World Heritage Status for the DHR!!!!
At the 23rd Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway was inscribed on the list of World Heritage sites. Only two railways have this status, the Semmering Railway in Austria being the other.

UNESCO's Criteria for the DHR to be eligible for the World Heritage Status:-
....."Criteria (ii) The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is an outstanding example of the influence of an innovative transportation system on the socail and ecomomic development of a multi-cultural region, which was to serve as a model for similar developments in many parts of the world."
....."Criteria (iv) The Development of the railways in the 19th century had a profound influence on social and economic developments in many parts of the world. This process is illustrated in an exceptional and seminal fashion by the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway."

A Brief description of the DHR stated by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee:
"The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is the first, and still the most outstanding example of a hill passenger railway. Opened in 1881, it applied bold and ingenious engineering solutions to the problems of etablishing an effective rail link cross a mountainous terrain of great beauty. It is still fully operational and retains most of its original features intact."

How did the DHR achieve World Heritage Status?
Application for the World Heritage Status can be made only by the State Party under whose jurisdiction the site is located, and involves the preparation of a very detailed document to rigorous requirements laid down by UNESCO. Indian Railways on behalf of the Government of India, prepared an application for the DHR's inclusion on the World Heritage List, and submitted it to UNESCO in mid 1998. Dr. Robert Lee, in his capacity as consultant to UNESCO's International Council On Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), visited the reailway in February 1999. Dr. Lee's report was considered by UNESCO and further information collected from the Government of India. The World Heritage Committee meets once a year, and at the meetingheld in Morocco at the end of November 1999, the DHR was accorded World Heritage site status.

What does World Heritage Status mean?
Now that the DHR has World Heritage status, the Government of India is obliged to care for the railway and to give a consevation report every five years to UNESCO. The Government of India must prepare a consevation and management plan for the DHR which includes proposals to restore and maintain the buildings and permanent way. There are no direct monetary awards attached to World Heritage status, but there is a World Heritage Fund which will consider applications for modest grants to help with consevation. These grants can be given, gor instance, for emergency work, training of local personnel or technical cooperation.

A detailed report on the "23rd Session, Marrakesh, Morroco."