An Insight :
Kalimpong near Darjeeling is perhaps the best destination to tour in West
Bengal. Kalimpong is not only famous of its handicrafts and monasteries but
it is also well known for orchids and other flowers that grow in abundance
here.
Kalimpong is situated at an altitude of about 1250 meters and has a mild
climate that range from 16 to 27 Degrees Celsius in summer and 5 to 15
Degrees Celsius in winter. The best season to tour Kalimpong is from
March-June and September-November. Before coming under the control of Bhutan
in 1706, Kalimpong was part of Sikkim. Later it came under the British rule.
Lets Explore Kalimpong :
With a number of scenic trek routes, beautiful scenery and fishing
experience in Teesta; Kalimpong is a complete tourist destination. If you
want to be in Kalimpong during the festive times, December and February are
the months to tour Kailimpong. Kalimpong Fair is held in December and Pedong
Agricultural Fair takes place in February.
Kalimpong Arts and Craft Center in the heart of Kalimpong is a very good
place to shop for some exquisite handicraft items. The center was founded in
1897 by a Scottish national, Mrs Katherine Graham. Some of the things that
you can shop at the center include purses, tapestry bags, embroidered bags
and pictorial wall panels.
Monasteries are other tourist attractions in Kalimpong. Some of the
monasteries that you can visit are Tharpa Choling Monastery and Zang-dog
Palrifo Brang. Tharpa Choling Monastery at Tirpai that belongs Gelugpa Sect
or the Yellow hat sect of lamas. Gouripur House about two kilometers from
Kalimpong is another favorite spot for tourists. Gouripur House is
associated with Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, who when on a visit to
Kalimpong used to stay in this house.
Where is Kalimpong?
» By Air - The nearest airport is at Bagdogra, 95
kms away from Kalimpong. Bagdogra is connected to Delhi, Mumbai, Guwahati
and Kolkatta by air.
» By Rail - New Jalpaiguri is the nearest mainline
railhead for Kalimpong, 85 kms away.
» By Road - 95 kms from Bagdogra, and a little over
100 kms each from Darjeeling and Gangtok, Kalimpong is well connected to the
other Eastern Hill-stations.
