Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Introduces Exclusive Toy Train Journeys To Boost Heritage Tourism For Durga Puja

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To attract visitors for heritage tours, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway has created special joyrides for the Durga Puja celebrations. Starting October 1, joyrides for Kurseong to Mahanadi, as well as Darjeeling to Ghum, will be operational. The goal of these special routes is to let passengers enjoy the festive season, the heritage steam railway, and the beauty of the Himalayas. India has a world-renowned mountain railway, and now passengers will be able to enjoy the festive season as well as its cultural celebrations.

The festive programme will include additional services on the Darjeeling–Ghum and Kurseong–Mahanadi sections. Travellers will be able to choose between diesel-operated short journeys and longer round trips, including a steam-hauled service designed to showcase the railway’s historic character.

The additional trains could prove especially attractive during Durga Puja, when Darjeeling and the surrounding Himalayan hill region typically receive increased visitor interest. The services add another tourism experience for travellers looking beyond festival celebrations, shopping and sightseeing.

Four Additional Darjeeling to Ghum Joyrides Planned

Four single-trip services are planned between Darjeeling and Ghum, one of the best-known sections of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway.

The trains will be diesel-hauled and are expected to carry a proposed fare of ₹800 per journey.

Services from Darjeeling are scheduled to depart at:

• 9:20 AM
• 11:25 AM

Return-direction services from Ghum are scheduled for:

• 10:25 AM
• 12:30 PM

The timetable gives tourists several options for fitting the railway experience into a wider Darjeeling sightseeing programme.

The Darjeeling–Ghum journey is particularly significant for heritage tourism because it allows passengers to experience the historic narrow-gauge railway while travelling through the mountainous surroundings that have made Darjeeling famous.

Ghum is also closely associated with the broader heritage identity of the railway and remains an important stop for visitors exploring the region.

Kurseong to Mahanadi Route Gets Two Festive Round Trips

The festive programme will also introduce two round-trip services between Kurseong and Mahanadi.

Unlike the Darjeeling–Ghum journeys, these trains will offer passengers a complete outward and return experience.

One service will be steam-operated, while the second will run with diesel traction.

This combination is important because it gives travellers a choice between experiencing the railway’s classic steam heritage and taking a comparatively more economical diesel journey.

It also expands tourism attention beyond central Darjeeling by highlighting Kurseong and Mahanadi as destinations within the wider heritage railway corridor.

Red Panda Steam Train Brings Classic Railway Experience

The steam-operated Kurseong–Mahanadi round trip will be known as Red Panda.

Its proposed fare has been set at ₹1,530.

The train is scheduled to leave Kurseong at 9 AM, with the return journey from Mahanadi beginning at 10 AM.

For railway enthusiasts, the steam service could become one of the most appealing additions during the festival period.

Steam locomotives remain central to the identity of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. Their sound, appearance and slower journey through the hills create an experience very different from conventional rail travel.

The service therefore offers more than transportation. It gives tourists an opportunity to experience railway engineering, Himalayan scenery and living industrial heritage during a single journey.

The Red Panda name also creates a connection with the wildlife identity of the eastern Himalayan region, helping position the service as a memorable tourism product rather than simply an additional train.

Mukta Dhara Service Connects Rail Travel With Cultural Heritage

The second Kurseong–Mahanadi round trip will operate with diesel traction and has been named Mukta Dhara.

The proposed fare is ₹1,030.

The train is scheduled to depart Kurseong at 3:15 PM and begin its return journey from Mahanadi at 4 PM.

The name gives the service an additional cultural dimension.

Mukta Dhara is also the title of a celebrated 1922 work by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. The name has been associated with the landscape around the Paglajhora stream, creating a connection between literature, railway heritage and the natural scenery of the hills.

For visitors, this could make the journey especially interesting because the experience is not restricted to views from a train window. It introduces travellers to the cultural stories connected with the places through which the railway passes.

Special Preview Run Planned Before October Launch

Before the additional festive services officially begin, a special run of the Mukta Dhara train is expected to take place at Mahanadi Railway Station towards the end of September.

The run will form part of activities preceding the Station Mahotsav.

The preview could help bring greater tourism attention to Mahanadi and neighbouring areas before the Durga Puja holiday rush begins.

It may also give the railway an opportunity to showcase a relatively less-publicised part of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway network.

While Darjeeling remains the region’s strongest tourism brand, expanding visitor interest towards Kurseong, Mahanadi and other stations could distribute tourism activity across a wider section of the hills.

Why the Special Toy Trains Matter for Darjeeling Tourism

The additional services arrive at an important period for the region’s tourism economy.

Durga Puja is one of eastern India’s biggest festive seasons. Many travellers use the holiday period for leisure trips, family holidays and short mountain escapes.

Darjeeling already attracts visitors for its Himalayan views, tea gardens, colonial-era architecture and mountain railway. Special heritage trains can give tourists another reason to extend their stay or add an organised experience to their itinerary.

They can also benefit tourism businesses located near railway stations, including hotels, restaurants, cafés, transport providers and small retailers.

Heritage rail travel is particularly valuable because it combines transportation with sightseeing. Visitors do not simply travel between two stations. The train itself becomes part of the holiday.

UNESCO Heritage Status Gives the Journey Global Appeal

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway forms part of the Mountain Railways of India UNESCO World Heritage Site, giving the line significance far beyond West Bengal.

Its narrow-gauge track, historic engineering and mountain alignment have made it one of India’s most recognisable heritage railways.

For international travellers, riding the railway can therefore represent an opportunity to experience a UNESCO-listed attraction while exploring the Himalayan foothills.

For domestic tourists, the toy train remains deeply connected with the cultural image of Darjeeling.

The Durga Puja specials bring those two tourism strengths together: a major Indian festival and an internationally recognised heritage attraction.

Travellers Should Plan Early for the Festival Period

Visitors considering the special joyrides should factor the services into their travel plans early because Durga Puja is expected to generate strong demand for accommodation and transport across popular destinations in eastern India.

Travellers should also verify final fares, ticket availability and operational schedules before travelling, as the announced prices remain proposed fares and railway timings can sometimes change because of operational or weather conditions.

The Himalayan terrain can also experience changing weather, particularly around the transition from the monsoon season. Passengers should therefore keep some flexibility in their itineraries.

Choosing accommodation with convenient access to Darjeeling or Kurseong railway stations could make early departures easier.

Durga Puja Adds a New Dimension to the Darjeeling Toy Train Experience

The special services could make the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway one of the most distinctive railway tourism experiences available during the 2026 Durga Puja season.

From diesel joyrides between Darjeeling and Ghum to the steam-powered Red Panda and culturally themed Mukta Dhara service between Kurseong and Mahanadi, the expanded programme offers travellers different ways to experience the hills.

More importantly, the initiative links festival tourism, UNESCO heritage, railway history, Himalayan landscapes and local culture in a single visitor experience.

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) launched a special Durga puja holiday DHR toy train drive that takes festive travelers passing through the UNESCO World Heritage Site Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, scenic mountain, and historical heritage railway routes. This drive promotes heritage tourism.