Darjeeling

her life

Miniaturist preserves legacy of the Darjeeling toy train

‘In the hills of Darjeeling, the toy train runs in my blood,’ says Sanjeev Bagdas, one of the last remaining artists handcrafting miniature replicas of the iconic Himalayan locomotive

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We just discovered a hidden gem in Darjeeling

Mist and memories intertwine in the village of Takdah, 28 km from Darjeeling, and as the fog lifts, it reveals not just a destination but a timeless escape into nature’s embrace.

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India’s most haunted villages

From ghostly apparitions to hair-raising tales, this list reveals the country's supernatural secrets.

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Tea garden workers face bitter home truth in Bengal

Beneficiaries of West Bengal government’s Chaa Sundari housing scheme express dissatisfaction, citing inadequate facilities and infrastructure that have dampened their dreams of owning their own houses.

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Tuskers trample Bengal village’s jackfruits of labour

As north Bengal struggles to coexist with elephants, the fate of Nepali Basti’s once-thriving jackfruit trade hangs in the balance as farmers incur losses due to the onslaught from the tuskers and abandon cultivation.

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Bengal farmers bear brunt of Assam poultry ban

Aftershocks of Assam’s bird flu-related ban continue to rattle the poultry industry in Bengal even after the withdrawal of curbs, resulting in severe losses for farmers.

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Titanic comes alive as Jahaj Bari in a north Bengal village

A man’s ship-shaped childhood dream takes concrete form in the small village of Nijbari, nestled in the heart of West Bengal’s Darjeeling district.

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Bay leaf brings aroma to lives in Bengal

The bay leaf that adds flavour to many a dish is an attractive source of livelihood for thousands of villagers in northern Bengal.

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The disappearing wild orchids of North Bengal

Known for their beauty, fragrance and medicinal properties, epiphytic orchids found in the Dooars and Darjeeling hills are dying out because of deforestation in their natural habitat.

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The sweet success of a tea plucker-turned-dragon fruit farmer

Poverty followed Abha Toppo into marriage. So she readily gave up work on a poorly paid tea plantation to grow something she’d never heard of: dragon fruit. Though everyone told her it was too risky, she ploughed on and is now reaping the rewards.

her life

Wild animals spoil farmers’ hard work in Darjeeling

Crop depredation by wildlife is one of the biggest problems facing the livelihood security of many farmers in Darjeeling, with most of them losing up to 40% of their crop every year