Best time to visit : March to May and September to November.
A pristine hill station of West Bengal, Kalimpong is a popular tourist destination owing to its comfortable climate, scenic beauty and the beautiful Buddhist monasteries. This peaceful town has the Himalayan range in the backdrop and stands on a ridge overseeing the Teesta River. There are many popular tourist places in the adjacent region, which add to the popularity of Kalimpong being the ideal holiday destination. This travel guide of Kalimpong is sure to give you a comprehensive picture of all the information needed while planning your tour.
Facts
Kalimpong is situated in the Mahabharata range of Himalayas on a ridge connecting two hills - Deolo Hill and Durpin Hill. The town stands at an average elevation of 1,250 metres (4,101 ft.). Being the headquarters of the Kalimpong subdivision, this town has administrative significance in the district of Darjeeling. There are many well-known educational institutions in Kalimpong that were established in the British colonial period. This town has notable horticultural societies with vast collection of Himalayan flower bulbs, orchids, rhizomes, tubers and so on. Majority of population here consists of ethnic Nepalis and the religion followed widely is Buddhism.
Kalimpong is a prime tourist location in northern Bengal, thus the food variety is very similar to that of Darjeeling. You can tantalize your taste buds with Indian, Chinese, Thai and Continental cuisine. However, the most popular fast food here is ‘momo’ – a flour dumpling with fillings like meat, vegetables, cheese etc. King Thai restaurant is best known for its Thai and Indian dishes; while Gompu’s Bar & Restaurant offers exclusive big size momos with lip smacking fillings. China Garden Resta
For shopaholics, Kalimpong is a heaven. Mainly there are three shopping areas in Kalimpong, one near the 10th mile, the Raja Dorje Market and the one on the Main Road (shops are open on Wednesday and Saturday). The Tibetan people sell lovely handicrafts that can add a real beauty in your interiors. Woollen garments, junk jewellery and locally made noodles are the best sellers in these markets. If you want to take back home some souvenirs, look for copperware, purses, tapestry bags, Tibetan paint
Nearby Places:
- Darjeeling: Darjeeling is the nearest tourist spot from Kalimpong only 49 km. away. Within only one hour drive, you can reach the most popular north Bengal tourist destination known for its majestic tea estates, monasteries, toy train, flora and fauna.
- Lava Village: Located at a distance of 31 km. from Kalimpong, Lava is a quaint village surrounded by virgin pine forests. The village is known for its breath taking scenic beauty, wrapped in mists and clouds at a high altitude of 2,138 meters. You can also visit the notable monastery of Bhutanese origin and the Nature Interpretation Centre. Nature and bird lovers frequently visit this village as it is the entrance point for treks within the Neora National Park. Lolegaon is situated about 25 km. from Lava and is a dense forest area offering a view for snow ranges of Singalila.
- Pedong: A small town Pedong is located about 24 Km. from Kalimpong and has ancient monasteries of Bhutanese origin. It is also famous as a bird watching zone.
- Mirik: With a 2 hour drive from Kalimpong, you can reach the charming town of Mirik. It has destinations like a pristine lake, Kawlay Dara, Deosi Dara, tea estates, orange orchards and so on.