The festival will open on Nov 28 with an inauguration ceremony at Ghum Railway Station
Darjeeling: From students developing artificial intelligence solutions aboard a moving heritage train to hands-on robotics workshops at Sukna, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) is set to give its heritage celebrations a technological edge at the seventh edition of the Ghum Winter Festival, scheduled from November 28 to December 6. The nine-day festival will mark 27 years of the toy train’s Unesco World Heritage inscription, bringing together AI innovation, robotics, literature, cinema, cultural performances and special train rides against the backdrop of the Eastern Himalayas, said DHR officials. “A three-day hands-on robotics workshop will be organised at Sukna Railway Station in collaboration with the Tinkering Institute for Innovation from Nov 30 to Dec 2. Meanwhile, in collaboration with GDG Siliguri, the Dec 3 programme will see students develop AI-powered solutions inspired by Darjeeling’s culture, heritage and people aboard a moving heritage train from Kurseong to Darjeeling,” Choudhary said. “The festival will open on Nov 28 with an inauguration ceremony at Ghum Railway Station, featuring cultural performances. On Nov 29, the station will host the award ceremony and Station Mahotsav, honouring local contributors, heritage champions and community leaders for their role in preserving the spirit and traditions of the hills,” Choudhary said. The three-day robotics workshop will run from Nov 30 to Dec 2 at Sukna Railway Station, aiming to encourage technological skills, creativity and curiosity among young people in the hills, according to DHR officials. The festival’s Dec 1 programme will include a familiarisation (FAM) tour for stakeholders and a special toy train ride from Siliguri Junction (SGUJ) to Rongtong (RTG), exclusively for media representatives. On Dec 2, the Darjeeling International Film Festival will present a special DHR heritage segment at Ghum Open Air Museum, with film screenings commemorating 27 years of the railway’s UNESCO World Heritage inscription. The festival will turn to literature on Dec 4, with conversations, poetry readings and storytelling sessions centred on the history of the railway and the hills.
DHR director Rishab Choudhary said the introduction of Himalayan AI Innovation is among the new attractions of this year’s festival. He said the festival was designed to celebrate the mountain railway’s rich history, vibrant culture and enduring legacy while bringing together local communities, young people, tourists, heritage enthusiasts and media representatives. The following day, Himalayan AI Innovation, in collaboration with GDG Siliguri, will bring students aboard a moving heritage train from Kurseong (KGN) to Darjeeling to develop AI-powered solutions drawing on the region’s culture, heritage and people.
On Dec 5, Kurseong will host a heritage run and a flat wagon open-air ride to commemorate the 27th anniversary of DHR’s Unesco inscription. The nine-day celebrations will conclude on Dec 6 with a grand cultural programme at Chowrasta in Darjeeling, said the officials.
“Through the nine-day celebration, the DHR aims to showcase the railway not only as a living symbol of the region’s heritage but also as a platform for cultural exchange, learning and innovation,” Choudhary added. The programme will feature a fun run alongside a historic steam engine, followed by rides on open-air wagons.
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