KALIMPONG: An Escape Into The Hills
Filled with unwind glorious history, heritage, culture, cuisines, arts and craft, West Bengal has an infinite irresistible feature. From quiet beaches to the world’s largest delta, this state has got a heterogeneous geographical division. With these natural assets and diverse culture, it attracts a lot of tourists every year to visit the cities. Kalimpong is among the cities in West Bengal which will take your breath away with its natural beauty and scenic view.
About Kalimpong
Kalimpong is a breathtaking hill town in the northern region of West Bengal and is 67 km away from Siliguri. This town can be reached through both Darjeeling and Siliguri. This town sits on the ridge connecting two hills – Deolo and Durpin Hill. Kalimpong means “ridge where we play” as stated by the Lepchas. This town got its name as the local tribesmen used to organize field sports when they weren’t engaged in agriculture. Its population majorly consists of Lepchas, Bengali, Nepalese, and other indigenous ethnic groups.
This hill town is famous for its beautiful flower market, as it is full of colorful flowers and has a wide range of orchids. It is mainly a tourist destination as it has a breezy temperature throughout the year with the magnificent beauty of the Himalayas, and its closeness to popular tourist locations in the region. This town is amidst the deep valleys and foothills of the Himalayas. It is home to the 17th Karmapa- Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje and is widely known for its traditional handicrafts.
Kalimpong is widely known for its bustling bazaars, churches, mesmerizing valley views, Buddhist monasteries, colonial-era buildings, and vast private libraries for the study of the Himalayan and Tibetan culture, tradition, and languages. This town can keep you occupied for a few days with its beauty as it has good trekking, hiking, and river rafting adventures in the crystal river of Teesta.
Places To Visit In Kalimpong
Kalimpong is admired for its enchanting beauty and gleaming panoramic views. This small town never fails to impress outsiders, as it has several attractions to keep the visitors busy for a few days with its alluring views. Here are some sights in Kalimpong that you absolutely can not miss while visiting the city.
DEOLO HILLS
Deolo hills provide a captivating bird’s eye view of Kalimpong as it is the highest point in the city. It is situated at an elevation of 2000 meters and is a popular tourist destination among tourists. Located on the ridge edges of Deolo hills, places on this hill have the best sunset and sunrise views. When the sky is crystal clear, this hill gives the finest view of the valleys, Teesta river, the nearest villages in the Relli Valley, and the snow-clad mountains of West Sikkim are visible too. This green hill has a beautiful park that has become a favorite picnic spot among locals and tourists.
Timing: 6 am to 6 pm
MORGAN HOUSE
As the name suggests, this house was constructed in the 1930s by Mr. and Mrs. Morgan. It is the best example of colonial architecture in the town. It is situated in the lush greenery of Durpin Dara mountain. The Morgan house was made to celebrate the wedding of George Morgan and his lady. Formerly known as the Durpin Tourist Lodge, it is a lodge for tourists now as it is run by the West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation (WBTDC). It is said among the locals that this house is haunted by the ghost of Mrs. Morgan due to her premature death. While staying in this place, it offers vibrant sunsets, greenery, sloping hills, and scenic views. The Stories of this beautiful structure being haunted make it more enjoyable and thrilling.
Timing: 24hrs open
ZONG DOG PALRI FO BRANG MONASTERY
Known as the Durpin Monastery, Zong Dog Palri Fo Brang Monastery is atop Durpin Hill, one of the two hills in Kalimpong. This monastery was consecrated by the visiting Dalai Lama in 1976. The chanting halls of Durpin Monastery are calm and provide a peaceful environment. The architecture of this monastery is eye-catching and gives the best view of its surroundings from Durpin Hill. The best time to visit the Durpin monastery during your stay in Kalimpong is in the evening when the hues are appealing in the sky.
Timing: 9am to 5pm
DURPIN DARA HILL
Durpin Dhara hill is one of the two hills connected by the ridge on which the town of Kalimpong stands tall. On the top of the mountain sits Zong Dog Palri Fo Brang Monastery. In the local language, Durpin Dara means “Binocular Hill”, one can get an amazing view with a pair of binoculars when visiting the hill. The verdant hill offers a scenic view of the mountains, its surrounding villages, and Jelep La Pass. A golf course is also in the hills for visitors to enjoy golf. A famous botanical garden is also found atop a hill to enjoy and learn about the plants and flowers.
Timings: 6am to 6pm
NEORA VALLEY NATIONAL PARK
Neora Valley National Park, one of the entire Northeast India’s richest biological zones. The National Park spreads over an area of approximately 88 sq km. This park is situated in the foothills of Himalaya giving a breathtaking view of nature’s beauty with mesmerising Kanchenjunga range in the background. This beautiful national park is home to many endemic orchids and Red Panda and diverse biological eco- system. The Neora River is the main river of this valley and Rachela Danda is the height point elevated up to 10,600 ft. Tropical, Subtropical and temperate vegetative systems can be found in this eco- system.
Neora Valley National Park has mixed species of flourishing flora such as oak, ferns, bamboo and colourful orchids etc along with a variety of flora including endangered species like Jerdon’s Baza, Golden- throated Barbet, Clouded Leopard, Tragopan, green pit viper. Due to its richness in flora and fauna, it is one of the essential wildlife zones in the country.
Timing: 6am to 6pm
Best Time To Visit Kalimpong
Kalimpong can be visited at any time of the year as the weather remains pleasant throughout the year. The best time to visit Kalimpong is from March to May. We have categorized the best seasons for you to explore the city.
Spring Season
This season is the best time to explore the beauty of Kalimpong. Spring season is pleasant to explore as it’s neither cold nor hot. Rainfall is barely there during this season. The sky is crystal clear with lush green surroundings, and magnificent panoramic views of the Kanchenjunga and Himalayan ranges add to the beauty of this city. This season sees an abundance of tourism during this season.
Summer Season
This season is the peak tourist season in Kalimpong. Tourists can be seen roaming and taking in the beauty of this place. The sky during this season remains clear but can get cloudy at times due to which the Kanchenjunga peak plays hide and seek with the clouds. There is a possibility of rainfall around June and July.
Monsoon time is best to avoid visiting the hilly town. During this season there is a high possibility of landslides every year due to which routes of this region are cut off.
Winter Season
During this season, the sky becomes clear, offering an amazing view of the mountains. It is again a great time to visit this wonderful place. Tourist flow peaks up high during this season although it gets low around mid-December to January. Being surrounded by snow-clad mountains, it gets very cold during winter as the temperature drops.
Things To Do In Kalimpong
There is something for every visitor in this beautiful town of West Bengal. The town has several attractions that attract a large crowd. It also has exciting and a variety of things to do. Providing a wholesome experience to everyone who visits it, look at a few things that you should include in your Kalimpong bucket list.
River Rafting
River rafting on the river Rangeet and Teesta definitely should be on the bucket list while exploring the lush green town. Being surrounded by hills, the panoramic beauty of the river banks and the variety of fishes are enchanting. River rafting is an adventure-filled activity, beginners with a little sense of rafting adventure can also enjoy it. It is the top thriller thing to do in the city. Teesta river is a popular spot among tourists for sports and fun-filled activities. While rafting, don’t forget to enjoy the view of the dense forest surrounding the river.
Cheese Shopping
As weird as it sounds, you should go cheese shopping in the city. This alluring town is known to produce premium quality cheese, it is famously known as the Kalimpong Cheese. The cheese gives off a smell and is tangy. While you can shop, you can also enjoy munching them in the cafes as there are several of them serving the cheesiest cheese.
Hiking
Another thing to do is go hiking, as it gives you the chance to explore the mountains and forest. Hiking is a trekker’s Delight, the altitude is less than 1500m, so it is easy for everyone to take this adventure. It takes you one or four days to hike, including the sightseeing and views. The trails are easy, and the stay is comfortable. Trekking in the town is a good idea in all seasons except the monsoon season as the trail becomes rough and dangerous. So do not forget to carry all the necessities for hiking while traveling to Kalimpong.
Watch the Cultivation of the Silk
Sericulture Research Institute is famous for its research and study in sericulture. This institute also is the place for silkworm breeding. The research center works closely with the farmers to cultivate silkworms and the sale of various silk products. It gives visitors an opportunity to watch the cultivation process, it is an entertaining and informative adventure. Do not forget to include visiting here in your list while planning a trip to the hill town.
How To Reach Kalimpong
BY AIR
The nearest to reach the city of Kalimpong is Bagdogra airport in Siliguri. This airport has good connectivity with the rest of India. Direct flights are available from Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata. One can hail a cab from the airport.
BY RAIL
The nearest railhead is New Jalpaiguri, as Kalimpong does not have its own railway station. This railhead is connected with all the major cities across the country. Tourists can hail a pre-paid taxi from the station.
BY ROAD
The city of Kalimpong is well connected with the neighboring and other major cities in the country. The road is connected with Siliguri, Darjeeling, Gangtok and Kolkata.
Also Read:- BEST PLACES IN INDIA TO WORK FOR DIGITAL NOMADS