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Friday 1 April
After breakfast, our charter train leaves for the journey up through the Siliguri bazaar and the forests to Tindharia, where we will visit the DHR’s workshops, before returning to Siliguri and our hotel for dinner. There will be ample opportunity for photography – we have a bus available on the parallel road for the photographers, and you can change between bus and train frequently.
Saturday 2 April
Our second charter will run from Tindharia to Darjeeling, with a break at Kurseong. 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. On arrival in Darjeeling, we are taken to the Elgin, one of Darjeeling’s lovely heritage hotels.
Sunday 3 April
The day is free in Darjeeling. For the early risers, you might like to see sunrise over the Himalayas from Tiger Hill. We will organise an excursion on the ‘Joy Train’ (if available) from Darjeeling to Ghum (to visit the excellent DHR museum). This gives another chance to photograph the train at Batasia with the mountains. There’s plenty to do in Darjeeling – why not visit the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute or the zoo, wander through town or just enjoy the views.
Monday 4 April
After breakfast we drive down the Hill Cart Road back to Siliguri. As an optional alternative (at your own cost) you can ride the 2D diesel-hauled service train (departs Darjeeling at 09.15) back to Siliguri Junction arriving around 15.40. Overnight at the Cindrella.
Tuesday 5 April
We are driven to New Jalpaiguri station to catch our train at 09.55 to Calcutta arriving at 19.40. We’ll be met and transferred to our hotel, the Peerless.
Wednesday 6 April
This morning we take a specially chartered Calcutta Tram through the city – 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. In the afternoon we drive to the airport to catch our Jet flight 9W2155 at 15.35 to Bombay arriving at 18.10. We transfer to our hotel, the West End, for the night.
Thursday 7 April
An early start takes us out on the Deccan Express from Bombay’s famous Victoria Terminus station for the 90-minute journey to Neral, the foot of the line up to Bombay’s hill station of Matheran. We have a steam charter train running up to the interesting town of Matheran, where you have the chance to explore before we return to Neral. We return to the city by one of Bombay’s ubiquitous suburban electric multiple units.
Friday 8 April
In the morning we’ll have a tour of Bombay. The afternoon is free to explore this vibrant city. In the evening we’ll transfer to the airport for our early morning flight home at 02.35…
Saturday 9 April
…arriving at London’s Heathrow airport at 07.00.
Click here for the details of the Add-on to the lovely hill station of Ooty.
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