Kalimpong Travel Guide

Kalimpong Travel Guide

West Bengal has to its credit a number of hill stations confined within its extensive territory, one of which is Kalimpong. A part of the district of Darjeeling, it lies within the Shivalik hills. Secluded in the eastern mountainous ranges of the Himalayas, Kalimpong provides just the perfect retreat from the chaos of city life. The hill station lies embraced by mountains on all sides. While nature is exposed here with all splendour, magnificence and beauty, the urban life is also booming tremendously in its midst. The impressive view of the mountains creates a perpetually charming backdrop at the face of urbanisation. A close communion with nature at Kalimpong will not only satiate your heart and soul but will also uplift your spirit. Kalimpong is known especially for its treasure trove of flowers and Buddhist monasteries that are found in abundance in the place.

This wonderland is famous for the countless number of tourist spots that it proudly beholds. While the carpeted mountain ranges is an all enduring sight, the colourful and lively bazaars, stretches of impressive sceneries, museums, flower nurseries, ancient monasteries adds profoundly to the beauty of Kalimpong. Prominent places of attractions at Kalimpong are:  the Gompas, Durpin Dara Hill, Lepcha Museum and Monastery, Dr. Graham’s Home, Flower Nurseries and Neora Valley National Park.

Kalimpong is famous for its monasteries; three of the well known among them is the Thongsa Gompa, Tharpa Choeling Gompa and the Zong Dhog Palri Fo Brang Gompa. The Durpin Dara Hill is an observatory point, the summit of which gives a magnetic and charismatic view of the mountain ranges and the valley of Kalimpong. You can get a good view of the Teesta and Rangeet Rivers, the Western Sikkim, Kanchenjunga peak, Nathu-la pass, towns of Siliguri and Kurseong from this observatory point. There is the Lepcha Museum erected to commemorate the now minority Lepcha tribes. The museum showcases the tradition and culture of this tribe in all its former glories. A school raised for orphan children in the year 1900, Dr. Graham’s Home is also an important tourist spot in Kalimpong. It is a Scottish missionary, spread over a 500 acre estate on the Dealo hills slope.

Kalimpong is well known for its spectacular flower nurseries. The place is dotted with rare and beautiful varieties of flowers. Nature lover and floriculturists will simply be awe-struck at the manifold variety of flowers that thrives here.  It has many flower nurseries to its credit some of which are the, Standard Nursery, L.B. Pradhan Nursery, Ganesh Mani Pradhan Nursery, Universal Nursery, Pinewood Nursery, Shangrila Garden Nursery, Twin Brothers Nursery, Brindaban Garden Nursery etc. Exotic flowers like Amaryllis, Anthuriums, Gerbera, Dahlias, Orchids and Cacti flourish here in great number and colours.

Other places of attraction include the Neora Valley National Park, Ringking Farm, Samathar Plateau, St. Therasa Church, Galingka etc. Kalimpong has so much to offer to the travellers that spending one or just two days will surely fall short.

Last Updated: 29/03/2012