Smriti T.
Google
We did the joy ride to Batasia Loop on the way from Darjeeling to Ghum in the toy train. First things first: take the diesel engine, not the steam. The steam engine might sound romantic in theory, but in reality it’s slow, very noisy, and there’s a lot of smoke. If you keep the windows open, soot gets on your clothes.
As for Batasia Loop itself, it was alright. Especially compared to the other things you see in and around Darjeeling. It feels quite commercial. The main activity there honestly seemed to be people renting tea-seller outfits and dressing up for photos because there isn’t much else to actually do.
That said, the train stops there for about 20 minutes, and it is nice to get off, stretch, walk around, and feel the breeze. The views are completely weather-dependent. On clear days, you’re supposed to see the Kanchenjunga range, which I’m sure is beautiful. When we went, it was cloudy and foggy, so we didn’t really see much. So if you’re planning this, try to go on a clearer day, it would definitely be more worth it.
The return journey to Darjeeling is noticeably faster since it’s downhill. A decent one-time experience. Nice enough if you want to do the iconic train ride.