Tindharia is a sleepy hamlet on the Hill Cart Road connecting Siliguri to Kurseong and beyond to Darjeeling, the ‘queen of the hills’. Tourists heading for the hills barely make a stop here but Tindharia happens to be one of the railway stations of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR), popularly known as the toy train.
DHR is now a UNESCO Heritage Site and Tindharia happens to host the only workshop of DHR. Officially known as the Locomotive, Carriage and Wagon Workshop, it is managed by the Northeast Frontier Railway and has been in operation since 1915.
A Darjeeling Himalayan Railway steam engine inside the workshop shed
The construction of the 2 feet narrow gauge railway line started in 1879 and by 1881, the 88-km route connecting Siliguri to Darjeeling was in operation. In 1880, a temporary workshop was set up in Tindharia for the repair and the maintenance of the rolling stock. But as traffic along the DHR grew, there was a need for a larger workshop. In 1915, a large workshop was set up near of the Tindharia station and it has been operating ever since.
Walking trails from Manjushri Garden through tea gardens and across swift flowing streams
Tindharia, literally means the meeting point of ridges is located, almost at the middle of the 88-km stretch. It is located at a height of 860m and is 50km from Darjeeling and 38km from Siliguri. Today, the workshop is involved in the maintenance and repairs of locomotives and coaches. It also is involved in the periodic overhaul of the steam locomotives and the coaches. The workshop originally covered an area of 6670sqm but 953sqm area was lost in 2012 because of a massive landslide. The landslide also washed away 152m of the 802m of tracks laid inside the workshop.
(Top) DHR coaches; (bottom left): inside a DHR coach; (bottom right) A DHR wagon
A gate with the painting of the toy train with the snowy peaks of Kanchenjunga and its sister peaks in the backdrop welcomes visitors to the workshop. The road leads to an open space with the two narrow gauge line bifurcating in two directions.
At the bifurcation stands a small triangular garden housing a boiler of a steam engine. The right road leads towards the workshop past an open space displaying various parts of steam locomotives, coaches and several other machines. These include wheels, boilers, lathe machines and even a whole wagon.
The interior of the workshop houses a few steam engines and coaches which are being repaired or overhauled. The shed also houses several restored coaches including first class coaches and dining cars. Also on display are several boards providing the list of locomotives (both steam and diesel) and coaches under DHR. Another board narrates the history of DHR and the workshop. Also on display are models of the workshop and several models of steam engine. The display also includes a model of a steam engine piston with details of its working procedure.
The toy train experience of Tindharia is not complete without a visit to nearby Tindharia station. The quaint station is located on a bend on the narrow gauge track. The station still has its share of colonial charm and is an ideal place for spending some time before heading to your next destination.
(Clockwise from top left) A model of the workshop; a steam engine model; a model of steam engine piston and a model of steam engine boiler
Tourists looking for an off-the-track experience can head to Manjushree Gardens, a nearby eco-stay. Named after a Tibetan bodhisatta, the eco-stay is an initiative of Darjeeling Walks, a tour company specialising in walks to explore the ‘queen of the hills’.
Manjusree Garden is the latest feather in their cap. Sustainability and eco-friendliness are the key aspect of the stay. The tented eco-stay is located amidst the Sivitar tea estate.
A typical Nepali thali at Manjushri Garden consisting of rice, dal, saak, vegetables and chicken
A narrow bumpy road connects the homestay from Tindharia. Tented accommodation are part of the eco-stay. The well-furnished spacious tents come in with attached baths. The food comes from the adjoining vegetable gardens. The eco-stay offers a host of activities for the visitors. The activities include nature walks, bird watching, packed lunch by the river, cooking clases and a host of other activities. There are several tea related activities, which include tea plucking and tasting. The evenings are marked with local cultural activities.
A visit to the Tindharia DHR Workshop and Manjushree Garden can provided a unique combination of industrial heritage and eco-tourism in a matter of few hours and provided an opportunity to explore the unknown and offbeat part of Darjeeling district.
