Kurseong

Kurseong is a small settlement in the Darjeeling district in the Indian state of West Bengal and is the headquarters of the Kurseong subdivision. Original inhabitants were the Lepcha tribe. Kurseong was the favorite destination of British and many stalwarts. A road from Titalia in the 1770s and 1780s was built, its irregular maintenance soon made the Military Road useless. Then developed the Hill Cart Road popularly known as the Tenzing Norgay Road opened in 1861. 80% of the population in Kurseong subdivisions speaks Nepali. Tibetan is spoken by the refugees and some other tribal populations along with Bantawa, Bijori, Dzongkha, Gurung, Kamta, Khaling, Rajbanshi, Bodo, Chamling, Kisan, Lepcha, Lhomi, Limbu, Sherpa & Sikkimese. Few state office like forestry is situated in this beautiful town. 

Kurseong can be observed as a beautiful hill with crammed tea plantations and green hills speckled closely with conifer forests. The lush tea plantations that are plastered across the hills - like the famous Castleton Tea Estate or the Giddapahar, Jungpana, Ambootia, Castleton, Ghoomtee, or Makaibari are interesting spots to visit. Activities that are popular among guests is riding on the UNESCO World Heritage Darjeeling Railway, visiting the markets of Kurseong, and exploring the Himalayan Mountaineering Insitute & Museum and the Zoological Park in Darjeeling. Lastly going sightseeing spots to catch a glimpse of the setting Sun.

Kurseong is a town in Darjeeling district in the northern part of West Bengal, India. Kurseong is approximately 45 kilometers from Siliguri in West Bengal. History says that the original inhabitants were the Lepcha. They named the place as Khurseong or the land of White Orchid. A road was built from Kurseong to Darjeeling from Titalia in the year 1974 but due to some reason or other Hill Cart Road was built in the Year 1861 and the old route was abandoned. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway otherwise known as the 'Darjeeling Toy Train' runs through the length of the town, and the station is the center of the town. It's a favorite Tourist attraction due to its beautiful location & Lovely station. There is a regular train from Kurseong to Darjeeling and is worth a ride. Four very well known religious spot are The Ambootia Shiva Temple, Giddha Pahar Sita Ram Mandir, Giddah Pahar Durga Mata Mandir, Jagdish Mandir, St. Pauls Church near St. Joseph's School, Buddhist Gompa or monastery in Monteviot, Kunsang Choiling Monastery at Upper Naya Busty, Juma Mosque in Hat Bazaar and Grotto and the Catholic church in Saint Mary's Hill. It takes nearly 2 hours to reach Kurseong if you travel by Hill Cart Road, the comfortable and scenic link running parallel to the (currently disrupted) railway tracks or about one hour using the Old Army Road (Pankhabari Road), which is steeper. The center of Tea Tourism Started from Makaibari. Now there are a few best Bungalows like Runglee Rungliot, Selim Hills, Ghoomtee, etc. Makaibari Tea Estate has nearly 25 homestays. Guests can enjoy the cool mountain breeze. The town is small, clean and sparsely populated. Eagles Crag provides a panoramic view of Kurseong Town and the plains of Siliguri. One can view Himalayan peaks for sunrise. One can visit traditional tea estate which offers insight into its history, the art of tea processing, and its pioneering work in biodynamic practices. One can also meet the workers up-close wandering the fields between the villages making up the estates. Some of the world's best tea is produced here. One can buy beautiful tea from the Tea Estates' outlets or from shops available in plenty. Warm cloth-like woolen garments/jackets can be purchased from shops located on Hill Cart Road. One can visit various restaurants here and taste Momos, the Tibetan version of dumplings. One can also stay and enjoy Tea Tour, Visit Tea Estate and observe Tea Manufacturing, Tea details are also shown to guest visiting solely for tea tourism

Kurseong has a quaint feel for the tourists. It is decorated simply, letting the serene surroundings the greenery of the mountainside and the lavish hues of the flower bathe it in an aura of peace and calm. It is situated at an altitude of 1458 meters i.e. 4860 feet. It is the peace, serenity and the healthy climate that attracted many great personalities like Rabindranath Tagore, Abanindranath Tagore, Atul Prasad Sen, Sister Nivedita, Mark Twain, and Subash Chandra Bose was interned by the colonial government for a couple of months in 1936 in a house at Giddapahar near Kurseong.

Places around Kurseong are many like Dilaram, Mamring, Chatakpur, Makaibari, etc. Baggura is a nice location with forest Bungalow nearly 18 kilometers from Kurseong. Kurseong offers a variety of birds, a forest of oak, pine, rhododendrons, etc. During winter one can see Orange cultivation. Chimney village is nearly 30 minutes' drive from Buggura, the name Chimney comes from a tall Chimney in the village that has been existing since the British days. The Old Military road passes through the village. Trek to Mungpo or Senchel Lake is also exciting. The narrow railway tracks of Darjeeling Himalayan Railway popularly known as the 'Darjeeling Toy Train' runs along the length of the town, and this heritage station is the nucleus of the town. The famous freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Museum and NSC Bose Institute of Asiatic Studies, in the house of his brother, Sarat Chandra Bose is situated in the Giddhapahar area 05 - 10 minutes from Kuseong Railway Station.

Places of interest nearby are many. Tea Bungalow like Selim Hill, Ghoom Tea, Sourene, Runglee Rungliot, etc is situated nearby. Homestay destinations like Latpanchar, Munpo, Sittong, Ahaldhara, Bunkulung, Takdah, Lamahatta, Tinchuley, Baramangua & Chotamangua are few such smaller destinations. These are small villages with their own history, culture, tribes, and pristine beauty. Tea tourism is one more option which is best in Kurseong as the best tea estate of the region is situated around and in Kurseong.  

Places of Interest

• Eagle's Crag (Durpin Dhara) 
• Deer's Park
• Trek to Balason river
• St Mary's Hill
• Groto church
• Forest museum
• Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Museum 
• Museum of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose in Giddha Pahar
• Heritage churches like St Andrew's church, St Paul's
• Makaibari Tea Estate
• Selim Hills
• Buggura
• Ambootia Shiva Temple
• Giddah Pahar Durga Mata Mandir
• Jagdish Mandir,
• St. Pauls Church,
• Buddhist Gompa in Monteviot,
• Kunsang Choiling Monastery
• Grotto and Catholic Church in Saint Mary's Hill.
• Kettle Valley Homestay
• Chatakpur
• Visit & observe Tea Manufacturing 
• Bhangzang Salamander Lake
• Giddapahar Sita Mata Temple 
• Dow Hill Park 
• Ambootia Tea Estate 
• Ambootia Shiv Temple
• Kettle Valley
• Sitong

Connectivity / Communication

 Airways: The nearest major airport is Bagdogra Airport (IXB). It is approximately 60 kilometers and is nearly 01½ hours to 02 hours drive through the world’s best Tea Estate. Pakyong Airport (PYG) is approximately 105 kilometers and is nearly 04 to 04½ hour’s drive through Reshi Road and National Highway 10. Siliguri is roughly 01½ hours to 02 hours drive from the Khurseong. Darjeeling is 50 kilometers and is nearly 02 hours' drive.  Scheduled flights are available from cities such as New Delhi, Guwahati, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata.

Railway: Kurseong is a town in Darjeeling district in the northern part of West Bengal, India, and can be accessed from Siliguri by road. The New Jalpaiguri Railway station (NJP) is the nearest railway station to Kurseong. NJP is well connected to major cities such as Trivandrum, Delhi, Mumbai, Ajmer, Bangalore, Secunderabad, Guwahati and Chennai, Cochin, Kolkata, etc. It is approximately 50 kilometers from Darjeeling and nearly 56 kilometers from Siliguri Town. Kurseong is one of the major Junction of the famous Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Station (DHR). Hence one can avail the Joy ride of DHR from Kurseong. 

Roadways: Kurseong is well connected to Kalimpong, Darjeeling, Gangtok, Pelling, and other places of the region. It is approximately 65 kilometers from Bagdogra Airport (IXB) and New Jalpaiguri Railway Station. It is approximately 50 kilometers from Darjeeling. Bagdogra is approximately 60 kilometers south of Mirik.  Siliguri is roughly 01½ hours to 02 hours drive from the Mirik. Darjeeling is 50 kilometers and is nearly 02 hours' drive. Khurseong is roughly 60 kilometers to Siliguri. The town is nearly 80 Kilometers from Kalimpong and approximately 140 Kilometers from Gangtok. The drive to Mirik is also a scenic route touching Nepal Border at Pashupati.