Calcutta(Kolkata) to Darjeeling....

Hi all.

Just need advice re this leg of my trip. Seems Cal to New Jalpaiguri (12 hrs on train) needs an overnight at Siliguri before hopping on the Toy Train to Darjeeling ? How has anyone else done this trip ?

Also, the best way to get back from Darj to proceed to Varanasi ?

Any help would be appreciated.

Cheers all.

You might want to consider staying over in Siliguri anyway : the toy train will take "4-12 hours" according to the book. In my case it took 15 , downhill with one derailing delay. Not to be missed though , one of my best travel experiences.
Wish I could say something nice about Siliguri as well but mainly I remember a moment of cow panic.

Hi ravenraye ,
I am Somnath from Calcutta. You are absolutely right that Cal to NJP is 12 hrs journey. And vistet is also right that the Toy train ride is an unforgettable experience. But, time is also very important factor. I came to know that to overcome this problem, there is a small toy train trip from Darjeeling for the tourists. “Indiaguide” may help you for current status.
There are trains between NJP (nearest railway st. from Shiliguri) and Mughal Sarai (Auto/Taxi is available for Varanasi ). Please have a look on the given table. For more info (time table, fare etc.) try this URL http://www.indianrail.gov.in/

Any more info?

Welcome to Calcutta .
Somnath

Thanks Vistet and Somnath, great stuff. Good to see the direct train from NJP to MS.
Have been to Cal before but always craved Darj ! Cheers.

1. Why go to MS when there are direct trains from New Jalpaiguri to Varanasi Jn. on four days of the week ?

2. The toy train for Darjeeling leaves NJP at 09=00 and reaches Darjeeling at 15=30. You can take the overnight Uttar Banga Express / Kanchankanya Express from Sealdah and reach NJP at 07=40; in time for the toy train.

Thanks Shimla, I just thought that I might be a bit frazzled after 12 hrs on the train to be fully awake and enjoy the Toy Train - another 8 hrs so soon after the overnighter...


I will check the New Jalpaiguri to Varanasi direct, sounds good .. thanks again S/

Yes, Shimla is right. you can try Kanchyankanya or Uttarbanga Expreess.As somnath said you can try Joy ride of Toy train from Darjeeling. Darjeeling- Ghoom- Darjeeling cost is Rs.250/= per head

hi Indiaguide, are you meaning that I get to Darjeeling another way (road etc) and then do the mini Toy Train trip ? Was a bit confused. Ta.

Yes, You may go to Darjeeling by road . Then you can take Joy ride by toy train.Joy ride is touristic. DHR organise it twice a day,provided by minimum no.of tourist.Otherwise around 2.30 /3 P.M there is a train from Darjeeling ,by which you may go upto Ghoom, then you can come back to Darjeeling by road.

These are options to take a toy train ride . But i think you like to take toy train ride from Siliguri to Darjeeling.Tomorrow i am going to Darjeeling , Let you know any new information.
About siliguiri.It's a bsiness center nothing special. But one can spend a night there.

link please

I was last week in Darjeeling and my connection from Patna to NJP arrived quite late to pick the Toy Train. I took a shared jeep paying 100 rs and the ride was around 3 hours time.

Once in Darjeeling you can make an easy walk from Chowrasta passing through the pony stables road and taking the middle road in the cross, direction Tiger Hill. You will have a very easy walk for one or one and a half hour until Ghoom passing close to a Budhist monastery etc. In Ghoom by chance I've taken the Toy Train who only works from there to Darjeeling, in fact the best part of the journey. If I remember well the time was around 11.30 or something like that.

Jorge