By rail
If your international flight lands in Kolkata, you do not have to fly on to Bagdogra. Two trains run to New Jalpaiguri, the station for the hills. Here are their times, and the cases where rail beats the 50-minute flight.
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The day train
The Vande Bharat Express leaves Howrah at 05:55 and reaches New Jalpaiguri at 13:30, six days a week, in air-conditioned chair cars. An early-afternoon arrival leaves time for the 3-hour drive to Darjeeling or Kalimpong in daylight.
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The night train
The Darjeeling Mail leaves Sealdah late in the evening and arrives at about 07:50. You sleep on the way and still have a full first day in the hills.
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Train or plane
Our guide's rule is to fly unless you are coming from Kolkata. From Delhi the Rajdhani takes about 20 hours against a nonstop flight of about two, so most Delhi travelers fly.
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The station
NJP sits about 20 km east of Bagdogra, so the road up is the same: about 70 km to Darjeeling or Kalimpong and about 120 km to Gangtok. Your driver meets you at the station exit.
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Seats
Indian Railways releases seats 60 days ahead, and we file them that morning once your journey is confirmed. Tickets are issued to named travelers, so send each name exactly as printed on the passport you will carry.
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The toy train
The toy train's line begins on the plains, but the full climb is slow and services can be cancelled after heavy rain. We drive you up and put you on its best stretch, higher on the hill between Kurseong, Ghum and Darjeeling.
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Next step
If it is Kolkata, we compare the day train, the night train and the short flight for your dates, and time the drive up from New Jalpaiguri so the first evening is unhurried.
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