Saturday 11 March 2017

Kalimpong - West Bengal

KALIMPONG NEW DISTRICT OF WEST BENGAL

Blessed with a salubrious climate that remains delightfully temperature throughout the year, Kalimpong exudes a bucolic charm that sets it apart from other more well known hill stations. It is famous for its weekly market, its orchid nurseries and a relaxed manner of life which provides harried city dwellers with plenty of opportunities to sit and stare.


HANUMAN MANDIR AND DURGA TEMPLE :- These temples are located on a ridge behind Deolo Hill and provide spectacular views of the sikkim Hills and beyond them the Himalayas on one side and the Kafer Hills and Relli Valley on the other.

 Rabindranath Tagore at Kalimpong

MANGAL DHAM :-   The  tempple  Was  constructed  in 1993 by   Shri  Krishna  Pranami,  a  Hindu  sect  and  in  the  memory  of  late  Guru  Shri 108  Mangaldasji.   Sprawling  over  an  area  of  2 acrs  of  wooded  land,  this  temple   is  dedicated  to  Lord  Krishna.  Numerous  Pilgrims  visit this  shrine  every  year. 

DURPIN DARA :-   This  Dara   of  hilltop  towers  over   Kalimpong  and  Provides  breath taking  views  all  around, the  rolling  Plains of  Siliguri ,  the  Teesta   and  Rangit   Valley,  the  Panorama   of  the  Khangchedzonga   and  the  chola range,  the  Nathula   Pass  and  the  Tiger  Hill  are    eof  the  Prominent sights  that can  be  enjoyed  from  here.


THE OLF COURSE :- This 18 hole golf course that is run by the Army Golf Club is located at Durbhn. Though patronised by the Indian Army officers stationed at Kilimpong, civilians 
too can avail ot its membership on the completion of certain formalities. The well maintained and picturesue course with its sharply undulating green makes for a challenging field .
My Journey at Kalimgpong

ZONG DOG PALRI FO-BRANG MONASTRY:- renowned as  Durpin  Monastery,  was  Built  in   the  mid - 1970s ,  the  monastery,  lies  at  about  5  Km south  of  the  town  centre at Durpin Dara  Hill, the  monastery  lies  at  Durpin  Dara  Hill, the  monastery  was consecrated  by  the Dalai   Lama, it houses  impressive  wall  Paintings and   rare  three- dimensional mandala  (a  Hindu  or  Buddhist  graphic  symbol of the universe) , From  this  monastery,  one can  get  a  Panoramic  view  of  the town  and the  surrounding areas.

THARPA CHLOLING  MONASTERY:-  Considered  to  be  the  oldest Tibetan Monastery  in lndia,the  Tharpa  Choling  is liosatad  at Tirpai  Hill near  Dr. Graham' s  Homes. The  monastery  belongs to  the Yellow -Hat or Gelugpa sect and  has an  invaluable collection  of rare  Buddhist  manuscripts  and Thangkas. at also imparts  religious training to young Buddhist novices.
 Kalimpong city on the bird eye

GAURIPUR  HOUSE :- TheNobill  laureate Rabindranath  Tagore  spant  many summers in 
 this  house  located 2km  from  kalimpong  town. ln  1940 he  recited  his  poem  Janmadin  ,from  this bungalow  through  a   telephone  hook- up with  the all  India  Radio. 

CENTRAL SERICULTURE  STATION :-   The  State  Sericlture  Department  at    Kalimpong  has  taken  up  an  expanding  Programme  of  mulberry  cultivation  in   Darjeeling  Hills. Following  in  the footsteps  of  India' s  precptors , medicinal  plants are being cultivated  among the Rauwalfa Serpentian, Digitalia,  Purpurea, Atropa  Acuminata , Atropa  Belladona etc.
DEOLO HILLS :- At 5500feet Deolo is the highest point in Kalingpong and provides a wonderful panoramic view of Himalayas. The entire hill is well landscaped with sitting areas,gazebos and view points. A tourist lodge with restaurants and rooms offers basic and deluxe amenities to tourists. private operators have recently begun providing 15 minutes paraglading flights from here. The longer flight takes one to relli river 10 KM downhills.

KALINGPONG ART AND CRAFT CENTRE :- The centre is within walking distance from the motor stand. The handicrafts of this co-operative Handicrafts Centre received wide recognisation all over the country. Some of the things made are tapestry bags,purses,pictorial wall panels,screens,embroidered bags,scrolls etc. Work is done on Bhutanese Lepchas and Sikkimese designed cloth which is manufactured at this centre.

KALIMPONG SCIENCE CENTRE:- This must be one of the most beautifully located centres for the popularization of science in the country. Situated in a verdant and grassy slope a short distance away from deolo Hill, it commands a majestic and panoromic view of the mountains. The centre houses a number of scientific instruments, displays and activities both indoors and outdoors, that mix education with fun. Recent additions are a Zorb ball and Celestrons.

SAMCO ROPEWAY:- Located 20 KM from kalimpong on the highway to Siliguri, this ropeway was constructed by christian Missionaries to open up the remote Samthar suruk region with its predominent Lepcha population. The ropeway spans 1.5 KM over both the Teesta and Relli rivers. It is Breathtaking ride 120 feet over the water of the river, with unusual view.

GITDABLING-BUDHABARE :- budhabare is a weekly market bazar, located at Gitadabling, in the valley of the Git River. This area has scenic countryside, with forest, streams, terraced cultivation, and old style homesteads. A suitable area for easy trekking at an elevation of 1400 meters, it offers quiet walks, old lepcha houses, village pubs, church and a gompa along with walks an opportunity to study tribal culture and lifestyle.

Way 2 Kalimpong to Darjeeling





SAMTHAR PLATEAU:- a scenic and remote plateau located south of kalimgpong at an elevation of 1400 meters is the Samthar plateau. it is perhaps the best spot around kalimpong, for a unique holiday. It is serene and calm provide panaromic views of the snow ranges in an arc of breathtaking beauty stretching from Khangchenjunga in the west to gymochen in the east. The plateau has charming stone and thatch hamlets terraced fields, forests and a mixed population of nepalese,Bhutias, and Lepchas. It is indded a postcard place no crowed, no pollution - only tranquillty. For many years the only access to samthar was through the Samco Ropeway, but now a 80 KM road connects Samthar to Kalimgpong.

LAVA :- Located on a pass astride the old trade route to Bhutan, at an elevation of 2000 meters, a  small hamlet, 35 KM from kalimgpong is Lava. It is surrounded by virgin forests and is ideal for nature exploration, bird watching, and for viewing orchids in thier natural habit. It is also the base for exploring the Neora Valley, upto the 3150 Meter high Rachela pass on the junction with sikkim and Bhutan. Sherpa view point offers goof views of the snow ranges of the Chola Range. Treks to Samthar plateau also start from here.