Is it a toy train? Is it a restaurant?

Tourists in Darjeeling, especially toy train enthusiasts, will soon be able to partake of the ambiance of one while tucking into momos and sipping tea or coffee. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) has abandoned toy train coaches into restaurants at four stations in the district.

The DHR, which functions under the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), has decided to set up the “coach restaurants” between Sukna, the last station in the plains located around 10km from Siliguri, and Darjeeling, the terminal station of the 80km route.

The train coach that has been developed into a restaurant at New Jalpaiguri station. Picture by Passang Yolmo

“There is a plan to open such restaurants at Sukna, Tindharia, Kurseong and Darjeeling. Old toy train coaches will be turned into (stationary) restaurants within a few months. We believe these places will draw a considerable number of tourists. They can enjoy the experience of sitting in a railway coach while having delectable food and beverages,” said an official of the NFR.

The “coach restaurants” will come up on the station compounds.

A few weeks ago, one such restaurant was at the New Jalpaiguri station, where an old railway coach has been refurbished. Along with sitting arrangements, a live kitchen has also been set up.

Over the past few years, the inflow of passengers has increased at the DHR. Tourist seasons usher in a flurry of bookings of different services, particularly the toy train ride between Darjeeling and Ghoom.

Since last year, the DHR authorities have been taking initiatives to popularise the toy train, which is a Unesco-recognised world heritage. Among these are the introduction of new train services, including a vista dome, organising various events like quiz competitions, drawing contests and cultural programmes, and a consistent campaign on various media platforms.

“Many people who travel to the hills by road can choose to check out the coach restaurants because of their uniqueness. Similar restaurants have been opened in some other stations of the country and those are quite popular,” the railway official said.

As a part of the plan, tenders will be floated for the project and private parties selected to run the restaurants.

“It is yet another plan to augment the revenue of the DHR,” said a source.

The members of the Sikkim team that came first in the National Tribal Dance Competition organised by the Chhattisgarh government in Raipur between November 1 and 3. The 20-member Sikkim team represented by the Ranipool-based Dynamic Flickers Dance Academy performed the traditional dance of the Tamang community in the competition. Apart from the winner’s trophy, the team was also awarded a cheque of Rs 5 lakh, gift hampers and a certificate. Report by Rajeev Ravidas