A beautiful hill town in North Bengal which can be reached from either Siliguri
or Darjeeling. KALIMPONG - means king’s minister’s strong hold - a
Bhutanese word. It is also called Kalimpong in local dialect meaning "black
spur". As per Lepchas Kalimpong means ‘ridge where we play’.
It is said that these local tribesmen used to organise field sports while not
engaged in agricultural pursuit - hence the name.
Situated at an altitude of 1250 metres, it enjoys temperate climate throughout
the year. Somewhat secluded and tucked away in the corner under big Darjeeling
umbrella, Kalimpong offers a quiet and relaxed holiday, against the backdrop
of the Kanchenjunga.
The journey from Darjeeling to Kalimpong is a beautiful experience. The road
drops from Ghoom 7407ft. to Teesta Bazar 700 ft in 12 km and passes through
lush green forests and tea gardens. A place called the Viewpoint or ‘Lovers
Meet’, offers excellent view of the confluence of the Rangeet and the Teesta
rivers, as also of the Himalayan mountain range from Durbindara summit. Kalimpong’s
attractions include three Buddhist monastries, orchid nurseries, a sericulture
centre and Dr. Graham’s Home, a large sprawling school set up in 1900 for
educating the children of tea workers.
Places of Interest :
Kalimpong Market, your visit to Kalimpong won’t be complete unless you
spend several hours or better still, several days at the two Kalimpong bazars,
one on the Main Road, the other near the 10th mile. It is a unique experience
to see villagers turning up in their local costume at the bazars on weekly market
days to sell their farm products. more details
General Information
Area : 3.5 sq. miles Population : 1,77,337 (90.91 Rural urban) Altitude : 1250 metres (4100 ft) Climate & Temperate :
Summer Max. - 27° C, Min. 17.2° C
Winter Max. - 15° C, Min. 7.2° C Rainfall : 86.20 inches Annually Best Season : March to mid-June & Sept. to Dec.
