The whistle of the toy train is poised to carry more than echoes of nostalgia this summer—it will bring stories, songs and a cinematic journey through the heart of the hills. For the first time, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) is launching an offbeat celebration: a week-long Summer Festival featuring a unique film fiesta on wheels.
From 8 to 15 June, the sleepy hill town will stir with cultural energy, as Shailshahar becomes the epicentre of an artistic storm. At its heart lies an unprecedented initiative—DHRUMA: the Darjeeling Himalayan Railways Universal Motion Arts Film Festival, an ambitious collaboration with international film organisation Motion Arts.
The true showstopper of this whimsical hilltop carnival? Cinema—screened inside the heritage coaches of the iconic toy train. Yes, you read that right. With rolling wheels as its reel room, ‘Screening on Wheels’ will convert Kurseong Railway Station into an open-air cinema on 13 and 14 June. Visitors can experience heritage-themed films with the mountains as their backdrop and the soft rumble of train tracks setting the rhythm.
The festival flags off on 8 June with a colour-soaked cycle rally, from Sukna to Giddhapahar. Celebrities and civilians alike—from age eight to eighty—will pedal their way through the region’s history and hills.
What follows is a celebration of art, memory and mountain identity: a drawing competition inspired by nature, a quirky ballpoint pen doodle contest, a heartfelt poetry slam, and a curated painting exhibition at DHR’s historic Elysia Place headquarters in Kurseong.
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Adding to the festive atmosphere will be daily performances by local hill tribes, filling the air with traditional dance, music and folklore.
But DHRUMA is not merely about watching films—it’s a dynamic platform for storytelling, mentorship and showcasing local pride. On 14 June, school students will attend masterclasses by filmmakers from the hills, exploring how to craft narratives rooted in culture, memory and heritage.
An open-call film competition will run in parallel, inviting short films and documentaries centred on mountain life, local culture, and long-standing traditions—a celebration of voices grounded in soil and soul.
The DHR isn’t just hosting a festival—it’s engineering a cultural renaissance.
“This is a historic first. We’re not just showcasing the toy train—we’re presenting the culture it carries,” said DHR director Rishab Chowdhury.
Heritage committee secretary Raj Basu added, “Initiatives like this deepen the emotional and cultural bond between tourists and the hills.”
For local tourism stakeholders like Sadhan Roy, the event could well mark a turning point.
“DHR has turned a corner—this is more than a festival; it’s a movement to revive and reimagine hill tourism.”
From celluloid dreams in vintage carriages to tribal rhythms echoing across tea gardens, the DHR Summer Festival is rewriting the rules of heritage tourism. With culture, history and community stitched into every frame, this is not merely a festivity—it is a revival.
If you have ever dreamed of watching a film aboard a century-old train, with misty hills outside your window and history at your side—this June, Darjeeling is calling.
And this time, it’s calling in technicolour.
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