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Friday 11 February
A full day exploring Calcutta. We take a specially chartered Calcutta Tram to BBD Bagh – this is an excellent way to see how Calcutta really works - with its teeming streets and colourful bazaars from the relative calm of the tram. Later, we take a cruise on the River Hooghly (one of the mouths of the Ganges) to see temples, and much of the old British riverfront. Our coach then gives us a tour of the City, including a visit to see the Kumartali idol-makers, a glimpse of Victoria Memorial and the Maidan.
Saturday 12 February
In the morning we drive to he airport to catch our Jet flight 9W2480 to Bagdogra arriving at 13:20. We’re taken by coach to our hotel, the Cindrella, in Siliguri. Later in the afternoon we visit Siliguri Junction depot for our first look at some of the famous ‘B’ class steam locomotives that have run the DHR for over a hundred years now.
Sunday 13 February
The highlight of the tour! After breakfast, our charter train leaves for the journey up through the Siliguri bazaar and the forests to Tindharia, where we visit the DHR’s workshops, before returning to Siliguri and our hotel for dinner. There is ample opportunity for photography – we have a bus available on the parallel road for the photographers, and it’s possible to change between bus and train frequently.
Monday 14 February
Our second charter runs from Tindharia to Darjeeling, with a break at Kurseong for lunch. We should arrive in Darjeeling in time for afternoon tea at the Elgin Hotel, home for the next two days. We’re hoping for good weather – if there’s a good view of the mountains, we stop at the famous Batasia Loop to photograph the train with Kanchenjunga in the background. As usual, the bus will accompany the train for the photographers.
Tuesday 15 February
A free day to enjoy all that Darjeeling has to offer! If you can stand an early start (4:30am!) and the weather is clear, there’s the chance to watch a spectacular sunrise over the Himalayas from Tiger Hill. There is so much to see in this interesting hill station - the bazaar, the Tibetan Self-help Centre, the shops (don’t miss Das Studios’ historic photos and the Oxford Bookshop), the Mountaineering Institute and of course the views…
Wednesday 16 February
Another free day in Darjeeling. Why not take a morning walk to the station to see the activity there, perhaps a trip on the Joy Train to Ghum and a visit to the interesting DHR museum on Ghum station.
Thursday 17 February
After breakfast, we take our coach for the drive down the Hill Cart Road to Siliguri. There is an option to take the diesel-hauled service train at a small additional cost. In the late afternoon we assemble for our legendary charter dinner train: a superb three course meal as the steam engine blasts up through the forest. Magic!
Friday 18 February
In the late morning we travel to Bagdogra airport to catch our Jet Airways flight 9W601 flight at 14:45 to Delhi arriving at 16:50. We’ll be met and driven to our hotel near the airport for the night.
Day 16 Saturday 19 February
In the morning we drive to New Delhi airport to check in for our 13:40 Jet flight to London’s Heathrow Airport, due in at 17:40..
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