000 ft.

Permit is required to be obtained from Tourism Department in order to visit Gurudongmar Lake and Yumthang valley  in North and Nathula/ Tsomgo Lake in East Sikkim due to border area reason. Before proceeding for these places, permits need to be obtained at-least a day before.

Day 4: Lachung- Yumthang Valley-Zero Point-Lachen- 148 kms (8-9 hrs)

Yumthang valley, popularly known as the Valley of Flowers is aroung 35 km. from Lachung. You will see many varieties of Rhododendron flower with the snow bound mountains in the backdrop along the way. If you have had enough of seeing flowers and clicking too many photographs, you may go upto Zero Point, 16 km. from Yumthang, to enjoy with snow.  Start return journey to Lachung by noon and take lunch at Lachung. Then you may proceed to Lachen, which is 48 km. away. Night halt at Lachen. 

Lachen is a small tribal village ruled by the Dzumsa. If you reach Lachen before evening, you may like to see Lachen Monastry, situated at the top of the village and offers panoramic view of the valley.

Yumthang Valley - Valley of Flowers

Day 5: Lachen- Gurudongmar Lake- Lachen-Gangtok- 240 kms (10-11 hrs)

A visit to Gurudongmar Lake is a must while in Sikkim. Gurudongmar is one of the highest situated lakes (17100 ft.) in North Sikkim. Remember the altitude here may cause breathing problem. Move slowly towards the pristine lake and watch it motionlessly. An early morning start will help you to return Gangtok by 8 :00 or 9:00 pm in night. Night stay in guest house in Gangtok.

Gurudongmar Lake

Please note that the foreigners are not allowed to travel to Gurudongmar Lake.

Day 6: Gangtok- Nathula Pass- Gangtok  110 Kms ( 7-8 hrs)

It will take whole day to enjoy the beauty of Tsomgo Lake (popularly known as Chhangu Lake), Nathu-la pass and Baba Mandir and to return back to Gangtok. Normally tourists coming to Gangtok on a short trip, go to Nathu-la  pass. 

Day 7: Gangtok- Yuksom- Pemayangtse- 160 kms ( 5-6 hrs)

Reach Yuksom, the first capital of Sikkim by taxi via Samdruptse; the holy spot where the tallest statue of Guru Rinpoche has been built. 

Yuksom is a scenic spot set amidst the backdrop of the Himalayas. It is a historical place, for in 1641 Buddhism was introduced here. Visit the Khecheopalri Lake after lunch at Yuksom. Afterwards, reach Pemayangtse (32 km away from Yuksom) to see Rabdantse ruins - the second capital of Sikkim & Pemayangtse Monastery. Night stay in a guest house.

Rabdentse Ruins, site of 2nd capital of Sikkim

Day 8: Pemayangtse- New Jalpaiguri

Drive back to New Jalpaiguri/ Bagdogra to fly back home.


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