India 2012

Our last day in Sikkim continues. After the trek ended in the morning, we follow up with the region's small historical attraction: the Toy train.

We have prime seats: the first ones, facing the locomotive!

Two trains run on this railway: the Toy train which reaches Siliguri in 7 hours (for 80 km...) and the Joy ride which makes a small 2-hour loop via Ghum town

We chose the Joy ride. The circuit is shorter and we will enjoy a typical coal locomotive, unlike the Toy train's diesel locomotive...

We are on train n°52549 pulled by locomotive n°791...

This railway (the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway) was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1999.

It was completed in 1881.

Through the window, Indian tourists want to take our picture! And this is the beginning of a long series for these next 4 weeks...   The father even gets into the carriage to pose with his little girl next to us... But in exchange, that gives me the right to photograph another part of the family who stayed on the platform!  

The British Empire left its decorative touch inside the carriages

And off we go... Choo choo!  

Hardly started, we stop to refuel with water

On the locomotive and in the spitting smoke, a man monitors the smooth running of the train

10-minute stop at Batasia Loop where a memorial commemorates the inhabitants of Darjeeling who died for the country's independence in 1947.

The place also offers a superb panorama of Darjeeling

Ghum station

Here we are, back at the hotel where we find our luggage entrusted to the manager during our 3 days of absence

The room is not the same as the first night but much more pleasant

A little stroll through the streets of Darjeeling to end the evening.

We eat a very good vegetarian "hamburger" made in the street on this large "griddle".

Starry night in the valley. Tomorrow we head to New Delhi to start our 3 weeks in Rajasthan!