"THE MOST ENJOYABLE DAY I HAVE SPENT ON EARTH MIXED ecstasy of deadly fright and unimaginable joy"-that's how Mark Twain described his journey on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) in 1895.
Established in 1881, this engineering marvel offers a thrilling journey through picturesque landscapes, gaining elevation through loops, turns, and zigzags. Said to be Asia's oldest narrow gauge railway, it begins its 88-kilometre journey in New Jalpaiguri at a height of around 100 meters (330 feet) and ascends to Ghum at an impressive altitude of 2,258 meters (7,407 feet) before ultimately arriving in Darjeeling.
The train crisscrosses along the Hill Cart Road, which involves over 150 crossings, runs along loops tracing a full circle to finish some 20 feet higher, and manoeuvres the infamous Z-Reversemoving forward, reverse, and forward again on a "Z" layout-to gain altitude.
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, affectionately known as the "Toy Train," has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1999. It is part of the Mountain Railways of India, which consists of three remarkable rail routes in different parts of the country that were recognised as UNESCO World Heritage sites due to their historical significance and iconic infrastructure.
A GLIMPSE OF LIFE IN THE FOOTHILLS
Originally constructed between 1879 and 1881, this narrow-gauge train transported passengers and freight between Darjeeling and Siliguri. A significant revenue source during its early days, it played a crucial role in ferrying essential commodities such as grain from the plains to the hills while bringing back sought-after products like tea, oranges, ginger, and cardamom.
この記事は Outlook Traveller の August - September 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
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この記事は Outlook Traveller の August - September 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
A FLUTTERING DISCOVERY
BY THE MIDDLE OF THE last decade, I had been studying Indian butterflies for over 20 years, however, I had never observed butterflies at high altitudes in the trans-Himalayan habitat. So, in 2015, I decided to visit Ladakh to search for butterflies.
THE ❤️ OF ANINI
THE TOURISM \"HEART\" HAS travelled a long way. What began as an advertising campaign for promoting New York in 1977-I❤️NY-is now ubiquitous everywhere in India, from big metro cities (and even neighbourhoods) to smaller towns and villages tucked away in remote regions of the country.
FLAVOURS OF TRADITION
MEMORIES OF HOME- COOKED MEALS INSPIRE CHEF AVINASH MARTINS TO REVIVE AND REIMAGINE TRADITIONAL GOAN DISHES
IN THE SHADOW OF TIME
FROM THE PATEK PHILIPPE MUSEUM ΤΟ THE TOP OF EUROPE, A JOURNEY THROUGH SWITZERLAND MADE ME PONDER: DOES OUR QUEST FOR EFFICIENCY COME AT THE COST OF LIFE'S QUIET BEAUTY?
A SUFI BASANT IN DELHI
BASANT PANCHAMI HAS BEEN celebrated at the dargah of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya since the 12th century.
IS FOOD TASTIER IN THE HILLS?
CELEBRITY FOOD EXPERT AND TV PERSONALITY, ROCKY SINGH, DECODES WHY FOOD TASTES DIFFERENT AT HIGHER ALTITUDES
The BEST FOOD TOURS TO EXPLORE IN 2025
READY TO TAKE YOUR TASTEBUDS ON A GLOBAL JOURNEY? DIVE INTO THE BEST FOOD ADVENTURES WITH THIS LIST OF THE MOST IMMERSIVE CULINARY EXPERIENCES
FOOD AS IDENTITY
THE 2019 FILM 'AXONE' HIGHLIGHTS THE STRUGGLE OF PRESERVING CULTURAL IDENTITY IN A DIVERSE SOCIETY, URGING VIEWERS TO SEE FOOD AS A BRIDGE TO UNDERSTANDING, NOT A BARRIER
OF TAPAS PAELLA AND CHURROS
THERE'S NO BETTER WAY TO EXPLORE THE CULINARY OFFERINGS OF MADRID THAN THROUGH ITS OFF-THE-GRID CAFÉS AND BARS IN NONDESCRIPT SPACES
THE LAND OF FRANKINCENSE
EMBARK ON A SURREAL EXPLORATION OF OMAN'S HIDDEN WONDERS, FROM GRAVITY-DEFYING LANDSCAPES TO FOG-SHROUDED HILLS TO LUSH, PICTURESQUE WADIS
