ANCHOR NEWS : DHR, RAILWAY HERITAGE, TEA & TIMBER TRAILS FAM TOUR HELD AT KURSEONG

(Travel Trade & Railway Officials Experience New ‘Slow Tourism’ Circuit Linking Toy Train, Forests & Tea)

TTT NEWS NETWORK

KURSEONG | 30 APRIL 2026

As part of the joint initiative by Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) and Railway Heritage, a Fam Tour themed ‘Tea and Timber Trails’ was conducted today for travel agents, tour operators from across the country, and Railway officials from other divisions.

Key highlights of the day:

1. Sukna Station: The Fam Tour commenced with the inauguration of the redesigned Photo Gallery at Sukna Station by delegates.

2. Heritage Ride to Rongtong: Delegates traveled in the heritage Everest coach, dining coach, and first class coach to Rongtong Station.

3. Shivakhola Birding Hotspot: From Rongtong, the group was introduced to Shivakhola, a key birding site under Kurseong Forest Division.

4. Sepoydhura Tea Estate: The delegation received a traditional reception with Nepali folk dance. The management and workers facilitated tea plucking and a guided factory tour to showcase tea processing. Lunch was hosted at the tea garden.

5. Tindharia DHR Workshop: Delegates visited the historic Tindharia Workshop, a living example of 140-year-old railway engineering.

6. Stakeholder Meeting: The day concluded with a hi-tea meeting at Margaret’s Deck to discuss circuit integration.

Outcomes:

Every delegate from the tourism industry has agreed to include the DHR experience, clubbed with tea and forest components, in their promotion of Darjeeling and the Northeast.

For the visiting Railway officials, the tour served as a learning exercise on creating and connecting tourism circuits with railway heritage.

While South Bengal was voting, we were busy promoting heritage and community based tourism from North Bengal. An effort to revive the brand Darjeeling as the Himalayan model for sustainable tourism. GTA played an important role in supporting the initiative, and also positive guidance from local travel trade associations of North Bengal.

Raj Basu, Convener,  Association for Conservation & Tourism (ACT).