DREAM DESTINATION- KALIMPONG, WEST BENGAL

Kalimpong  is a quiet and picturesque hill station of West Bengal on the banks of the River Teesta. It is a small town but very popular for its educational institutes and horticulture. It is located at the foothills of the Himalayas at an altitude of 1250m, adjacent to the state of Sikkim and very close to Darjeeling and Gangtok. The small town is inhabited by Nepali, Bhutanese, Bengali and Tibetian population which can be witnessed in its fusion culture and heritage.

Tourist attractions are the Buddhist monasteries, British architecture and some big nurseries. Your visit to Kalimpong will be worthwhile, and the best time to visit the town is during September after heavy showers of monsoon gets over.Kalimpong is a subdivision of Darjeeling district and under West Bengal state. Kalimpong town itself is small, located about 2.5 hours drive from both Darjeeling and Siliguri. But the town and its surrounding areas offer immense opportunities for tourism.

 Kalimpong is located at an altitude of 4,100ft. Because of its relatively lower altitude compared to Darjeeling or Gangtok, the weather is milder and pleasant for most part of the year. And therefore it suits all tourists who are looking for such pleasant weather combined with magnificent views of Kanchenjunga and other Himalayan snow peaks, sweeping landscapes and lush greenery. You will find reflections of its diverse cultures in the local food & beverages, house architectures, language, and many other cultural dimensions. Today Kalimpong is well known for its stunning mountain views, great hill walks, bird watching, and wonderful scenic drives. 

Lava and Loleygaon are two small and quaint mountain villages that are part of Kalimpong subdivision. You can make a day trip or plan overnight stays. While Loleygaon is known for its sweeping view of Kanchenjunga snow peaks, Lava is surrounded by dense coniferous forests. Lava is also the place from where you can visit the Neora Valley National Park. In Loleygaon you can not miss the forest Canopy Walk and in Laval the wonderful Monastery & Tiffindara sunrise. 

Great opportunity to explore a wide bio-diversity in the Neora Valley National Park that comprises of hundreds of varieties of flowers, plantations, birds, butterflies and of course amazing animals rarely seen anywhere else. The national park is located about 44kms from Kalimpong and beyond Lava, and spreads across a forested land of 88 sq. kms on the mountains. 

 Rishyap is located at an altitude of 8,500ft and about 2 hours drive from Kalimpong. If you are a nature lover, this is where you will want to go. There is hardly any other place that offers 180 degree view of the Himalayan range on a vast stretch of continuous snow. Being part of Neora Valley, you will also see abundance of flora and fauna including forests of pine, birch and fir along with colorful orchids. 

 Pedong, Rikisum and Sillery gaon are more lovely small hamlets around Kalimpong that are hardly visited by the tourists. But they all have their unique charms, lovely view points and of course wonderful people. It makes a great sense to make a day trip from Kalimpong and complete this circuit. You can also plan to stay overnight. There are homestays available in these places.

The towering Delo Hills is located in the north of Kalimpong. The reservoir here is the main source of water supply to the town of Kalimpong. On the south is the Durpin dara hills and at the center of the town is the main Kalimpong Market Square (Bazaar). 

Macfarlane Memorial church is one of the oldest heritage building and church of Kalimpong.

Dr Graham's Homes were started in 1900 by Dr John Anderson Graham as a complex for orphans and deprived children.

Durpin Monastery is located at the Durpin Dara Hill. As you enter the monastery, the first thing you will notice are the two large cylinders on two sides (each about some 10-ft high). You can turn the cylinders by a crank, and a lever is so arranged that a bell will ring at every turn. As common with most Buddhist monasteries, outside on the wall you will see a row of prayer wheels. Durpin monastery was constructed in 1972 by Hon. Dudjum Rimponche.

There are two other Tibetan monasteries. Tharpa Choling Monastery is located on the way to Graham's Home. It follows the yellow hat sect. It was built in 1937 and has many old Buddhist scripts. Thongsa Gompa, another monastery is located nearby. It's also known as Bhutan Monastery and the oldest in Kalimpong. It was built in 1692.