Kalimpong

Situated at an altitude of 1300 m on the eastern side of the Darjeeling Himalayas, Kalimpong district was formed on 14 February 2017 as the 21st district of West Bengal by splitting from Darjeeling district. It comprises Kalimpong Municipality with 23 wards and four community development blocks: Kalimpong I, Lava, Pedong and Gorubathan comprising 42 village panchayats. The allure of the mighty Himalayas, the pristine beauty of the Dooars, the dense virgin vegetation, the enchanting valleys and meadows and of course the perennially bright but cool weather have put Kalimpong district on the map of the most important tourist destinations in the Eastern Himalayas. Kalimpong is home to the most diverse varieties of orchid, cactus and ornamental plants. With lush green valleys, a panoramic view of the Eastern Himalayan rangs, the snow-clad Kanchenjunga kissing the blue sky, the mild weather and the relaxd atmosphere, Kalimpong undoubtedly is place where tourists can have a holiday of a lifetime. Far from the maddening crowds, away from the hustle and bustle of city life,Kalimpong offers its visitors a vacation unlike any other. The name of the town itself suggests of a place which is synonymous with fun and laughter, relaxation and peace, gaiety and harmony. The word Kalimpong in the Lepcha language (Lepchas are the original inhabitants of the region) roughly translates into “Ridges where we place”. It is believed that in the early stages of the development of the town hill tribesmen used to assemble in the beauty decked town for recreational purposes. Now after centuries of development and refinement of its infrastructure, the town is without doubt one of the foremost and one of the most likeable tourist destinations of North East India. Overseeing this is the picture post card surroundings with the majestic Kanchenjunga towering at a distance and other major Himalayan peaks providing an almost surreal backdrop. On a clear day, an almost 360 degree panoramic view of the snow clad lofty mountains and the Pine draped neighboring hills can be had from almost any part of the town. Kalimpong definitely is not one of those conventional tourist destinations where visitors are forced into the same routine which all others are forced into. It is a holiday destination for people who are looking for a break from the highly tension charged life of the cities. The quaint surroundings, the lush green hills, the terraced agricultural fields, the relaxed way of life and the crisp and clean mountain air is what tourists actually find pleasure in. Its accessibility too is to its advantage- being only sixty kilometers from Siliguri; it has easy access to all major cities of the country. Darjeeling, Gangtok, Siliguri, Pelling, Lolaygoan, Rishab and Lava are all within a driving time of two to three hours and enough accommodation to suit all budgets are available in the town. Within Kalimpong, Deolo Hill (5850 feet) offers an unparallel view of the surrounding valleys, hills of South, West and East Sikkim, view of the mighty Teesta and Rellie rivers meandering down its course and the snow dressed mountains.