Fact 🧞‍♂️

India’s Only Fully Active Spiral Loop Railway Section – The Batasia Loop

Batasia Loop in Darjeeling is India’s only fully active spiral railway loop, built to help the toy train climb steep Himalayan slopes. A UNESCO Heritage marvel, it offers a rare engineering experience at 7,000 ft, and remains one of India’s most photographed railway curves.

Pratik Kamble

21 Nov 2025 — 1 min read

SpotGenie Fact: India’s Only Fully Active Spiral Loop Railway Section – The Batasia Loop

🚂 A Spiral Railway That Still Works, Every Day

India doesn’t have many spiral railway sections, and almost all are either decommissioned, converted, or too obscure.
But one loop continues to operate daily, carrying one of India’s most iconic trains:

The Batasia Loop – Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR)

Nestled in the hills of Darjeeling, the Batasia Loop is a 360-degree spiral railway loop built in 1919 to help the steam-powered Darjeeling Himalayan Railway climb steep gradients without stalling.

This rare engineering design allows the track to spiral around itself, reducing slope and enabling trains to safely navigate the Himalayan climb.

🌄 What Makes This Loop Special?

It’s fully operational, toy trains run daily.
Part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed DHR.
Located at 7,000 ft altitude.
Train slows down so passengers can enjoy the panoramic view.
Offers a spectacular view of the Kanchenjunga range on clear mornings.
Houses the Gorkha War Memorial, making it a patriotic landmark too.

🧩 Why a Spiral Loop?

Mountain rail engineering relies on loops, Z-curves, and spirals to reduce gradient.
The Batasia Loop allows the track to handle a 1:23 gradient, impossible for a 1919 steam locomotive without assistance.

🚆 Toy Train Experience

Whether you take the:

Darjeeling–Ghum Joy Ride,
Steam Train Experience, or
Diesel Nostalgia Ride,

you’ll pass the Batasia Loop, the train intentionally slows down so visitors can admire the 360° curve.

🛠️ A Living Engineering Museum

Where most spiral loops globally are abandoned or modernized, Batasia remains fully active, tourist-friendly, and technically functional, making it India’s only operational spiral railway loop as of 2025.

🔧 SpotGenie

Just like the Batasia Loop solves an engineering challenge with elegance, SpotGenie solves a modern urban challenge, contacting a vehicle owner instantly.
No calling. No searching. No app needed.
Just Scan → Ping → Resolve.

Perfect for crowded hill stations too!