Darjeeling, Aug. 25 -- The World Heritage Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) is set to introduce a new heritage joyride, 'Mukta Dhara', on the Kurseong-Mahanadi section from October 1, adding to the attractions for tourists visiting the Darjeeling hills during the Durga Puja festive season. Several other joyride services will also be introduced.

"The new service, named as a tribute to Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, will operate as a diesel-hauled round trip between Kurseong and Mahanadi. The train will leave Kurseong at 3.15 pm and depart Mahanadi for the return journey at 4 pm. The proposed fare for the round trip is Rs 1,030," said Rishav Choudhury, Director, DHR. The ride will cover 16 km to and fro.

According to the DHR, the service has been named after Tagore's celebrated work 'Muktadhara'. In 1922, inspired by the cascading waters of Paglajhora, a waterfall near Kurseong, Tagore penned the play 'Muktadhara'. The joyride route will cross the waterfall that had once inspired the Bard.

"The initiative seeks to link the heritage railway with the literary and cultural legacy of the Darjeeling hills, while offering passengers an opportunity to experience the scenic Kurseong-Mahanadi stretch," Choudhury added.

Ahead of its regular launch, a special run of Mukta Dhara will be organised at Mahanadi Railway Station towards the end of September as part of events preceding the Station Mahotsav.

The DHR will also introduce another round-trip service, 'Red Panda', on the Kurseong-Mahanadi route from October 1. The steam-hauled service will leave Kurseong at 9 am and Mahanadi at 10 am, with a proposed round-trip fare of Rs 1,530.

In addition, four special single-trip joyrides will operate between Darjeeling and Ghum during the festival season.

Diesel-hauled trains will leave Darjeeling at 9.20 am and 11.25 am, while return services from Ghum will depart at 10.25 am and 12.30 pm.

The proposed fare for a single journey between Darjeeling and Ghum, or vice versa, is Rs 800.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.