GUWAHATI- The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) has received international tourism recognition after Darjeeling was featured among the 50 destinations in Lonely Planet’s ‘Best in Travel 2027’ list, with the travel publisher describing the destination as “Best for a Toy Train journey.”HATI
The recognition places the historic Darjeeling Himalayan Railway and its distinctive mountain railway experience in the global travel spotlight, according to a press release issued by Northeast Frontier Railway.
Historic railway at the centre of recognition
Popularly known as the “Toy Train,” the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway has been closely associated with the cultural and tourism identity of Darjeeling and the Eastern Himalayas.
Opened in 1881, the DHR is known for its engineering solutions developed to establish a railway through challenging mountainous terrain. It forms part of the Mountain Railways of India UNESCO World Heritage Site, which was inscribed in 1999.
The railway’s historic stations, steam locomotives and distinctive mountain journey take visitors through the hills, tea gardens and settlements of the Darjeeling region.
Railway heritage linked with tourism
The international recognition comes as Northeast Frontier Railway is undertaking initiatives to promote the DHR as both a living railway heritage asset and a tourism attraction.
These initiatives include heritage train journeys, steam locomotive rides, cultural events and experiential tourism programmes. According to the railway, events such as the Ghum Winter Festival, Station Mahotsav and Summer Festival have also been used to increase visitor engagement with historic railway stations and surrounding communities.
The railway’s tourism initiatives also emphasise community participation, environmental awareness and sustainable tourism. Heritage joy rides and outreach programmes involving local communities and environmental stakeholders are intended to promote responsible tourism.
Digital initiatives, experiential programmes and educational visits are also being used to introduce younger generations to the railway’s history, engineering and cultural significance.
Global visibility for Darjeeling and the DHR
The inclusion in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2027 is expected to increase the international visibility of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway and its Toy Train experience.
For Northeast Frontier Railway, the recognition provides an opportunity to showcase the region’s railway heritage while highlighting the tourism, cultural and socio-economic potential of the Darjeeling hills to visitors from India and abroad.
The recognition also comes against the backdrop of continued efforts to preserve and promote the DHR not simply as a historic railway, but as an active tourism experience connecting visitors with the landscape, communities and heritage of the Darjeeling hills.
