Siliguri, Oct. 6 -- Ahead of the Puja season, the historic Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) museum at Sukna Railway Station has reopened in a renovated form, offering tourists a glimpse into the rich heritage of the UNESCO World Heritage Railway. The museum was inaugurated during the Sukna Station Mahotsav.
Passengers travelling on the DHR train can visit the museum without any additional fee, as entry is included in the ticket. For visitors coming separately, the entry fee is Rs 50. The museum will remain open everyday from 10 am to 5 pm.
The renovated museum features photographs highlighting Sukna Station's past, major milestones and the 146-year history of the DHR. QR codes placed alongside the exhibits allow visitors to access detailed information about the displays and the railway's heritage.
Chetan Kumar Shrivastava, the General Manager of Northern Frontier Railway (NFR) said: "Sukna Station, with around 146 years of heritage, is an important gateway to the historic hill railway and forms an integral part of the DHR experience for passengers travelling from Siliguri towards the hills."
He said the museum, which had fallen into a dilapidated condition, was renovated through a joint initiative of the Katihar DRM and DHR Director to make it more attractive and informative.
The Mahotsav witnessed the release of Heritage and History DHR - Collector's Edition, Vol. 1, documenting the railway's history. Students from several schools, including Techno India Group Public School, presented cultural programmes.
Several heritage and infrastructure milestones were also highlighted. At Tindharia Workshop, the 125-year-old heritage locomotive 780B was flagged off after restoration, while a flat wagon that had remained out of service for 36 years was also restored.
At Giddaypahar, a siding that remained closed for 21 years was reopened.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.