The Toy Train in Darjeeling is a well-liked attraction that draws both local and international visitors. This year, the iconic toy train honours the 100th birthday of three locomotive engines from the British era. As we are talking about the Darjeeling toy trains and how iconic they are, to appraise their history and importance, the Ghum festival, which started in 2020, is back again. Read on to know what exactly the Ghum festival is.
Here’s All About Darjeeling’s Ghum Festival!
Launched in 2020, the Ghum festival seeks to draw visitors to the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway and Toy Train, which UNESCO designated as a world heritage site 25 years ago. The celebration, which started on November 30, includes dances, mountain folk songs, unique joyrides, and cultural events. The event is organised by the Indian Railways to highlight the rich history of the mountain railway.
The annual festival was kicked off in Ghum by Surendra Kumar, the divisional railway manager of Northeast Frontier Railway’s Katihar division, as reported by The Telegraph India. Its goals are to draw attention to the century-old mountain railway and increase the number of people who ride the toy train.
There are twelve joy rides between the Darjeeling and Ghum railway stations, as well as daily trains between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling run by the Darjeeling Hill Railway (DHR). The railways are celebrating the silver jubilee year of DHR’s world heritage status, which was given on December 5, 1999, with a week-long event this year. In order to promote the traditional cultural legacy of the Darjeeling hills, both locals and visitors will attend a variety of events in Ghum and Darjeeling, such as an exhibition of local handicrafts, a DHR museum, and booths offering regional cuisine.
Also Read: New Jalpaiguri-Darjeeling Toy Train Resumes Operations After 4 Months | Curly Tales
More About This UNESCO Acclaimed Toy Train In Darjeeling
As the emblematic form of transportation, the toy train has a major impact on the North Bengal hills, drawing at least five lakh visitors a year and fostering the region’s tourism and socioeconomic development.
In order to provide quicker and more dependable transit to Darjeeling, a well-liked area with difficult and steep terrain, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) was established in the 19th century. Mountainous topography made it challenging to reach Darjeeling before the toy train, and before the DHR, the only practical ways to get there were by foot or mule cart.
Have you ever visited Darjeeling and experienced this iconic toy train ride?
Cover Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
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