Iconic Darj Land Rovers losing glory, owners seek

MANAS R BANNERJEE, SNS, MANEY BHANJYANG, 24 MARCH 2023 : Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has a dream, a dream to visit Sandakphu, the popular tourist draw, in Darjeeling. Sources have it that during her many visits to Darjeeling, she keeps "monitoring" important and potential tourist spots, including Sandakphu, so as to bring in development in the tourism sector. 

However, the CM has not been able to visit Darjeeling's highest point "due to unavoidable circumstances," even though the condition of major portions of the road there has been improved by the Public Works Department (PWD), reliable sources say. 

Apart from that, the PWD has also put up caution notices at many places, with a view to limiting the speed of all vehicles, including the iconic Land Rover, and in doing so, averting accidents. The nibble (boulder) soling road from Maney Bhanjyang on the difficult terrain is a thing of the past, with only a few kilometers of the stretch with such soling. 

On the other hand, the iconic Land Rover vehicles that have carried tourists in Darjeeling Hills ever since the country's Independence, is fast losing its glory due to several reasons. The vehicles were pressed into service in 1948, sources have said. Land Rover, a British brand of predominantly four- wheel drive, was introduced in 1948. 

As the iconic vehicles grow old by the year, owners of even other vehicles have been asked to phase out all vehicles that are more than 15 years old. Under such a situation, the Singalila Land Rover Owners Welfare Association (SLROWA), which was set up in 2004, to save the traditional vehicles, now plans to organise a 'Land Rover Festival' at Maney Bhanjyang tentatively on 30 April this year. Through the event has not been finalised, sources say the SLROWA also plans to take out a 'Land Rover Rally,' connecting the borders of neighbouring countries like Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh. 

In doing so, the SLROWA will demand "vintage status" for the existing Land Rover cars that move between Maney Bhanjyang and Sandakphu. Addressing the Indo-Nepal Tourism Meet-2023 here recently, SLROWA president Chandan Pradhan talked of their plans to organise the festival here. 

According to Mr Pradhan, the number of Land Rovers has now gone down from 65 to almost half due to various reasons. The coordinator of the SLROWA, Anil Tamang, said: "The objective of the Land Rover Festival is to demand vintage status, so as to maintain its tradition. We have decided to celebrate 75 year; of the Land Rove& which was introduced here in 1948. When Darjeeling means Toy Train, Maney Bhanjyang means Land Rover. So our demand is that the vehicles should he given vintage status in the interest of tourism in this region." 

"There are several reasons behind the reduction of the numbers. The main reason is scarcity of the vehicle parts for repair. Owners these days buy spare parts by paying Rs 10,000, for something that actually costs only Rs 1,000. Is it possible to run the vehicle in such away?" Mr Tamang said, adding, "As a result, owners have to replace the original parts by fitting parts from other vehicles. In fact, almost all the owners have now set up the Bolero engine into the Land Rover, though the gear- box is the original of Land Rover's." 

Mr Tamang, who is also the treasurer of the SLROWA, went on to add: "Owners of Land Rovers here have also introduced the Bolero, following tourists' demand, who prefer to enjoy a comfortable journey by avoiding the chilly wind, unpleasantly cold. But very interestingly, more 30 Land Rovers are plying in this route only because of a section of those who prefer to enjoy the ride in the traditional Land Rovers." He said that there presently only four Land Rovers here, which have been kept in the owners' houses "very carefully showcasing it as vintage." 

He also disclosed that some owners have sold off their Land Rovers at high prices on demand from other states in the recent past, and introduced other vehicles for their livelihood. According to sources, there is also a complaint against the vehicle owners for using music systems in their vehicles on the way to Sandakphu and even at Sandakphu within the Singalila forest zone, which they said tend to disturb wildlife, especially the Red Panda, and that tourists are being deprived  of wildlife sightings on either side of the road during the journey. 

Mr Tamang, however, brushed a side the allegations and said: 'Vehicles carrying tourists from our side of Maney Bhanjyang do that. We have asked authorities of the forest department to issue stickers for the vehicle, which can only ply on the way to Sandakphu and adjoining areas." 

According to sources, the number of vehicles has increased "unofficially" and during the tourist season, except for the restriction period, Sandakphu is overcrowded, which has been affecting wildlife. Significantly, members of the SLROWA are also facing problems carry foreign tourists, especially those from Bangladesh. "We face problems ferrying Bangladeshi tourists because of security reasons, as SSB officials take more time at each check post on the Indo- Nepal border. For this reason, vehicle owners are reluctant to carry foreign tourists," an SLROWA member said.