The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR), in collaboration with the Darjeeling Forest Division, celebrated Aranya Saptaha 2026 with a special heritage toy train joy ride to promote environmental awareness and biodiversity conservation among school students.
As part of the Forest Week celebrations, students travelled on the iconic toy train from Darjeeling to Ghum and back on 15 July. The initiative combined the region’s rich railway heritage with the message of forest and wildlife conservation, according to the DHR Public Relations Cell.
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At Ghum, India’s highest railway station, a cultural programme and awareness session on ecological protection were organised. The event was attended by the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), the Assistant Divisional Forest Officer (ADFO) and the Station Manager of Darjeeling station, who interacted with the students and highlighted the importance of preserving both nature and heritage.
The programme aimed to bring young people closer to the region’s natural and cultural legacy, encouraging them to become responsible ambassadors of conservation.
Meanwhile, following the successful celebration of Toy Train Day at Sukna station on 4 July, the North Bengal Painters Association, Siliguri, in collaboration with the DHR, organised a felicitation ceremony at Dinabandhu Mancha in Siliguri on 16 July. Certificates and medals issued by the DHR were presented to participants of the heritage-themed art workshop and exhibition, while winners of the sit-and-draw competition were also honoured.
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