Mountain narrow-gauge railway in Darjeeling (India)

abgsedapmalam · Post time 28-9-2013 11:01 PM

Continuing to revive the old film photos from a trip to India 5 years ago, can't remember about the legendary narrow gauge railway in Darjiling. Somewhere I partially published something about Darjeeling, but obryvočno and with a minimum of photos. By the way, if anyone thought the word Daržilling it has already heard somewhere, then it's not a bug-in the most famous grow Darjiling tea brand. The funny thing is that in this most remote corner of India (held between Nepal and Bhutan) I was completely random and spontaneous: we flew from Delhi to Srinagar, our flight was detained at 3:0, and then announced that he had canceled. I managed to vycyganit′ the airlines an alternate flight to anywhere in India, and this without any additional fees. Just was checking in for a flight to Bagdogra. Where is it? And God only knows-in plane poizučaem Guide. So much so that in India there are no places in uninteresting anyway. Then we fly in Bagdogru, which turned out to be Gates encompasses appellations!

We are taking off, and I uglublaûs′ in the study guide. So. Bagdogra. Turns out it's only airport, serving the mountain name Darjeeling and Sikkim autonomous region. We fly pretty far away to the other end of India, over a distance of nearly 2000 km east of New Delhi. Quick read, that there is, in this very Darjiling. And with each line make sure that the impromptu turned out a success. This lovely Hugo OK Himalayas, located at the junction of the borders of Nepal, Bhutan, China and Bangladesh. This is the heartland of Buddhism, and is the unique beauty of nature, where the jungle next to the peaks gimalajskimi and Buddhist monasteries with Hindu temples.

Daržilling, West Bengal

It is extremely unusual for India region. What's more, its dwellers and do not consider themselves Indians, and New Delhi has never recognized. The complexity of the political situation, it is not difficult to notice, by the way from the airport-road stretch with inscriptions "Free" Darjeeling ", and daržilingskie flags, occurring more frequently than Indian. And ethnicity is quite different. Here the majority of the population are ethnic Gurkha (Nepalese), a Buddhist by faith, and Mongoloids on race. All this is the fruit of the British colonial policy, when those imported workers from neighboring Nepal at the gurhkov tea plantation. Now it's a smoldering ethnic conflict.

Immediately upon exiting the airport, we have joined the company of Canadian and British guys, big companies who traveled to India. They, too, were moving in the Daržilling, and even came to agreement with the owner of the Jeep. It should be noted that the Jeep brand TATA are the main means of transportation in the mountains-

The region is famous for three things: a unique car, the Himalayas, and tea plantations. Narrow-gauge railway, built by the British is considered to be one of the narrowest in the world-60 cm gauge. It is included in the UNESCO World Heritage list. This road length of 89 km, connects Darjeeling with Siliguri town near Bagdogra airport. Altitude difference between the railway station and primary target is almost 2200 meters. The city is famous for its tea varieties of "Darjeeling" performed on the nearby city of tea plantations. It is noteworthy that here is almost half of the total tea in India.

The roads are narrow, often broken. Snowfalls and landslides are frequent. Normal car there is no place, except, perhaps, for warm season. The road from the airport to the Darjeeling is impressive. Ustraš following serpentines on the background of the murdered road, deep failures and oncoming traffic, make the trip is unusually severe. Overcoming 89 kilometers is almost 4:0. It is not difficult to conclude that this is the way. However, the greatness of nature fascinates, and to the danger of falling into the abyss you begin to be philosophical. However, it should be noted that all the way I had a perpetual discussion with Canadian, who, as it turned out, was an officer in the ÛNIFILa contingent in southern Lebanon. Well, I have had the privilege to visit Lebanon at the time of service in the army of neighboring Lebanon.

The next day, in the morning we went to the local railway station, which is just a tiny train to narrow down in Bagdogru, where we arrived the day before. Our idea was to drive a couple of kilometers by train and get off at the pass by train, since the entire route would be too-it took eight (!) hours-

God, what steam locomotives! Dream lover, and even just the connoisseurs of such exotics. These tiny steam locomotives, hissing and spitting rain clouds of black smoke-

Tiny trailers with even more tiny seats. Plus koloritnejšaa crowd. Most importantly-do not use the touristic train that departs at 10.40 am. So not worth it.

The car nab′ûtsa the companions of organized groups that will not let you get in to Windows in order to take pictures of the Himalayan nature and coasting past the Buddhist stupas. At 9.15 am sent the usual local structure in which three wagon pulled by an old locomotive. The train meanders right through the streets encompasses appellations and surrounding mountain villages.

The train winds through the streets of Daržillinga and the surrounding mountain villages. Slowing down on the slopes, and adding speed on climbs. On one of the climbs when the train was moving at walking pace, we are right on track got off the train and went for a walk. Around-like and not India does. Clean and green. No hassles, no special attention to our persons. Along the way, we have a huge Buddhist monastery, where was service-

This is great, and should be seen. Shaved bald monks of all ages chorus mantras, all to the accompaniment of a roaring in the pipes and drums of the battlefield. After the monastery we, gulaûči, are back in the town of Darjeeling, where he visited the Himalayan Zoological Park, which is also a one-of-a-kind unique.

Then we just walked, visiting and looking at Buddhist temples, photographing the city and its inhabitants, admiring the snow-capped Himalayas. Oh, Holy Daržilling! Unlike the rest of India, here you can normally eat. There are sharp-edged Kari and strange seasonings from whom eyes climb on the forehead. Here the kitchen is closer to the Chinese. In addition, here is purely that of disgust and fear for their health after a meal. All the same, how interesting is one and the same country, and as far as all cultivated here and the more charming.

Oh, and the panoramic views offered by the Himalayas and is breathtaking-