DREAM DESTINATION- KURSEONG, WEST BENGAL

Kurseong hill station, 32 km south of Darjeeling, is a sub-division of Darjeeling district.Its name derives from the Lepcha word khorsang, a reference to the small white orchid prolific in this area.It is a tiny and bustling hill town best known for its formidable league of tea estates and a rush of Raj-era boarding schools that dot its extents.

 It is located at an altitude of 1458 metres. Kurseong is about 47 kms from Siliguri and is connected to the city by road and the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. The nearest airport is at Bagdogra. Nearest major railway station is New Jalpaiguri (NJP) railway station, which is about 53 kilometres from Kurseong. The town is based mainly on schools and tourism. The best times to visit Kurseong are between March end and May and between the end of August and October. It has a pleasant climate throughout the year and the winters are not as severe as Darjeeling's.

Located at about a kilometre from the Kurseong’s railway station, Eagle’s Crag is the most popular tourist site in Kurseong.This is a lovely view point and a garden on top of a hill and offers breathtaking view of the valley below. A small concrete stairway leads up to the garden above. The garden is full of hedges and flowering plantations. There is also a watch tower on one side of the garden. The views of the mountains on the opposite side and also that of the lower plains from here is awesome.Tourists can also see the free flowing river Teesta from this point. A large water reservoir here supplies water to Kurseong town.

Kurseong is spread across several hills of mountains. Dow Hill is one of them. Dow Hill has a lot of attractions to offer. With a beautiful Deer Park, a Forest Museum, a mini amusement park which is a favourite with families and children and a water reservoir, Dow Hill has a range of sites to see and activities to participate. A large section of the hill is covered with dense forest and the locals will vouch on the fact that there are leopards in the forest. While no lives have been lost, the leopards seem to be targeting the sheeps and goats.

About 3kms from Kurseong town towards Darjeeling, this is a beautiful hill area with a church perched on top (St. John's Church). There are statues of Jesus and Mary here nearby. With lush green vegetation and lovely views, the ambience is wonderful. Amidst the greenery is the Eastern Forest Rangers' College (EFRC). There is also a prayer spot here.

Kurseong is known for its tea production and there are many beautiful and expansive tea estates all around the town. Some of the well known tea estates in Kurseong are the Ambotia, Castleton, Springside, Makaibari, Jogmaya, Ghoomtee and more.The Castleton Tea Estate is known to produce the world's most expensive tea. These estates not only add to the beauty of Kurseong, but also provide a firsthand experience on tea manufacturing process. Many of these estates offer “bed and breakfast” accommodation and these are quite popular among tourists.

The Toy Train Station in Kurseong is located in the middle of the town and is a popular site for tourists. From Kurseong station, you can make a day trip to Darjeeling.There are two trains every day between Kurseong and Darjeeling. One leaves Kurseong in the morning and the other in the afternoon. Both take about 3 hours to reach Darjeeling and then return.The train runs through the town allowing travellers to view the town, sitting in the coach of the toy train. The train passes through the busy Kurseong Bazar and passengers of the train can view the mountains, beautiful streams and waterfalls. The train passes through the valley and through the orchards, with greenery all around.

The Bhangzang Salamander Lake is located at a distance of 14 km from the town of Kurseong. This is a beautiful and serene lake with green-tinged waters and is home to a range of salamanders which is a rare and endangered species.The lake is a natural haven with greenery all around and its natural grandeur had made it a popular destination among the British. Even today, though the lake is relatively unknown to tourists, local people from the nearby areas come here to enjoy a pleasant evening and the beauty of the lake and the surroundings.

The Kettle Valley Picnic Spot is a popular picnic stop in the town of Kurseong and is visited by locals as well as tourists. This scenic location is enjoyed on a picnic or a day outing with family and friends.It is a beautiful spot on the banks of the river Rinchengtong and one can spot the Dilaram Tea Estate, which is also located close by. The landscape of the place is breathtaking as one can view the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas in the backdrop. The surrounding area is lush green with the clear water of the river flowing along side.

Kurseong has quite a few well known temples in and around the town and the Ambotia Shiva Mandir is one of the most popular Hindu temples in Kurseong. The Ambotia Shiva Mandir is at a distance of about 5 km from Kurseong town and is located in the Ambotia Tea Estate.This is a Hindu temple of Lord Shiva. The idol (i.e. the Shiv Linga) is an old dead trunk of a tree. While the temple has many devotees who are mostly garden workers families.

The Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Museum is a popular museum dedicated to the famous freedom fighter of India, Subhash Chandra Bose. The museum is located at Giddhapahar which is about 4 km from the main town of Kurseong. It was originally a private house purchased in 1922 by Sarat Chandra Bose, the writer and veteran freedom fighter. Later between 1933 to 1935 Sarat Chandra and subsequently Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose were kept here by the British under house captivity.