Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Kalimpong - A hill station in West Bengal

Kalimpong is a small hill station between Siliguri and Gangtok. It is nestled in the Shiwalik Hills in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is located at an average elevation of 4,101 ft. The road (NH 31) to Kalimpong is one of the most scenic routes in India. The swift flowing Teesta river runs by the side of the road adding to the beauty of the scenery.

hill station in West Bengal


The name, Kalimpong, has three different origins. One, it means the place where the local tribesmen gathered to organize field sports, second, it takes it’s name from the Bhutanese king’s minister’s stronghold and thirdly, it is named after Kaulim, a fibrous plant found in abundance in this region.

The town offers excellent views of the Mt Kanchenjunga and the other Himalayan peaks. Lava (32kms), a small village is another picturesque place. Lava is also the base for trekking to the Neora National Park. Lolegaon is 25 kms from Lava and one can see the Singalila ranges from
here.

Kalimpong has several monasteries and also a Kali temple. The Tibetan Monastery and curio center and Dr. Graham's home are important tour stops.The popular view points are Durpin Dara and Deoro Hill.
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