KALIMPONG
- – AN ADVENTURE HUB
Kalimpong is the new and the 21st District of the state of West Bengal, which came into effect from 14th February. It is a small hill station located on a ridge between the two hills, the Deolo hill and the Durpin hill. It takes around 2.5 hours to reach Kalimpong from Darjeeling and around 3 hours from Siliguri by vehicle. The town is well known for its educational institutions which were established long time back during the British colonial period. There are other large buildings as well which are the work of the British engineers and architects. It holds the population of 49,403 people, most of which are Nepalese; though there are other indigenous ethnic groups living together maintaining the peace and harmony of the town. This hill station majestically overlooking the Teesta valley, is quickly becoming the favorite holiday spot for many tourists from around the world because it has some really worthy stuffs in store for the eager visitors from eye soothing beauty with lush emerald green forests terraced fields and with the backdrop of the ever serene Kanchenjunga . Kalimpong has a rich horticulture and it is very dear to her. There is a notably wide range of orchids. Flower bulbs, tubers and rhizomes are exported contributing to the economy of Kalimpong. This town is full of hills with rich red soil and sometimes dark nestled within the higher peaks and the Himalayan ranges covered with snow. So it will not fail to satisfy the appetite of the adventure loving travelers too with its wide variety of adventure sports for them to get indulged in like mountain biking, cycling, white water rafting, river rafting, paragliding, trekking, hiking, etc. So, if you have already been there then you know what I’m talking about and if you haven’t been to this awesome little hill station then its time, you plan a trip to Kalimpong.
History
Kalimpong was under rule until mid of the 19th century, first under Sikkim then under Bhutan. It was the king of Bhutan who gave Kalimpong its name. It was known as Dalingkot while it was under the rule of Sikkim. The Lepchas, Bhutias and the Limboos were the first tribes to inhabit the place, until Kalimpong was once again invaded by the Gorkhas. Later in 1866 it was added to the district of Darjeeling. It was made the alternative hill station to Darjeeling because of its temperate climate. It soon became an important trading gateway of furs, wools and food grains between India and Tibet due to its proximity to the Nathu La and Jelep La passes. With the improvement in the economy of the town increased the population as well because its prosperity attracted many outsiders specially the Nepalese from Nepal. Bhutanese were assigned a plot within Kalimpong and from there flowed the trade and relations with Bhutan flowed. Later the place came to be known as the Bhutan House, a Bhutanese administrative and cultural center. Many of schools and welfare centers for the British were constructed by the Scottish missionaries. In 1886 The Scottish University Mission Institution was opened, then came the Kalimpong Girls High School then In 1900, Reverend J.A. Graham founded the Dr. Graham's Homes . Most schools in Kalimpong started operating by 1907. Many Indian students also came seeking for education in these schools and so the population also drastically went up by 1911. In 1947, Kalimpong became part of the state of West Bengal, In 1962, the Jelep Pass was permanently closed which disturbed the trade between Tibet and India, which eventually slowed down the economy of Kalimpong. In 1980’s Kalimpong was also with Darjeeling demanding for a separate Gorkhaland state and even in the 2010. But today the town stands as the 21st district of West Bengal.
Culture & Tradition
Kalimpong has a very rich and diverse culture formed by peopled of all tribes and castes. Lepchas were the first tribal group to inhabit the place but soon it was full of other tribes as well like the Bhutias, Newars, Sherpas, Limbus, Gurungs, Tamangs and some non-natives as well like the Bengalis, Biharis, Chinese, Tibetans, etc. This place is a mixture of multi tribes but living together in harmony is not a problem for the people here as they are all warm and friendly people. They all come together and celebrate all the festivals with a hearty spirit. Hinduism id the most followed religion here but the other religions are also followed like the Buddhism, Christianity and Islam. The common language here is Nepali, though people of different tribes also speak their own languages among themselves. People are crazy about momos here and the famous aromatic tea. The butter tea of Bhutias is also worth tasting. Rice is their staple food accompanied by curry, dal and achar. Taba, kinema,churpi, gundruk, ect, are the traditional food.
Places to Visit
Deolo Hill :
Get the scenic view of the snow clad mountains of the West Sikkim and the breath taking 360 degree view of Kalimpong town.
7th Mile View Point :
Just 3 kilometers from the town this view point is located. It gives you the most eye pleasing view of the glorious Teesta Rangeet Valley.
Mangaldham :
In 1940, Guruji Shri Mangaldasji Maharaj came to Kalimpong and was so much touched by the beauty and purity of this hill station that he decided to stay here serving people. After his death, Mangaldham was built in his memory. His "Samadhi" lies in the ground floor of the temple.
Kalimpong Science City :
1 kilometer away from the town is another favorite spot of the tpurists, The Science City. It is located on Deolo Hill. It exhibits scientific objects.
Durpin Monastry :
The monastery is located in Durpin Dara Hill, possessing the rare and holy Buddhist manuscripts of 108 volumes called the “Kangym”. It is said to have gifted by the Dalai Lama in 1956 on his visit to Kalimpong.
