Darjeeling Himalayan Toy Train Vacation Travel Video Guide

a train journey into the world of the Himalayas and the most Splendid way to travel from cigi to diling is by way of the diling Himalaya toy [Music] train our unique train Journey Begins in Siliguri a vibrant City located within the terai plains of North Bengal this once peaceful provincial town with its calm streets and shops that once supplied the Region's tea Pickers with their daily needs has been transformed into an important traffic Junction for travelers to the Himalayas all manner of goods are sold here and from traditional bicycle Rick Shores to Modern four-wheel drive vehicles there's a large choice of Transport available too here business is booming despite the scorching heat of the Indian [Music] lowlands the surroundings of goodi a well worth a visit just a few kilometers away is KH mandia a Hindu Temple dedicated to the goddess [Music] Khali and also coronation Bridge an old but impressive structure that was designed and built by the British in [Music] 1930 close to the bridge is monkey point where many of the mischievous creatures congregate and at the side of the road local farmers sell grilled corn [Music] cobs the salug Buddhist Monastery is most fascinating kalu pinoci constructed this huge stoer that contains five noteworthy relics and in the is Temple the largest in the Northeast Lord Krishna who is said to have once hidden in the nearby jungle is woried we return to Siliguri train station Porters await passengers they carry baggage to the train frequently a laborious [Music] task the train arrives on time in this region as in all of India the train is the most important means of Transport for long-distance [Music] travel the small train begins to move away slowly the railroad travels through the town the buildings were constructed after the railroad there is little traffic as only one train travels into the mountains each morning with another returning in the evening we soon arrive at the woods at the foot of the mountain side after the short Journey the train stops in Suna the architecture of this train line is to be seen throughout the entire Journey it's part of the character of this particular railroad the train moves slowly through the last Village in the lowlands next we will enter a jungle region it's still hot and humid but this will soon [Music] change we Ascend the hill relentlessly for most of the time the single track rails run parallel with the road this section contains several bends what lies beyond the next Bend nobody [Music] knows we arrive at rongtong station passengers take advantage of the short stop and get off the train there's much difference in altitude to grow accustomed to and the journey lasts for 10 [Music] hours the altitude is displayed 141 [Music] ft British engineering made this pioneering work possible an 88 kilm railroad connection to the mountain world of the Himalayas [Music] the idea was to transport the world famous tea of the same name from diling quickly economically and safely to the coast from where it was shipped to the United [Music] Kingdom the British discovered that diling was a pleasant holiday Resort during the intense heat of the summer in the mountains the climate was cooler and less humid the train continues at slow pace it ranges between walking speed and 10 km an hour despite the increasing altitude the vegetation is tropical since 2002 the toy train has been pulled by a diesel engine we travel past small villages that consist only of the railway lines a road and a single row of buildings situated along the slope next stop tindara this station lies at an altitude of 2,822 Ft it contains train sheds it's a more pleasant location than that of the hot [Music] lanss the stop in tindara was once traditionally used for tea time a short break in order for passengers to become accustomed to the different climate and increasing altitude [Music] an old and Faded UNESCO notice board provides some interesting [Music] facts the train climbs to an altitude of more than 2,000 M negotiates 873 BS and Crosses 554 bridges in addition to four Loop lines the trains must also shunt through six turning points these zigzag rails facilitate the Train's Journey over steep terrain at each of these points the train travels in One Direction and then exits by reversing without the use of this system it would be impossible to negotiate the Steep terrain the rails are only 60 cm wide and often cross the road vehicles must wait for the train to go by [Music] the next station is gabari at an altitude of 3,400 ft a small station in the middle of the [Music] village the time table and ticket prices are displayed they've remained unchanged since the railroad was first opened alongside the station women wash their [Music] laundry the slow speed is essential due to the harsh terrain and frightening abysses alongside the track the sight of the Workman standing by each point is comforting this really is a train journey with a difference next we encounter the downward traveling train this means we are halfway on our journey a slight maneuver is necessary the two trains do not always meet at the same location the journey continues this section can be particularly hazardous because during the monsoons Torrance of water can damage the rails however all is safe and sand and we arrive at the next settlement although the buildings are so close to the track that it looks as though we could crash into [Music] them mahanadi Bazar this station is situated 4,000 ft above sea level this is the source of the mahanadi river that the train crossed a short time after leaving Siliguri we don't stop here for long and the last two buildings are once again amazingly close to the track but it all adds to the general [Music] excitement the speed gradually decreases as the gradient here is 1 in 18 but it can be as much as 1 in 12 it becomes cooler and the sun disappears into the Mist we travel into the clouds and leave the heat behind the journey travels past vast abysses and sometimes we pass isolated buildings unfortunately the view is restricted due to the Mist the mountain slopes are ideal for the cultivation of tea so people began to settle here and the area soon [Music] prospered Kong lies at an altitude of 4,864 Ft it's an early example of a hill town and one of many locations once used by the British for their summer Retreat close to the station is the only Junction with traffic control it's quite busy and it's difficult to understand how the traffic can sometimes be chaotic even up here in this remote [Music] location the station has grown with a town an architectural gem that has been well looked after the stop here lasts a little longer than usual and passengers are immediately plagued by local Traders in a small out building there are two old steam engines well cared for and still [Music] working these engines were brought here from Glasgow where they were manufactured at some time between 1899 and 1928 it was quite a feat getting them to this altitude the railroad meant progress for this region a number of new passengers have seated themselves in the tiny carriages and the journey continues to wind its way through the [Music] town there's not much room both pedestrians and vehicles share the same track when there was less traffic it was far less dangerous than it is today the small train is so slow that youngsters can walk alongside it and play it jumping on and off free entertainment wooden buildings announced the next settlement at an altitude of the 5,656 Ft tongue station is small and [Music] tranquil unafraid of the train hens Peck the rails and Tiny children play the buildings are typical of this mountain region an idilic location on the edge of civilization there's an old building nearby once the official post office [Music] large Billboards advertise this region of tea plantations the toy train continues pass villagers For Whom the sight of the train is part of daily life again and again packed Jeeps overtake when possible and young people run alongside the train and hold on to the carage the train has the right of way and the local people are fully aware of that as we go higher the Mist becomes thicker it's also becoming colder people warm themselves by open fires and wear Shaws and good clothing to stay warm soon the buildings of the next settlement emerge from the Mist we brush past them it's even possible to touch them through the windows both the railroad and the settlements have grown together so are almost part of each [Music] other we've reached these sonada station at an altitude of no less than 6,552 ft here life takes place on the street and people are dressed for the cold the children use the rails outside their dwellings as play areas and the adults use them as Pathways the train announces itself with a customary tooting the villagers go about their daily tasks alongside the railway line fish is prepared and Craftsmen wait for customers life here is conducted at its own pace slow and uncomplicated sonada is a typical street village situated by the side of the railroad it originated during construction of the railroad in the [Music] 1890s in this region settled boua Tibetans Lepa and nepo a unique mixture of mountain people that are a fine example of those who have learned to live together in [Music] harmony various religions coexist here in addition to Buddhism several natural religions are also practiced [Music] here the sters of a Tibetan Monastery complex lie alongside the rails and can be seen from the train religion plays an important role in the daily life of the [Music] people sonada station is located in the heart of the village a beautiful old building that is typical of British architecture from time to time the regular train overtakes a tourist train that carries Travelers who are fascinated by old Railways and who often like to stop in order to take photos both Nostalgia and scenery make a good picture we travel further the Mist becomes thicker it's difficult to see the depth of the abysses that flank [Music] line The Passage through Jor bunglow is so narrow that the police must stop the road vehicles so that the train can travel through the village without [Music] danger several Jeeps Gather in the narrow Village Street that is cloaked in a mysterious mist finally we arrive at goom station at 7,47 FT the railroad's highest point the station looks sad and Bleak in the midst the passengers are not phased by the remoteness of this place despite the dense Mist they take advantage of the stop to take further photos from goom there are trips to Tiger Hill Jeeps take the trains passengers up to a vantage point of 8,497 Ft above sea [Music] level fortunately the Mist gradually clears revealing the impressive peaks of the Himalayas without the Mist goom looks totally different and life returns to its pretty buildings and Lanes the people here earn their living from the tea plantations the village is very relaxing men stand around chatting women do their shopping and there's even a Bengali [Music] hairdresser the yiger choling monastery in goom dates back to 1850 it's located 100 m from the railway station it's a place of relaxation and meditation [Music] magnificently painted both inside and out with wall painting after wall painting and religious images guard the entrance to the [Music] monastery inside is an illustration of the mraa Buddha a special Buddha whose arrival is Yet to Come a demonstration of true [Music] devotion when the train has gone jeeps and taxis crowd the Narrow Street that travels through the village and Traders offer their goods on the railway line outside their [Music] doors also in goom the railway station is situated in the center of the village and lies at the highest point of the mountain [Music] pass old notice boards declare that this was once the highest train station in the world and the people look like actors in front of some incredible movie [Music] backdrop quite surreal scenery at the edge of the world's highest [Music] mountains from here the train makes its descent to diling and the Mist returns the bazia loop leads around a hill in the center of which is a memorial thus an immense difference in altitude was [Music] overcome again Huts have been built right alongside the track and from here the well planned and essential Loop can be [Music] seen long bends lead the toy train towards its final destination a repeat of the same slopes rails Road and rock faces the steep slope contains more and more settlements and each Bend brings us closer to the most famous destination of our journey here the bends become narrower and the concentration of settlements indicates the importance of this region this is the junction of routs from India to sim Bhutan and [Music] [Music] Tibet and now diling the final destination of our journey from the hot Siliguri and the lowlands up into the cool mountains at more than 6,8 190 ft the station is the terminal for the Narrow Gauge Railway diling is full of History this region was once part of the independent Kingdom of sikim until the British [Music] arrived in 1814 when the East India Company came here for the first time about 200 people lived on the Treeline slopes sikim was protected by the nepes and general Lloyd the British representative used this area for the recovery of his [Music] [Applause] soldiers soon the work on offer attracted thousands of people who subsequently settled here the tree line slopes were cleared and tea plantations were created summer tourism was introduced but in Winter the climate was extremely cold a mixture of ethnic peoples originated here joined together by the strict discipline and administration of the [Music] British there have been tea plantations here since 1840 The Splendid tea growing area around aring has a favorable geographical and climatic IC location and produces one of the best teas in the world each Tea Garden is organized like a small village the workers live with their families close to the factories and their welfare services are [Music] free the quality of high-grade tea depends on the altitude at which it's grown climate accuracy of harvesting and careful manufacturer all play their part in this small Cemetery British General George Will AA Lloyd was laid to rest he died on the 4th of June 1865 and sherper Tenzing no was also remembered [Music] here diling short Main Street with its many shops and restaurants leads to chasa square in which no Noble buildings are reminiscent of Glorious Times Gone by thank you to the diling Himalayan toy train for a unique journey and one which will not easily be [Music] forgotten oh

Channel: Expoza Travel

Views: 113,816

Keywords: videos, Nature, discovery, channel, Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (Tourist Attraction), expoza, Siliguri (City/Town/Village), Video, Darjeeling (City/Town/Village), Tourism (Roxette Album), Culture, tour, Himalayas (Mountain Range), visit, Destination, travelguide, travel, holiday, tavel, arcadiaentertainment, adventure, tips, documentary, yt:stretch=16:9, guided, Tourism (Interest), world, highlights, vacation, guides, Tourist Destination, trip, cityguide, essentials, video, guide

Id: 46qSwRG99bs

Length: 25min 34sec (1534 seconds)

Published: Wed Aug 14 2013