If there’s one experience that you can’t afford to miss, that truly captures the charm of Darjeeling, it’s the sound of the Toy Train slowly making its way up the hills with the rhythmic whistle, the small turns through tea gardens, and the old wooden seats—it all feels like stepping back in time.
The Darjeeling Toy Train (Darjeeling Himalayan Railway or DHR) is one of India’s most iconic mountain railways and a UNESCO World Heritage site. In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to know: which trains to take, how to book, typical timings, fares & practical tips.
If you’re planning to visit Darjeeling and are wondering how to book the Toy Train, what routes are available, or which one is worth it, this guide will help you with everything you need to know, including history, timings, prices, and booking tips.
A Little History
This railway was built between 1879 and 1881, when the British were trying to find a better way to reach Darjeeling from the plains. Franklin Prestage, an engineer from the Eastern Bengal Railway, came up with the idea of a small narrow-gauge line that could go up the hills without needing tunnels. It was a big challenge at that time, but they managed it using a series of loops and zigzags that let the train climb slowly.
By the time it was finished, the line connected Siliguri to Darjeeling, covering 88 km. Later in 1999, UNESCO gave it the World Heritage title, not only because it’s beautiful but also because of how smartly it was built.
Train Options
- Passenger train (NJP → Darjeeling): Train 52541 (NJP → Darjeeling) and return 52540 (Darjeeling → NJP). It is a long slow mountain run, with a duration of 7–7.5 hrs. Book via IRCTC or DHR reservation counters.
- Short tourist joy-rides (Darjeeling ↔ Ghoom ↔ Darjeeling): Multiple numbered joy rides (steam & diesel) that run several times a day (popular steam rides include trains like 52594 / 52592 / 52593 depending on the day). These are the “toy train experience” most tourists take. Book early as steam rides sell out.
Which Service Should You Choose?
If you want a scenic journey and are arriving by train: take 52541 New Jalpaiguri → Darjeeling (full route). It’s slow but beautiful and connects NJP (flat plains) to Darjeeling (hill station). Typical duration ~7–7.5 hours.
If you only want the iconic short ride & photo stops (Batasia Loop, Ghoom Museum): take a Joy Ride from Darjeeling station (round trip ~1.5–2 hours). The main stops are:
Ghum
It is the highest altitude station in the Darjeeling Himalayan Rail Network. You can also visit the Ghum Museum, for which you won’t need to buy a separate ticket—you just need to show your joy ride ticket. Also, you will see the oldest toy train engine “Baby Sivok” in this museum.
Batasia Loop
One of the most interesting parts of the journey is how the train climbs steep slopes without tunnels. It uses loops and “reverses”—a clever design where the train moves forward and backward to gain height. The Batasia Loop is the most popular of them all. It’s not just an engineering marvel but also one of the best viewpoints in Darjeeling. The War Memorial to pay homage to the Gorkha soldiers is also located here.
Where & How to Book
- IRCTC (online): Many DHR trains (including long NJP–Darjeeling & some joy rides) appear on IRCTC; book like any Indian Railways ticket on irctc.co.in or IRCTC app. Search by train number (e.g., 52541).
- DHR / Indian Railways Darjeeling portal: The DHR official portal lists schedules, special tourist trains, seat availability and contact emails (useful for special/steam charters). Visit dhr.indianrailways.gov.in.
- On-site booking counters (Darjeeling station): In low season some joy ride tickets are available offline at Darjeeling station, but don’t rely on this during peak season/holidays.
- Third-party travel platforms: Trainman, MakeMyTrip, RailYatri, and RedBus trains pages may show schedules and availability, but always cross-check with IRCTC/DHR before purchase.
Booking Tips
- Book steam joy rides well in advance (they’re limited and popular).
- Carry printouts/PNR — mountain services sometimes need ID checks at stations; keep your PNR/booking screenshot ready.
Fares & Seat Classes
The DHR is mainly unreserved / first-class tourist coaches for joy rides. Full route passenger trains often have simple narrow-gauge seating; fares are modest for the long passenger service, while the tourist steam joy rides may have a premium fare (varies; sometimes special first-class fares for steam). The prices of Darjeeling Joy Rides range between Rs. 1000–1500 approx. (Higher fare in peak tourist season)
Best Time to Ride
The Toy Train runs all year, but the best months are March to June and October to December. The skies are clearer then, offering stunning mountain views. Monsoon months (July–September) are scenic but risk delays due to landslides.
Tips for a Smooth Journey
- Try booking your tickets a bit early, especially if you want the steam engine ride. It gets full really fast.
- Carry some warm clothes; it can get cold near Ghum even in summers.
- Sit on the right side while going up—you’ll get the best mountain views from there.
- The train goes slow, but that’s the fun of it. Just sit back and enjoy the view.
- Keep some snacks or water with you; the stalls at stations don’t have too many options.
So if you go to Darjeeling, don’t miss the Toy Train. It’s slow and small but really fun and peaceful. The mountains, the tea gardens, the whistle of the train—everything feels special. Whether you do the short ride to Ghum or the full ride from NJP, you’ll remember it for a long time. For a complete Darjeeling experience, you can plan your trip with a trusted travel partner for smooth arrangements and local guidance.
Just relax, enjoy the view, and take lots of pictures.
