Kalimpong (कालिम्पोङ) is 60 km from Siliguri and 80 km from Gangtok, Sikkim, Kalimpong (1250 m) is another hill station and sub-division of Darjeeling District. It is said that Kalimpong was named after Kaulim, a dfibrous plant found in abundance in this region or some say Bhutanese gave name when it was under control of Bhutan, before British took it in 1865, Kalimpong was the trade center between Tibet, Bhutan and India.

History

Kalimpong region once was a part of Kingdom of Bhutan. In 1865 after loosing battle to armed British intervention, Bhutan gave away Kalimpong to British India. British missionaries came in during late 1800 and left the legacy of good school, charitable institutions and architectural style of English countryside. They realized that education should also be developed, hence they built institutes like Scottish Universities Mission Institute, established in 1887, later other schools were also established, such as Dr. Graham Homes established in 1900, st. Augustine's School established in 1845 and St. Joseph's Girls Convent Established in 1962.

Basic Info

• Population : 40,000
• Language : Nepali, Hindi, Bengali, English
• Height : 12500 Meters, Climate Condition is moderate in Kalimpong. During Summer Celsius goes up Min 15 degreee, Max 29 Degree. In winder goes upto Min. 5 Degree, Max 17 Degree.
• Distance : Approchable by roads from Siliguri (60 Kms), From Darjeeling (52Kms), From Gangtok (79Kms)

Places of Interest

• Deolo Hill : Situated at altitude of 1696 meters up hill, is a pleasant and peaceful place.
• Durpin Dara : Walking distance from Kalimpong town is another place at the altitude of 1402m from where whole Jalapla Pass, Chola range of Sikkim, Tiger Hill of Darjeeling, Kanchenzonga Range, and plains of west bengal can be seen on a clear day. On the way to Durpin Dara, one can also visit Gauri Pur House where Nobel Poet Rabindranath Tagore has spend some of his time here for many of this workds.

• Nurseries : Kalimpong is enriched with different varieties of flowers such as gladioli cactus, orchids, roses, dahlias, ornamental plants etc. Many private nurseries have been opened and some are opened to all visitors.

• Mangal Dham Parnami Mandir : The Hindu Mandir is situated on the Relli Road , inaugurated in October 1993 and it is just one kilometer away from town. It is a huge temple with huge sized statues of Lord Krishna in the Prayer hall.

• Dharmodaya Vihar : The statue of Buddha was donated by the Burmese Buddhists which is installed in the Buddhist temple. It is located at Reshi Road.

• Kalimpong Arts & Craft center : Near the bus stand of the town craft center can be visited for locally made crafts.

• Lava : A near by place to visit while in Kalimpong, with a wide variety of orchids in the dense forest of Beech, Pine and Juniper. Lava Provides a 12km teak to Jalapa a Rachela situated on the Tri-junctions of Sikkim, Bengal and Bhutan. Lolen gaon is 24 Kms away from Lava, which offers views of peaks - Kanchenjunga, Pandim , Kabru, Jana Siniolchu, Kang, Talung, Jupno, Nursing and Simvo.