The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) has announced a nine-day Ghum Winter Festival beginning November 28, 2026, bringing together heritage celebrations, cultural performances, literature, tourism activities and technology-focused programmes in the Darjeeling hills.
The festival will celebrate the history and continuing legacy of the mountain railway, which received UNESCO World Heritage recognition in December 1999. The 2026 edition will mark 27 years since its inscription and is expected to attract local residents, heritage enthusiasts and visitors interested in the region's cultural identity.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
Issue/Event: Announcement of the nine-day Ghum Winter Festival 2026.
Location: India
Authority/Organisation: Darjeeling Himalayan Railway and Northeast Frontier Railway.
Action Taken: A festival programme combining heritage celebrations, cultural events, literature and technology activities has been announced.
Impact: The event is expected to promote railway heritage, local cultural participation and tourism in the Darjeeling hills.
According to the announcement reported by the Press Trust of India on November 3, the festival will combine traditional cultural activities with newer initiatives involving artificial intelligence and robotics. The programme is designed to connect the railway's historic identity with contemporary creative and technological interests.
One of the distinctive elements will be a celebration aboard a moving heritage toy train travelling from Kurseong to Darjeeling via Ghum. The journey will bring the festival experience onto the railway itself, highlighting the historic route and the engineering legacy of the mountain railway.
The programme will also include a heritage segment associated with the Darjeeling International Film Festival, giving cinema and regional storytelling a place within the wider celebration.
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is an important part of India's railway and cultural heritage. Events such as the Ghum Winter Festival create opportunities to bring its history closer to residents, students and visitors. The combination of traditional performances, literature and heritage journeys can help preserve regional cultural traditions while encouraging tourism-related activity. The inclusion of robotics and AI programmes also gives younger participants an opportunity to engage with technology in a setting connected to the region's historic railway.
A three-day robotics workshop is planned at Sukna station. Students will also take part in AI-powered solution-building activities, introducing technology-based learning and creative problem-solving into a festival centred on heritage.
Literature will form another part of the programme, alongside cultural performances and activities celebrating local traditions. A heritage run alongside a historic steam locomotive and open-air wagon rides are also planned, offering visitors opportunities to experience the railway beyond conventional sightseeing.
The festival is expected to conclude with a ceremony in Darjeeling. The organisers have presented the event as a platform for celebrating the railway's history, the cultural life of the hills and the communities associated with the heritage route.
The Ghum Winter Festival also connects with the railway's wider efforts to recognise local contributions. The second edition of the Spirit of the Hill Awards is scheduled as part of the festival, with an award ceremony planned at Ghum railway station on November 29. The awards recognise contributions across areas including education, environmental protection, social service, heritage, tourism, photography and adventure.
Ghum railway station, located at approximately 7,407 feet above sea level, is widely recognised as India's highest railway station. Its setting and association with the historic toy train make it a central part of the festival's heritage identity.
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is part of the Mountain Railways of India UNESCO World Heritage property. Its historic narrow-gauge route, steam locomotives and mountain engineering have made it an important part of India's railway heritage.
By combining heritage journeys, cultural programmes, literature and technology activities, the 2026 festival aims to present the railway as more than a tourist attraction. It also provides a platform for local participation and for introducing younger generations to the region's history.
Visitors planning to attend should check the railway's latest programme and operational announcements before travelling, as individual activities and schedules may be subject to change.
