Himalaya only · Saver trips from ₹7,500
Try "Spiti", "snow leopard", "Char Dham", "homestay", "Tiger's Nest"
Route · Darjeeling & Kalimpong
The upper half of the Hill Cart Road, from Kurseong through Tung and Sonada to Ghum, the highest point of the toy train line, and round the Batasia Loop into Darjeeling. About 30 km and 1–1.25 hours, with the railway track beside you much of the way.
Photo: Arne Hückelheim 2010-09-21 12:41:53 This is a … · CC BY-SA 4.0 · CommonsEvery way to go
| How | Time | Cost, indicative 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Shared jeep | 1–1.5 h | ₹100–150 a seat |
| Toy train | About 3 h | Varies by class and service |
| Private car | 1–1.25 h | ₹1,500–2,200 one way |
Shared jeeps run between Kurseong's motor stand and Darjeeling through the day and fill quickly in the morning. Jeeps coming up from Siliguri also pass through and sometimes have seats. The road shares space with the railway, so expect slow stretches through the bazaars of Sonada and Ghum.
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway runs between Kurseong and Darjeeling on some days, climbing about 600 m through Tung, Sonada and Ghum and round the Batasia Loop. Services, classes and fares change with the season and track condition. Book on IRCTC and check current status before you travel.
A reserved car is quick and lets you stop at Dow Hill, the Sonada bazaar and Ghum Monastery. If you are staying at Cochrane Place or Taj Chia Kutir, the hotel can arrange a car. Weekend traffic into Darjeeling can add 30 minutes in season.
At each end
Photo: Mayukh Ghose · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
The toy train's home town, ringed by old tea gardens
Photo: Arne Hückelheim 2010-09-21 12:41:53 This is a … · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
The thunderbolt ridge, its tea and its two-foot railway
Questions
About 30 km up the Hill Cart Road via Tung, Sonada and Ghum, which takes 1–1.25 hours by car and a little more by shared jeep. The toy train covers the same stretch in about three hours when it runs.
On some days the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway runs services between Kurseong and Darjeeling. Timetables and classes change with the season and track work, so check on IRCTC and confirm locally. If it is running, it is the best way to see Ghum and the Batasia Loop from the train.
About ₹100–150 a seat in 2026. Jeeps leave the Kurseong motor stand when full, most often in the morning. In the afternoon, try flagging jeeps coming up from Siliguri on the main road.
Yes, especially for tea lovers. Kurseong is lower and warmer than Darjeeling, close to estates such as Makaibari and Castleton, and has the Netaji museum at Giddapahar and the Dow Hill forest. A night here breaks the climb from NJP and costs less than Darjeeling.
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