Batasia Loop, Darjeeling
A spiral section of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway about 5 km from town, with a memorial to Gorkha soldiers and views of Kanchenjunga.
Overview
Batasia Loop is a spiral section of the Darjeeling toy-train line with a Gorkha war memorial and mountain views. It is a quick stop on the way to or from Tiger Hill.
Batasia Loop is a spiral stretch of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway on the hill between Ghum and Darjeeling, about 5 km from Darjeeling. Wikipedia says it was created to lower the gradient of the ascent and was commissioned in 1919. Toy Train joyride services stop here for roughly 10 to 15 minutes, so passengers can step out and watch the train circle the loop.
At the centre of the loop sits a memorial to Gorkha soldiers of the Indian Army who gave their lives after Independence in 1947; the district website says it was consecrated on 22 March 1995. A small garden surrounds the memorial and offers views of Kanchenjunga and the surrounding ridges on clear mornings. Vendors sell snacks and woollen items nearby. The place is also an easy stop on the sunrise run to Tiger Hill and back, which is how many visitors combine it.
One secondary source lists an entry charge of Rs 15 per person, free for people holding a toy train ticket, but charges and opening hours differ between websites, so confirm at the gate. Mornings from about 5 to 10 am give the clearest views, while mist can hide the peaks by midday.
Entry fees
Entry
All visitors
Per TravelTriangle; free for toy-train ticket holders. Search results from other sites list Rs 20, so the amount is uncertain.
Source: TravelTriangle – Batasia Loop
Amount needs verification
Entry charges are from secondary sources only and differ between sites; the official district page lists no fee.
We only show an amount when a source backs it. Prices change, so confirm locally before you go.
Opening hours
- Mon – Sun
- 6 AM – 5 PM
- Hours from TravelTriangle; other sites list 5 am-8 pm. Not confirmed by an official source.
About 6:00 am–5:00 pm daily per one secondary source; others list 5:00 am–8:00 pm. Unconfirmed.
Hours differ between sources; confirm at the site.
Visitor information
- Best time to visit
- March to May and September to November
- Best time of day
- Early morning for clear Kanchenjunga views
- How long to spend
- 30–60 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Families
- Suitable for families
Good to know
- Keep clear of the railway track when trains pass
- Respect the memorial
Location
Batasia Loop, between Ghum and Darjeeling, Darjeeling district, West Bengal
Darjeeling, West Bengal, India
27.01667, 88.24722
Get directionsPhotos
The Batasia Loop spiral track. Photo: Vikramjit Kakati / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 The Gorkha war memorial at Batasia Loop. Photo: ANKAN / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 Himalayan ridge line from the memorial. Photo: ANKAN / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 Batasia Loop in the mist. Photo: DEB ANUTOSH / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0
Frequently asked questions
How far is Batasia Loop from Darjeeling?
About 5 km, between Ghum and Darjeeling.
Do toy train passengers pay at Batasia Loop?
One secondary source says holders of a toy train ticket do not pay the entry fee again. Confirm at the gate.
Information sources
Where the facts on this page come from, and what still needs confirming.
Information last checked 7 October 2026
Not yet confirmed
- entry fee amount
- opening hours
Not available yet
- official entry tariff
- official hours
- TravelTriangle – Batasia Loop · Travel site
- Wikipedia – Batasia Loop · Encyclopedia
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