The Batasia loop was built to lower the slope of incline of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway in West Bengal. This is the point at which the track spirals around itself and go through a tunnel and then onto a hill-top.

Where is this Loop?

When you take the toy train up from Darjeeling you will cross the Batasia Loop. You can also choose to take a cab from Darjeeling town to visit the Batasia Loop. Time takes to reach Batasia Loop is around 20 minutes by road from Darjeeling town. The Batasia Loop is located on the National Highway 55, The Hill Cart Road.

The Loop is one of the best places to get a bird’s eye view of Darjeeling’s landscape. You will be amazed to see the snow-capped peaks of the Eastern Himalayas. The mighty Kanchenjunga can also be seen from here. The loop is around a beautiful flowering garden which adds to the charm of the place.

You will also find designated seating areas to relax and enjoy the experience. The whole area is around 50,000 square feet and it includes the gardens and an approach bridge. This well-maintained garden is a feast to one’s eyes . You will find many perennial and seasonal shrubs and flowers.

The train around Batasia Loop — Image Source: Pixabay

The History of the Loop

The loop was approved around 1919. In case you take the toy train you will find there is a very sharp descent after Ghoom, the highest railway in India. In order for the toy train to negotiate the fall, it was necessary to reduce the angle of the slope.

Batasia Loop is surely an engineering marvel. You won’t even realize the descent of about 140ft. The loop goes through a large round area of tracks, onto a gentle slope and then it loops around to cross its own track through a tunnel below

You will find people walking on the track the complete the loop on foot. There are many pathways in the garden to walk around and enjoy the beautiful flowers and gardens

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Things to Do around Batasia Loop

The War Memorial in the middle was built in the memory of the Gorkha soldiers of the Darjeeling Hills who sacrificed their lives fighting various battles for India. You will see a Cenotaph in the middle and a sculpture of a soldier showing his respects.

View From Batasia Loop — Image Source: Pixabay

The exit is on the same route as the entry. As you come out of the walkway you will see a small local market area where there are temporary stands selling hot snacks like samosa and singaras. You can also shop for bags, hats, souvenirs and other decorative items. Be ready to bargain hard!

The restaurants on the opposite side are a great place to enjoy a meal while having a great view of the beautiful mountain ranges. You will find a wide variety of cuisines like North India, South Indian and even Chinese.

How to Reach Batasia Loop

We recommend riding the toy train from Darjeeling to Ghoom to fully experience the Batasia Loop. The toy train leaves a couple of times in the day from the station, in peak season it is 4 times during the day. The train then stops for a few minutes at the Batasia Loop before proceeding onto Ghoom. What a way to enjoy the beautiful scenery.

Start point of the Toy train — Image Source: Pixabay

Batasia Loop is open daily from 5 Am to 8 Pm. The entry fee is INR 15 per person.

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