Darjeeling And Its Special Relationship With Land Rovers

Land Rover is one of the most iconic automotive manufacturers globally, producing sturdy 4X4 SUVs, ready to dominate any terrain with their extreme off-road capability. Seventy years ago, when Mautice Wilks designed the first-ever Land Rover, his motive was fairly simple - to build a vehicle for all terrains. An SUV that tackles difficult road and weather challenges.

In 1958, the first Land Rover made its debut on Indian soil. It was brought in by the British tea planters of West Bengal to transport tea across the hazardous mountain roads. And ever since its launch, Land Rovers have held a special place in the heart of the state, especially Darjeeling.

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The Special Relationship between Darjeeling and Land Rovers

The love that Indians have for SUVs dates back to the 1950s, when the series-1 Land Rover, designed by the Rover Motor Company, was introduced to India. The treacherous route between Maherbhanganj (a remote town in Darjeeling) and Sandakhphu (a 3636 meter high mountain peak at the Indo-Nepal border) was included in the main trading route. Land Rovers became a crucial transportation option for people and goods on these deadly terrains, replacing ponies that were relied upon earlier. These Land Rovers allowed people to complete up to six trips each day and were everything that the locals needed. Darjeeling soon became the home for 300 Land Rovers, as locals relied heavily on these versatile machines.

Of the 300, around 40 are still active, even after 70 years. Though some have gone through an engine rebuild/conversion, many others have been re-registered, refurbished, and worked upon to make them fit for the road. But most importantly, the Series 1 Land Rovers of Darjeeling are currently the only running models of that kind in the world. The Land Rovers are truly a part of the heritage of Darjeeling.

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What was so exceptional about the Series 1 Land Rovers?

The first-generation Land Rover, called the Series 1 Land Rover, was first showcased in Amsterdam in the motor show of 1948. Built on a powerful, fully box-welded frame, the Series 1 featured all-wheel-drive capability and a sturdy all-aluminium body. It was a muscular all-wheel-drive passenger car that was extremely reliable and meant to go the distance.

The Series 1 was powered by a punchy 2.0 litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine and low gearing. Both the gearbox and the engine were tuned to provide better low-end power so that the car could perform better on tricky road conditions. Now, even after 70 years, these models are still present on the road and are utilised for tourist drives in Darjeeling.