About Kalimpong
Kalimpong has come a long way since 1865 with
a handful of families relying on their livestock. It is inhabited today
by different community and religion. In early1700’s it came under the
Bhutanese and became the headquarter of the Bhutanese government for
sometime so glimpses of Bhutanese influences can still be seen in the
gumbas and the Bhutan house where the royalty resides ,later Kalimpong
was merged with Darjeeling and the British developed an alternative hill
station to Darjeeling. Kalimpong offered easy access to Chumbi valley
of Tibet via Jelepla pass which is about 120 km from Kalimpong. Trade
with Tibet was fully canalised through Kalimpong which was a major
reason for development. The Scottish missionaries also played an
important part in establishing primary schools and welfare centres. The
two oldest school of Kalimpong “Girls High School” and “Scottish University Mission Institution” which was established by the Scottish
missionaries. It was because of famous westerners like William
McFarlane,W.S Sutherland and Dr J.A Graham they had a big hand in
development in the early days. The main ethnic group of Kalimpong are
Nepali, Bhutia and Lepcha, spoken language are
English,Nepali,Hindi,Bengali and Tibetan. Kalimpong is one of the
largest sub-div of India its area is 1056.5 sq km its altitude is 1250 –
1600 meters for town area countryside averages to 1600 – 1800 meters
maximum altitude of Rachela is 3152 meters. Temperature during Summer
from March to June ranges from 15 degree Celsius to 25 degree Celsius
its sunny and mild with flora in full bloom, Monsoon ranges from mid
July to mid September with drifting clouds, rain and lush green
vegetation, during autumn and winter from September to February
temperature ranges from 7 degree celsius to15 degree Celsius with blue
skies and clear view of the majestic snow covered peaks,except for
Monsoon Kalimpong is a wonderful place to visit throughout. Kalimpong is
renowned for its cheese, lollipops and noodles it exports a wide range
of traditional handicraft, wood carving, embroidered items, bags and
purses with tapestry work copper ware scrolls Tibetan jewellery and
artefacts.
Durpin Gumba, Kalimpong
Kalimpong, Nov. 19: The golden jubilee of the
Zangdok Palri gumba atop Durpin Hill here was observed today with a
colourful programme at the monastery.
Devotees from different parts of the Darjeeling hills, Sikkim and Bhutan
took part in prayers and watched cultural programmes to celebrate the
day. Tourists, both domestic and foreign, were also seen enjoying
themselves at the monastery, which over the years has become a major
attraction for visitors to this hill town.
Work on Zangdok Palri began on May 13, 1957 and the gumba was
inaugurated on November 19 the same year. This was preceded by around 11
years of collecting money for the monastery. Nawang Namgyal Sherpa, the
then secretary of the Gumba Nirman Committee that was formed in 1946,
is given the sole credit for organising the fund-raising drive.
Over the years, the monastery has grown, with new structures coming up
on the complex. The current president of the gumba, Tshering
Sherpa, told The Telegraph today that efforts will now be made to
preserve the monastery like a heritage property.
golf course, Kalimpong
A 9 hole golf course perched on a hill side
with fabulous views this Army course will delight you with its quirks
& twists. Its a challenging layout as the undulating hilly terrain
makes it difficult to gauge distances & one is often left short or
long of the target.
Located enroute to the famous Durpin monastery this course is open to
visitors (except foreigners). It is located at a elevation of about 4000
feet & makes for ideal golf as the mild weather conditions through
most of the year make for a pleasant round of golf. It can get very cold
in Dec /Jan though.
Kalimpong is located 50 kms from Darjeeling & about 65 kms from
Siliguri. The closest airport is Bagdogra (90kms).
Hanging bridge, Loleygaon
This is a one-of-its-kind-Canopy-Walk which
would be etched in your memories for ever. This Canopy Walk is a
wooden-plank and rope hanging foot-bridge which connects one tree to
another - about 20-40 feet above the ground in the Forest and 180 metres
long each - 10 kilometres near Lolegaon. This is a very rare experience
as it is available at very few places in India. This Canopy Walk would
allow sightings of rare birds all day. The Canopy Walk is guaranteed to
make you want to go back multiple times. Just strap on your binoculars
and camera and off you go.
The hanging bridges do swing a lot while you tread on them so people
with Vertigo might find it challenging.
The forest is also great for Nature-treks inside it to a certain extent.
You can see colourful birds and butterflies here.
These forests are also the natural habitats of the Himalayan Black Bears
and Wild Goats who fancy chasing. Unless you have a forest-guide with
you do not venture deep into the forests.
pineview, Kalimpong
PINEVIEW RESORT is situated about one and a
half kilometer away from the Kalimpong town (30 minutes walk or a few
minutes drive from the Kalimpong bus stand) in the premises of famous
PINEVIEW NURSERY, PINEVIEW NURSERY has a hundred of variety of cactus
plants collected from North, South and Central America and are grown in
thousands. In the immediate vicinity is Kallimpong’s famous Kalibari and
Chitrabhanu. (once Guru Rabindra Nath Tagore’s summer home).
PLEASE STEP IN TO PINEVIEW RESORT and enjoy free entrance to PINEVIEW
NURSERY. Feast your eyes on the snow capped Kanchenjangha range, the
rushing Teesta River and the most exotic variety of flora, as you look
around you from PINEVIEW RESORT. Sip your very special Darjeeling tea as
you walk about on the pathways, not forgetting the special flavours
that go into the daily cuisine of your PINEVIEW RESORT