Tourist Guide to the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, 1896

A tourist guide like no other! The illustrated tourist guide to the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is a very well written book and covers an aspect of the life in Victorian Darjeeling seen through the achievement of the Railway line to Darjeeling. This little railway, now a UNESCO world heritage site, was a path breaking effort of British engineers who got this mammoth enterprise together successfully.  This book also contains some brilliant photos.

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The book Cover

Tracks being laid, 1888

The Darjeeling Disaster : An account of the devastating Landslides of 1899

On September 24th 1899, Darjeeling was devastated by a deluge of landslides in pouring rain, which wiped out many habitations. One such incident took place in a church school with little children as boarders, which was washed away killing almost all the children. This book is about the aftermath for a family who lost their children to this disaster. This is the tale about a heroic mother, Ada Lee, with a small child who made the trip from Calcutta the next day of the landslides, when darjeeling was totally cut off and there were no roads. This book was published in 1912.

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The Lee Family before the disaster

Birds of Darjeeling and India by I. J. Macintosh

The first detailed study of the birds around Darjeeling and The Sikkim Himalayas. This book by I. J. Macintosh, is a detailed report on the many types of Birds found mostly in the Sikkim area as well as the other parts of India and was published in 1915.

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An Illustration from the book

Journals Kept in Hyderabad, Kashmir, Sikkim and Nepal

Journals of Sir Richard Temple, Bart, M.P., a prolific writer of his times who held very high positions like the Governor general of Bombay. This compilation published in 1887 contains his observations over time of his visits to Hyderabad, Kashmir, Sikkim and Nepal and gives a very good insight into these places and their cultures.

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A page from the book

East India Company Document of 1800

One of the reasons the British were interested in Sikkim was the Trade which could be done with Tibet through Sikkim, and that was the sole motivation for good old "Johnny Company" or The East India Company. So how much trade were the company handling in the late 1700's? Read the report which was sent by Marquis Wellesley, the Governor General of India, to the board of Directors of the East India Company in the year 1800.

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A Page from the book

Round Kanchenjunga, a narrative of an expedition around the Mountain.

This volume is a description of the first Tour of Kangchenjunga made by Europeans and contains a narrative of the whole Journey. Written by DOUGLAS W. FRESHFIELD, also a part of the expedition, which took place around 1900-01 and was published in the year 1903. A gripping narrative with some fabulous photos and an interesting insight into the lives of the locals and their customs.

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A Photo from the book captioned " The Crest of Siniolchu"

Notes on Tours in Darjeeling and Sikkim: Lt.Col. W. J. Buchanan, CLE., I. M.S.

Another set of notes, published around 1916, covering areas of both Independent and British Sikkim. Written by a soldier who had traveled extensively in his military career, this one is oriented more as a tourist guide giving valuable insight into the tourism infrastructure during those days. These notes have interesting info about the Dak Bungalows of the time and the rates for using anything, including cutlery!

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The Road between Ghoom and Darjeeling being built, 1870