Which Indian mountain railway was completed in 1881 and became a UNESCO site in 1999?

The Indian mountain railway completed in 1881 and inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999 is the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway.

Often called the “Toy Train,” the 2-foot narrow-gauge line runs between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling in West Bengal. Construction took place from 1879 to 1881, creating a vital connection between the plains and the hill station, whose tea economy was expanding rapidly.

The route solves steep Himalayan foothill gradients with six zigzags and three loops rather than rack-and-pinion technology. Ghum, on the line, stands at about 7,407 feet and is recognized as India’s highest railway station. The railway remains associated with both steam-hauled heritage services and modern diesel operation.

A common mix-up is with the Nilgiri Mountain Railway and Kalka–Shimla Railway. Both are also UNESCO-listed mountain railways, but they were added later: Nilgiri in 2005 and Kalka–Shimla in 2008. Darjeeling was the first component inscribed, in 1999.