Kalimpong

Kalimpong District Tour Information includes Sightseeing, Places, Vehicle details & Hotels / Home Stay or Resort details. Kalimpong is a district in the northeastern point of West Bengal. It is bordered by Sikkim & Darjeeling and Bhutan. The district is situated at an average elevation of 1,250 meters i.e. 4,101 feet. Kalimpong Town is the headquarters of the Kalimpong district. Till mid 19th century, the area of Kalimpong was ruled by the Bhutanese & Sikkimese kings. In 1706, the king of Bhutan won this territory from the Sikkimese monarch and renamed it Kalimpong. Kalimpong is known for its educational institutions, many of which were established during the British colonial period. In November 1864, the Treaty of Sinchula was executed in which the Bhutan Dooars with the passes leading into the hills and Kalimpong were ceded to the British by Bhutanese. On valentine's Day i.e. on 14 February 2017 Kalimpong became the 21st district of the Indian state of West Bengal, after splitting from the Darjeeling district.

Kalimpong town of Kalimpong district is nearly 55 kilometers from Darjeeling town. Both the district is adjacent to each other separated by the River Teesta. It is situated at an average elevation of 1250 meters i.e. 4,101 feet. The town is the headquarters of the Kalimpong district. Kalimpong is known for its educational institutions, many of which were established during the British colonial period. It used to be a gateway in the trade between Tibet and India before China's annexation of Tibet and the Sino-Indian War. Kalimpong and neighboring areas have more than 50 homestays at Pedong, Reshikhola, Charkhol, Chukhim, Sillery Gaon, Algarah, Lolaygaon, Lava, Rishyab, Kagey, Samthar Valley, and many such odd locations. Kalimpong is a popular tourist destination owing to its People, temperate climate, magnificent Himalayan beauty, and proximity to popular tourist locations in the region. It is best for leisure holidays. Horticulture is important to Kalimpong and has a flower market notable for its wide array of orchids; nurseries, which export Himalayan grown flower bulbs, tubers, and rhizomes, etc. It is one of the major Cardamom and Ginger growing areas along with large Cardamom. The Darjeeling Himalayan hill region is internationally famous for its tea industry. However, most of the tea gardens are on the western side of the Teesta River within the Darjeeling district. It is well known for its flower export industry especially for its wide array of indigenous orchids, Cactus, and gladioli. It is home to Nepalis, non-indigenous Lepchas, other ethnic groups, and non-native immigrants from other parts of North East India and Tibet, the town is a religious center of Buddhism. In 1976, the visiting Dalai Lama consecrated the Buddhist monastery Zang Dhok Palri Phodang and in subsequent, he also visited Lava Monastery. The monastery holds a number of rare Tibetan Buddhist scriptures.

Kalimpong offers panoramic vistas of the Teesta Rangit Valley and is situated on the lower ranges of the Himalayas. Its proximity to Nathu La and Jelep La is comfortable. Jelep la and Nathu La will be roughly 130 kilometers from Kalimpong and is generally 04 hours drive. The Kalimpong Jelep la Road is the offshoot of the ancient Silk Road. It has an added advantage and it soon became an important trading outpost in the trade of fur, wool, and food grains between India and Tibet. There are a large number of restaurants which offer a wide variety of cuisines, ranging from Indian to Continental. Tea is the most popular beverage in the town, procured from the famed Darjeeling tea gardens. Hit the place before 08:00 PM because this city shuts down early. For the best momos, try Gompu’s; one can also get inexpensive lunch or dinner at this place. Kalimpong produces the only aged cheese and the texture of hard European cheese with mild almost Parmesan-like flavor. One can travel to Dooars via Lava and on the way visit Lava Monastery. Kalimpong is well known for its cheese, noodles and lollipops. Kalimpong exports a wide range of traditional handicrafts, wood-carvings, embroidered items, bags, and purses with tapestry work, copperware, scrolls, Tibetan jewelry, and artifacts.

Kalimpong is also known for its famous cheese, noodles, Pickles, and lollipops. Kalimpong exports a wide range of local handicrafts, wood-carvings, embroidered items, Tibetan jewelry and artifacts, bags and purses with tapestry work, copperware, scrolls, etc,

Wildlife is quite interesting in this district. The area around Kalimpong lies in the Eastern Himalayas, which is classified as an ecological hotspot, one of only three among the ecoregions of India. Neora Valley National Park that lies within the Kalimpong subdivision and is home to tigers is worth visiting. The red panda, Clouded leopard, Siberian weasel, Asiatic black bear, barking deer, Himalayan tahr, goral, gaur, and pangolin are some of the fauna found near Kalimpong. Forests at higher altitudes are of pine trees and other evergreen alpine vegetation. Seven species of rhododendrons are found in the region east of Kalimpong. The temperate deciduous forests include oak, birch, maple, and alder. Three hundred species of orchid are found around Kalimpong. The original settlers of Kalimpong were the Lepchas, although the majority of people are ethnic Nepali. They have migrated from Nepal to Kalimpong in search of jobs. Kalimpong district is full of greenery, forested land, and terraced fields. The main farming crops are rice, corn, millet, and seasonal vegetables are cultivated. Growing quality spices like cardamom, ginger, turmeric, etc are also grown here.

Places to visit around Kalimpong are many like Pedong, Lava, Lolaygaon, Rishyap, Samthar Valley, Reshikhola, Lingsey, Rikissum, Ramdhura, Iccheygaon, Mongsong, Relikhola,  Charkhol, Chuikhim, Kagey and many such places. Kalimpong is centrally located and is well connected to the local destination. The other places connected with Kalimpong package are Reshikhola, Lingsey, Aritar, Zuluk, Sillery Gaon, Nathang Valley, Kupup Lake, Memencho Lake, or the offshoot of Silk route from Jelep La Pass.

Places of Interest

• Deollo Hill
• Durbin Dara / Tharpa Choling
• Zang Dhok Palri Monastery
• Flower Nurseries
• Deollo Park & Hanuman Mandir
• Dr. Graham's House
• Lava & Lolaygaon
• Rishyap
• Pedong
• ReshiKhola
• Silent Valley
• Sillery Gaon
• Ramdhura
• Reshikhola
• Rikissum / Damsang Fort, Sillery
• Samthar Valley
• Trek  To Today Tangtey
• River Rafting
• Ralei Khola / Relli Khola
• Gumbadhara / Pasting
• Kannan Valley (Dovan Valley)
• Lingsey
• Iccheygaon
• Kagey
• Samthar
• Charkhol

Connectivity / Communication

Airways: Bagdogra Airport (IXB) is approximately 95 kilometers and is nearly 03½ - 04 drive to Kalimpong. Bagdogra airport is served by regular Indian Airlines, Spice Jet, Go Air, Druk Air, Indian Airlines and Jet Airways. There are daily flights from Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Guwahati, Delhi, etc. The airport is well connected by roadways and railways. Pakyong Airport (PYG) is approximately 60 kilometers and is a minimum of 02½ - 03 hours drive along the River Teesta. Bagdogra Airport and Pakyong have regular flights to Delhi, Mumbai, Guwahati, Chennai, and few other places. Taxi, as well as private vehicles for visit to nearby tourist spots, are available from the airport but it is advisable to book in advance.  Contact travel agents or operators during the tourist season & festival.

Railways: New Jalpaiguri Railway Station (NJP) is approximately 95 kilometers away and is the nearest major railway station. Kalimpong has no direct railway station connectivity.  There are regular train services from New Jalpaiguri Railway Station (NJP) to all the major railway station like Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, Patna, Mumbai, Guwahati, Bangalore, Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Jaipur, Agra, etc. Taxi, as well as private vehicles for visit to nearby tourist spots, are available from the airport but it is advisable to book in advance.  Contact travel agents or operators during the tourist season & festival.

Roadways: Kalimpong is approximately 95 kilometers and is nearly 03½ - 04 drive from Bagdogra Airport (IXB). The Road network to Kalimpong is good and so is the connectivity to other destinations in and around Kalimpong. Pakyong Airport (PYG) is approximately 60 kilometers and is a minimum of 02½ - 03 hours drive along the River Teesta. Kalimpong is situated just 15 kilometers away from National Highway number 10. Pedong is nearly 110 kilometers from Siliguri and is roughly 21 kilometers from Kalimpong. Sillery is 04 kilometers from Pedong and Rikissum is nearly 14 kilometers from Kalimpong. There are two major routes to Pedong one is along the River Teesta and then through Kalimpong to Pedong / Sillery or Rikissum. National Highway 10 is to Gangtok and one has to travel along the route till Chitrey / Teesta Bazaar and then turn to Kalimpomg. The other route is via Dooars which is longer and the drive is via Gorubathan & Lava.