The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR), the iconic heritage railway under the Northeast Frontier Railway, has received another international recognition after Darjeeling was included among the 50 destinations featured in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2027 list.
Lonely Planet has named Darjeeling as a destination “Best for a Toy Train journey”, bringing the historic railway and its unique mountain journey into the global travel spotlight.
Commonly known as the “Toy Train”, the DHR is an important part of Darjeeling’s tourism and cultural identity. The railway began operations in 1881 and is known for its innovative engineering methods that made it possible to build a railway line through the difficult mountainous terrain.
The DHR is part of the Mountain Railways of India, which was included in the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1999. Its historic stations, steam locomotives and scenic route take passengers through the hills, tea gardens and settlements of the Darjeeling region.
The latest recognition comes at a time when the Northeast Frontier Railway is taking several steps to promote the DHR as both a living example of railway heritage and a major tourist attraction.
Various heritage train journeys, steam locomotive rides, cultural programmes and experiential tourism activities have been organised to allow visitors to experience the history of the railway while also supporting tourism-related activities in the Darjeeling hills.
Events such as the Ghum Winter Festival, Station Mahotsav and Summer Festival have also been organised to attract visitors to the railway’s historic stations and highlight their connection with local communities.
The railway has also been focusing on community participation, environmental awareness and sustainable tourism. Heritage joy rides and outreach programmes involving local communities and environmental groups have been held to encourage responsible tourism in the hills.
Digital initiatives, educational visits and experiential programmes are also being used to familiarise younger visitors with the history, engineering and cultural importance of the DHR.
The inclusion of Darjeeling in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2027 list is likely to give further international attention to the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway and its famous Toy Train experience.
For the Northeast Frontier Railway, the recognition also offers an opportunity to showcase Darjeeling’s railway heritage and highlight the tourism, cultural and economic potential of the Darjeeling hills to visitors from across India and abroad.