[susanj]

Hi, its me again, more questions, thought I might travel from MG to Darjeeling I've read that there is a little train (Narrow gauge) sounds like fun. OK the questions

Suggestions of a place to stay?

How long would said journey take? What class travel, cos by now you all know I'm new to this

What to do when I get there? just stuff really all the info so far has been good.

What is the weather really going to be like in HP during August, never did pack lightly!! so to all the girls out there HHHEEEELLLLLPPPPPPPPPPPPPP

p.s its a lovely sunny day, here in East Sussex UK. approx 34* so for us really hot and I've got a day off. Life is sooooooo sweet, I dreamed of these kind of days after my cardiac surgery, seems a long time ago (4 months) Susanj

[kullukid]

Hi, this is a verreeee looong journey, first of all you would have to spend a whole day getting back to Delhi then you can catch an express train 27hours to meet the toy train which I think takes about 7hrs to Darjeeling. Considering your health you need to think about this! Do you know you can take a toy train from Pathankot to Kangra near MG or from Kangra to Jogindernagar from here you could head for Mandi & stay there 2 nights then take a bus to Shimla where there is plenty to see & do & from here there is another toy train which you could take on the way back to Delhi or elsewhere. kk

[Judi]

Hi Susanj!

Like Kullukid says, it is a verrrrry loooong journey .... but well worth making, I think! (Well, the Toy Train bit to Darjeeling, anyway - I don't know about the Macleodganj bit).

The Toy Train leaves from Siliguri (New Jalpaiguri) and winds the 56 miles up through the hills, taking approx. 8 hours. It really is magical - you go through an amazing range of scenery, with fascinating little towns and villages; a very, very special journey.

Darjeeling is great - and we loved it BUT - it is high, and I must say even that modest altitude bothered me and I had to walk very, very slowly up all the steep hills. Don't take this the wrong way, please, but Darj is a Hill Station, built on the side of several hills, so there is very little flat land about, and in the centre of the town no cars are allowed, so you have to walk everywhere. If you and your health can stand that, then I would unreservedly recommend a trip there - it will be one you would never forget.

The train has two classes, and imho it is worth paying the few rupees extra to travel in the first class coach. It has individual seats rather than bench seats, and is wonderfully decked out in pink velvet, with split cane decorations and etched glass lamps. As there are far fewer seats in there, too, it is easier to make the most of the fantastic views. There are no catering facilities, but several stops which allow you time to buy things from the vendors on the platforms. The on-board loo was in immaculate condition when we were there.

I don't know your budget, but we stayed at the New Elgin Hotel - at the top end of the range. It's a lovely old world place, just off Chowrasta ( the main square in Darj) - with lots of polished wood floors, comfy chairs and log fires in the winter ( not that you will be needing them in August, I suspect ).

If you are still interested, I'll try to find my old receipts to give you some idea of prices.

To make the journey somewhat easier, you might like to consider taking the Rajdhani Express to Kolkata, then overnight from there to New Jalpaaiguri, to connect with the Toy Train, which arrives in Darj late afternoon. Alternatively, you could fly from Delhi to Bagdogra, and go to Darjeeling by jeep - and make your departure by Toy train when you decide to leave.

[Judi]

Susanj

Another thought:

You could take the 14.00 Rajdhani express from New Delhi, which arrives at New Jalpaiguri at 11.10 (2115 rupees, 2AC, 3620 rupees 1AC. Includes all meals and snacks, newspapers, cold bottled water and sparklingly clean bedlinen and someone to make your bed up for you!!!!! The either stay in NJP for the rest of the day and overnight, or take a jeep (private or shared) up to Darjeeling, returning, as I previously said, by the Toy Train.

If you decide to stay overnight in NJP, the Toy train leaves at 9.00am and arrives at 15.30. First Class costs 247 rupees, 2nd Class 42 rupees.

[cyberhippie]

All good suggestions so far, it's a long trek to Darjeeling from Mcleod Ganj so why not do it in stages?? Varanasi springs to mind, this would split the journey from Delhi to New Jalpaiguri (main railhead for Darjeeling) in half and allow you to see one of India's more facinating destinations!!
From here you can train it to Kalkota or Siliguri

Here's the train details!!

Pathankot - Delhi (Old Delhi Station)

4034 JAMMU MAIL *PATHANKOT 18:50 DELHI 05:00

Delhi (new Delhi Station) - Varanasi Jn

2560 SHIV GANGA EXP NEW DELHI 18:30 VARANASI JN 07:30

Mughal Sarai (22 kms from Varanasi) - New Jalpaiguri

2506 NORTH EAST EXP MUGHAL SARAI JN 18:30 NEW JALPAIGURI 09:15

From Here I suggest the bus/Taxi upto Darjeeling, the road follows the railway most of the way anyway, you can take the Toy Train back to New Jalpaiguri!!

[jyotirmoy]

Judi has suggested the best alternative. The journey is quite long & the train doesn't run on all the days so check it out at the Indian Railway site. You can also consider flying from Delhi to Bagdogra & then a shared taxi to Darjeeling. On your return you can take the toy train to New Jalpaiguri & from there to Kolkata. Another suggestion is to take a day trip by the toy train to Ghum from Darjeeling. Visit the monestary at Ghum & return to Darjeeling by the train.

[susanj]

OK, a bit too far maybe, something Dizbead wrote springs to mind about us here in UK not appreciating the distances/size of countries of Indai and the US, for me along journey is 400 miles to get to Scotland - I live in East Sussex (SE England), and I'm not sure I have the confidence to do that much changing trains, etc I'm very good at getting lost.

Sounds wonderful though, maybe next trip eh. Alan my husband said he'll be glad when I get this India thing out of my system - this is just the beginning.

Take care, oh I've just looked at the weather in Dharamasala and its hotter here in the UK. WOW

Thanks Susanj

[dzibead]

susanj, on Jul 4 2006, 02:23 PM, said:

Alan my husband said he'll be glad when I get this India thing out of my system -

Out of your system? Silly fellow! Little does he know ...

To give you an idea of the size of India, the distance from Delhi to Varanasi is about 400 miles as the crow flies! And it's an overnight train ride to get there.

Anyway, if you're really dying to get to the northeast, you might consider Sikkim as an alternative to Darjeeling (no toy train ride though ) I know you're interested in Tibetan Buddhism and Sikkim has a lot to offer on that front, even if you just stay in the Gangtok area. And remember, Rumtek, the Karmapa's monastery, is only about a half hour away from Gangtok. You can fly from Delhi to Bagdogra in about an hour and a half, and then take a very beautiful drive from the airport to Gangtok (about four hours or so). Just a thought.

I can't believe it's hotter in the UK than in Dhasa! Daytime temps in Dhasa are up around 99+ degrees F! I see that CNN weather says it's forecast to be around 75 to 85 deg F. (hot for England!) - but nearly 100???? No way! You aren 't looking at that stupid 123India weather page are you? It's completely wrong half the time! It's been saying that Dhasa has been getting down to about 9 C. at night . Can't believe it at this time of year! CNN's weather page is more accurate.