Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Featured in Lonely Planet’s ‘Best in Travel 2027’ Highlighting Darjeeling as A Global Destination for Toy Train Journeys

 Guwahati, 28^th September, 2026:

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR), the iconic heritage railway of Northeast Frontier Railway, has received another significant international recognition with Darjeeling being featured among the 50 destinations in Lonely Planet’s prestigious Best in Travel 2027 list. Lonely Planet has described Darjeeling as “Best for a Toy Train journey”, placing the historic Darjeeling Himalayan Railway and its unique mountain railway experience in the global travel spotlight.

The recognition further highlights the enduring appeal of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, popularly known as the “Toy Train”, which has become synonymous with the cultural and tourism identity of Darjeeling and the Eastern Himalayas. The DHR, opened in 1881, is renowned for its pioneering engineering solutions for establishing a railway through challenging mountainous terrain and forms part of the Mountain Railways of India UNESCO World Heritage Site, having been inscribed in 1999. Its historic stations, steam locomotives and distinctive mountain journey continue to offer visitors a unique experience through the hills, tea gardens and settlements of the Darjeeling region.

 

The Lonely Planet recognition comes at a time when Northeast Frontier Railway is undertaking various initiatives to promote the DHR as both a living railway heritage and an important tourism asset of the region. Heritage train journeys, steam locomotive rides, cultural events and experiential tourism programmes are providing visitors with opportunities to experience the railway’s rich heritage while strengthening the tourism ecosystem of the Darjeeling hills. Events such as the Ghum Winter Festival, Station Mahotsav and Summer Festival have further enhanced visitor engagement with the historic stations and the local communities associated with the DHR.

 

The DHR’s tourism initiatives also focus on community participation, environmental awareness and sustainable tourism. Heritage joy rides and outreach programmes undertaken in collaboration with local communities and environmental stakeholders are helping promote responsible tourism, while digital initiatives, experiential programmes and educational visits are engaging younger generations with the history, engineering and cultural significance of this unique railway heritage.

 

The inclusion of Darjeeling in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2027 further enhances the global visibility of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, enabling Northeast Frontier Railway to showcase its rich railway heritage and unique Toy Train experience while promoting sustainable tourism and the cultural and socio-economic potential of the Darjeeling hills to visitors from India and across the world.