Darjeeling strikes

Fi and Mark

Hi All,

We've been planning to travel to Darjeeling over the next few days but the hotel we phoned told us there were general strikes beginning on the 24th and lasting "indefinitely"..

Found this news story

http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080041841 &ch=2/20/2008%205:26:00%20PM

but not much else recent.. Anyone been in Darjeeling or Sikkim recently and been effected by this? We're thinking to skip Darjeeling for the moment and go straight up to Sikkim..

Thanks,

Fi and Mark

steven_ber

Hello F & M and welcome to indiamike.com

Can't help regarding the strikes, but I'm sure I read a few days ago that the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) had been suspended because of track problems, there was no indication of how long the line would be out of service.

You could try calling the Cindrella Hotel (Siliguri), the owner is the chairman of the DHR fan club, so he should know about the train, he may also know about the strike situation and the likelyhood of ant disturbances related to a strike.

Here is the website, it's a mid-range hotel and a friend stayed there and liked the place.

http://www.cindrellahotels.com/

or http://cindrellahotels.com/contact.html

EDIT, the page finally loaded, but in case it doesn't load later, here's their contact info.

HOTEL CINDRELLA
SEVOKE ROAD, 3RD MILE
SILIGURI-734 401.
WEST BENGAL
Tele Numbers (With area code)...0353-2547136, 2544130, 2546581.
Fax Numbers (With area code)....0353-2430615, 2531173
E-Mail.... cindrela@sancharnet.in

__________________
.
How to get helpful replies to your transport/Itinerary questions.



Train information.

theyyamdancer

I also read on the internet (Indian press) yesterday about the problems in Darjeeling and thereabouts due to a visiting politician and strikes against the Sixth Schedule. If anyone is on the spot I would very much like to know what is happening because we are due to arrive in 2 weeks time. We are already booked into a hotel in Darjeeling (Shangri La Regency) and I am really looking forward to it. Don't plan to change the plan unless it is really necessary. According to what I read, ordinary vehicles are allowed in and out of the blockade but the strikes could make life difficult (no rubbish is being collected, nor water being delivered). And as for the Train - I don't know. Does anyone know whether flights in and out of Bagdogra are affected in such cases? If anyone were to look at the news sometimes coming out of Europe (Kosovo right now for instance) they might be frightened to travel in the Balkans... We are also waiting any day now for a big earthquake here in Greece. We had 2 lately, and the experts say the Big One is coming... So, what are some road blockades in the universal scheme of things?

Himalayan Bird

Yes, there are strikes.

I was in Siliguri from Feb 7-10 and there were initially sporadic strikes which took the form of a road blocks in a number of places - Sukna, Tindharia, Ghum, etc every even hour (0800-0900). Trains were still running.

After two nights in Darjeeling (11/12 Feb), the trains were also affected and services stopped, as did the buses, and only 4x4s working. Leaving Delhi on Feb 20, I had the news that the Darjeeling Railway had not ran since a charter train on Feb 11, so the strikes have escalated to stranglehold proportions.

And the action will seriously impact many people's holidays and travel plans, but there is strong local feeling about the issue, with slogans on many walls and concrete abutments.

I know someone going back to the area in early March so will ask for an update.

mantru

yes the strikes are on and as far as i have news from back home it is going to continue,they just open the shops for supplies for few hours.tourism is going to be affected......its better to chnage plans...this agitation is not going to stop i guess..it will continue...people are on hunger strike for quite some time now and i heard some are serious...

fsg

Am not there but according to the Calcutta papers there is a general strike, Water not being supplies and rubbish not cleared.
A politician went to Delhi, and was not allowed back to Darjeeling via Siliguri, seems he is a bit of a stirrer, hence the road blocks.He is now in Calcutta.

I would suggest you get to Sikkim first and then approach Darj from that side if that is what you want to do



Posted10 am 25/02/08........... current info!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!

Fi and Mark

From what I hear from other travellers here Siliguri is now striking too.. Haven't seen anything in the news about it though.. Sikkim is pretty busy at the moment with travellers coming here instead of Darjeeling, hope we can all get back to West Bengal somehow!

mantru

i have just heard sikkim vehicle are also not allowed into darjeeling...do not know how bad the situation is,but pls confirm...you are not able to view on news as they are not giving importance to this issue or want to cover up the whole issue....as per people media has choosen not to cover .....however if you really want to go pls chk the situation first...

Shiva

Dear all

I am also planning to go to Darjeeling soon... and I heard about the strike. As a tour operator, I asked my local agent, and this is his reply from 26.02.08:

You are right about Darjeeling Hills. Situation is tense and there is total strike and all the roads including to Sikkim is closed by the agitators.
There are chances that by 29th Feb, after meeting of leaders, situation might change. So let me know if you want to change your travel or will you wait till 01 March to finalise the trip.

Let's hope for the best... I am really not willing to skip Darjeeling if not absolutely necessary...

Regards - Shiva

theyyamdancer

I am monitoring as best I can the situation. Just read online The Hindu of 26/02/2008 that "Sikkim was cut off from the rest of the country when the national highway linking it to West Bengal came under the bandh..." as well as the following article from the "Himalayan Beacon" online of 25/02/08 which states: "vehicles hailing from Sikkim are also coming under the ambit of the GJMM's indefinite Darjeeling bandh, which is underway since 20 February. According to the GJMM General Secretary, Mr. Roshan Giri, the party activists have been instructed not to allow any vehicle to ply along the NH31A to Sikkim from early morning tomorrow..."

We are due to travel to Sikkim on 10th March, things may change between now and then. The forthcoming meeting on 29th February may make or break the situation. However, some of the hunger strikers are extremely ill and the situation is judged worrying by the online Indian press.

I find it very interesting to hear that there is little or no information available on the ground.

The other "new" news is that the Bandh was lifted from today in the tea plantations for one week, in order not to totally disrupt the economy of the area.

Anyone with more recent news, please post.

mantru

I am not sure about the tea gardens but they have lifted the bandh for a day (today).

Sarah55

I am planning on being in Darjeeling in about three weeks. What are the odds of there still being a problem then do people think?

mantru

hey guys those who are travelling to darj within 1st to 10 march ....there is a good news as the town will be open for these number of days....after that we are still not sure as our leader has resigned and askd for 10 days time to leave office...so go ahead if your plans fall within this period..........

Sarah55

Thanks mantru. Do you have any idea how the situation is likely to progress after that period? I'm arriving around the 21st.

deerfiej

I am going to fly into Bagdogra airport on the 21st of March and flying out again the 3rd of April. I really hope everything is sorted out before I go...

Hey Sarah55, you wouldn't happen to be looking for a travel partner would you? Haha.