Come November, Ghoom festival back on tracks

Authorities of the Northeast Frontier Rail all set to showcase Darjeeling Himalayan Railways’ toy train service during the event

Ghoom railway station in Darjeeling. : File picture

TT Correspondent   |   Siliguri   |   09.10.22 : Authorities of the Northeast Frontier Railway are gearing up to organise the second edition of Ghoom Festival in November to showcase Darjeeling Himalayan Railways’ toy train service.

“It has been decided to organise the Ghoom Festival this year from November 12 to  December 4. We are keeping in  touch with all the stakeholders and patrons. We will begin our elaborate planning for the ensuing fest by next week,” an official of DHR said.

The NFR identified Ghoom to host the event  as the station is located one of the highest altitudes in the country, 7,400 feet from above the sea level and one of the most prominent railway stations of DHR that was listed as a world heritage site by Unesco in 1999.

“The idea is to organise the festival to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the hills by involving local residents with their unique

handicraft and local cuisines. DHR is one of the major attractions for thousands of tourists who are regularly visiting Darjeeling hills during the festive seasons. Our objective is to integrate the local residents and tourists so that together they can also work for the conservation and promotion of DHR,” the official said.

As a part of the festival, official sources added that there were plans to take tourists to the heritage museum of DHR at Ghoom and the tea gardens of the area,and ensure that they take part in adventure sports.

According to an official source in DHR, presently they are running two regular passenger services and one tri-weekly similar service with vistadome and air-conditioned coaches between Darjeeling and New Jalpaiguri stations.

“There are 12 joy ride services between Darjeeling and Ghoom that are presently operational from this month. We are getting good response from the passengers so far from the rides. If this trend continues, we will try to introduce four more joy ride services in the same route to accommodate more passengers during the upcoming festival,” the official added.

The joy rides are operated by eight diesel locomotives and four are hauled by steam engines.