Nestled upon a ride about a couple of hours from the town of Darjeeling, this small sleepy town of Kalimpong is a wonderful place to visit. The warm and friendly people, the small cozy eating places which offer treats like no other, the beautiful views from high places, the omnipresent setting of the lush green that seems to envelop all of the world around you all makes it worth your while to visit here for a day or two. Taking a break from nearby Sikkim or the hill town of Darjeeling you can easily visit Kalimpong which will offer the perfect breather in between. The town has a lot of British architecture intact and most of the offices and the schools here have some of the oldest buildings in the region. There are many schools that are well over a hundred years old in this small town where students from even other countries still come for high school education.
The many views of the river Teesta and its smaller rivulets along the way from Darjeeling to Kalimpong and from Gangtok to Kalimpong
What you can expect!
The town has the perfect weather with plenty of rainfall and warm sunny summer and winter days. Though during the peak rainy season all you will get is rain and rain and rain here, the once in a day sunshine is a great treat to spend lazily spread out on the many areas of lush green in and around the town. You will immediately see that this town has rich culture when it comes to arts and music also if you stay for more than a couple of days. Known to produce many famous writers and poets in the world of Nepali literature, Kalimpong has also featured in many acclaimed stories and diaries of people.
The best part of the town has to be the calm that envelops it. This is perhaps the reason why there are some of the region’s best schools in Kalimpong. It has a reputation for producing some wonderful students and has been a home to many writers and poets. You can also visit the one time home of Ravindra Nath Tagore, which explains the setting that writers would dream of. Unexpectedly as it may come across, the town has a modern British system of education and appearances apart have a lot going on for you even if you plan a longer stay.
A typical day in Kalimpong and an example of the architecture you find in this town.
For the traveler
The wonderful setting of the hotels and the guest houses will make you feel right at home and there are also some wonderful cottages available to you on the upper side of town. You can also rent out a cottage for the perfect travelers experience. You will find people of all origins from the region as well as outside it living in harmony here. If you are looking for a religious retreat then you will find yourself at home here. The Buddhist monastery in the town has some very rare and ancient texts. The town was a part of the famed Silk Route that existed when trade between India and Tibet used to take place. The town library also has a great collection of rare works of literature and a rich collection of its own separate piece of history that you will enjoy delving into.
One of the many views of places around the town where you will find long and beautiful walking trails.
There are three or four places that a tourist would go to in Kalimpong. It may not take more than a day to finish up with these spots and head onward to Gangtok but if you are really looking for a quiet retreat for a week or so there is no better place. The upper part of town has little or no traffic and you can put on your walking shoes. Even down in the town you need not bother with a vehicle to find the best of the small market. As you enter the main market area you will be hit by a barrage of wonderful aromas that will pull you here and pull you there. The wonderful aromas coming from shops will make you want to get in to everyone. There are also many places in town where you can get good food and enjoy some good music. The place is full of talented musicians and if you are lucky enough you may even get a musical treat. The town is also host to a couple of fairs at its famed “mela Ground” as the people like to call it. If you walk along the roads east of the market then you come across some of the best paths you will find. All along the way friendly people and grungy looking youth will pass smiles at you. Adventure sports is also a well established thing here in this town and a drive of about 15 kilometers will take you to some of the most exhilarating water sports in the entire region. The belt that offers water sports falls in between the three town of Darjeeling, Gangtok and Kalimpong.
A view from Durpin Dara where a golf course also exists.
If you walk along to the area where the schools are, on the northern side of the town, you will also understand why some of the top boarding schools in the area are located here in this small sleepy town. You can also take a walk to the museum which has a good collection of artifacts and some works of historical significance well preserved.
The two hills
Durpin Dara offers the best views to the nearby areas. Not only will you get to see the town but also nearby villages and the different streams snaking along the V shaped valleys. You can also take a taxi to visit the town’s highest point, Delo. If you have a bike with you then you can give your feet some workout by tugging up to the place. The top offers an all round view and also has a guest house to boot. You can also go off for a hike into the forest above from this point. The temperatures take a wonderful plunge as you climb higher and very soon you are above the clouds. The views of the Kanchenjunga are prominent from most places in town and the two hills, Delo and Durpin hill offer the best views.
A Walk along Delo garden which is also accompanied by a Guest House is also the highest point about town at close to 1800m.
You can also visit the National Park which has a host of animals and is also a biodiversity hotspot. Birds and flowers are something that will keep you busy if you have even a remote interest. Like nearby Sikkim, Kalimpong is also well known for many breeds of orchids, which are the most popular in the region. You can pass by this small sleepy town even in a day but what you will miss out on is some of the most peaceful and quiet times that you will spend anywhere in the region. All in all Kalimpong is rich in culture, spirit, beauty, peace and also some very high grade rock and roll.
wow… nice place. wish to go there some time.
Yes you can
Great pictures man! Thanks a lot