Specialist rail tour operator Ffestiniog Travel announces its return to India after an enforced three-year break due to the pandemic.  Its popular Indian Hill Railways tour will depart in February 2023 – an extra-special year:

• It will be the 20th anniversary of the company's Indian Hill Railways tour – the exact itinerary ran for the first time in 2002 and has proved to be Ffestiniog Travel's most popular rail holiday over the years
• 2023 marks the 170th anniversary of India's very first passenger train back in 1853
• Celebrations continue to mark the 75th anniversary year of India's Independence with grand events taking place until August 2023

Ffestiniog Travel General Manager, Maria Cook said; “We are delighted to be returning to India on a very special tour, first devised 20 years ago, and in a special year for India's railways. It is a privilege to take travellers to ride the most exceptional railways that served the former British Hill Stations of Shimla, Darjeeling and Udhagamandalam (Ooty).

 “This is one of our favourite rail holidays and our long-standing working relations with our Indian travel partners enable us to make it an unforgettable rail touring experience.”

As India celebrates its 75th anniversary year of Independence, ending on National Independence Day on 15 August 2023, the tour also provides an opportunity to visit some of the country's most important landmarks including witnessing the closing of the gates at the Atari-Wagah frontier, an unusual experience. Travellers will also visit the Golden Temple in Amritsar, the Taj Mahal, Red Fort and India Gate in Delhi.

In addition to visiting these iconic sights, what makes this tour extra special are the railway journeys – from the astonishing 2ft 6in gauge line to Shimla, the steam-hauled 7,000ft ascent to Darjeeling in the Himalayas to the unforgettable experience of being pushed up a sheer escarpment into the Blue Mountains by a huge SLM built rack tank. The impressive engineering and effort to preserve these wonderful railways is matched only by the scenery they travel through.

On 16th April 1853 India ran its very first passenger train between Bori Bunder (Bombay) and Thane, a distance of 34km. It was operated by three locomotives, named Sahib, Sultan and Sindh, and had thirteen carriages. 170 years on, Ffestiniog Travel's tour is testament to India's continuing love of railways and particularly its desire to conserve its special, historic hill station lines. The 19-day tour begins in the north in Amritsar and journeys across the Punjab to Shimla and then on to Delhi, before heading east to the glorious Himalayas and finally flying south to the Cool Blue Mountains.  It is a tour of geographical contrasts.

Indian Hill Railways departs on 12 February 2023 – travellers can expect rail journeys that deliver fierce gradients and stunning scenery. The tour includes a private heritage carriage on the Kalka Shimla Railway and two privately chartered steam train journeys on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway as well as a ride on the 'Joy' train to the summit at Ghoom.

The price per person (sharing) is from £6,250 and includes return flights, all rail journeys, transfers, excursions, B&B hotel accommodation, 16 lunches and 12 dinners and the services of a tour leader throughout.

Maria Cook added; “Everything about India heightens the senses, the scenery, smell, culture and the people. To experience all this AND ride some unforgettable rail journeys in a special anniversary year makes it an extra special holiday.”