My ASEAN Free GPS Map Project

On the road to Darjeeling 15/04/11 -- a long journey from Kolkata, via train and bad mountain roads. We're at 2,200m above sea level in a remote northeastern corner of India, surrounded by Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan, China and Bangladesh.


Road through the Himalaya to Kurseong and on to Darjeeling. Reminds me of Tibet, except that it's green here -- Tibet is virtually a desert thanks to the Himalaya blocking the monsoon.


Yes, after 6 months, I'm back in the Himalaya! The mountains dominated by Kangchenjunga (8586m, #3 highest in the world after Everest & K2) loom over Darjeeling.


Darjeeling or bust!


At the very scenic Darjeeling 'Toy Train' station.


That's the ancient steam engine (built between 1889-1925 by the British) of the world-famous Darjeeling Himalayan 'Toy Train', running on a very narrow 2-ft gauge. It's a Unesco World Heritage Site as well. Gotta take a ride in it!


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I like the stream engine .. a real engineering marvel from its time ...

The car that you travel, look like Kancil...

alyem wrote:The car that you travel, look like Kancil...

Suzuki Maruti. Tough little bugger.

The main mosque in Darjeeling, biggest and oldest, 19th century. Flooring and ceiling wooden. There are 2 other mosques here.


Along the corridor of the Darjeeling Mosque, I greet a soft-spoken small man in full white garb, complete with a white skullcap. His English is not too good, but I gather he's the muezzin, the bilal. So I compliment him, your azan is good, have you been to Masjidil-Haram in Makkah and heard the beautiful azan there? His face turns sombre, and he shakes his head, I've not been to hajj. I feel sorry for him, truly.


A typical tea shop in Darjeeling. Colourful boxes of premium tea leaves. The highest quality is maroon, lower quality ones are blue & yellow.


The tough little 'Himalayan Toy Train' takes a breather at the Batasia Loop, where it gets over a hilltop via the track which loops onto itself. Unfortunately weather is not good for views of the high Himalayan mountains at the back.


Just love this slogan at the Batasia Loop gardens.


As our steam engine laboriously climbs the gradient along the road, a jeepney (aka taxi) comes abreast and the lady-passengers make eye contact with me. Ah well ... I reciprocate with this shot.


After a 50-min run from Darjeeling, burning coal is ejected to make way for fresh fuel at Ghum station, for the return trip. The towns are only 9km apart, but the mountainous terrain lengthens the journey.


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A couple of HD vids of the famed Darjeeling Himalayan 'Toy Train' running on the 2-ft gauge. It's a World Heritage Site.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gO4YVtVR ... O4YVtVR4xE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wC-9db- ... wC-9db-HAU

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Stunning!..... Bro niam you're a lucky man....

moeyhc wrote:Stunning!..... Bro niam you're a lucky man....

Thanks, but it's hard work getting there - planes, trains, automobiles, bad mountain roads, etc.

With that such hard work to reach such a beautiful place, is a worth a try I must say! To see a beautiful places doesn't come easily with just a short trip...!!!

You again amaze us with your pictures!

Great!

9W2CBL wrote:With that such hard work to reach such a beautiful place, is a worth a try I must say! To see a beautiful places doesn't come easily with just a short trip...!!!

You again amaze us with your pictures!

Great!

Thanks, yes, from KL flight to Kolkata 4hrs. Then 12-hr overnight train from Kolkata Sealdah to New Jalpaiguri, followed by a 4-hr drive up the Himalaya. Or, alternatively, flight from Kolkata to Bagdogra, then 4-hr drive up the Himalaya. I did both plane and train.