KALIMPONG
By Sandip C. Jain

The tag of being Gods own country may lie with some other place in the tourist maps but visitors to this serene and breathtakingly beautiful little town may beg to differ. With the lush green valleys, panoramic view of the Eastern Himalayan ranges, the visual delight of the snow clad Kanchenjunga kissing the blue sky, the cool mild climate and the relaxed atmosphere alluring visitors to the town, Kalimpong undoubtedly is a 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 play”. 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.
Historically a part of the Sikkimese Empire, Kalimpong was later overrun by the Bhutanese before finally being annexed by the British in 1865. Since then, set on the roads of development by the then British government, Kalimpong has come a long long way now with all modern amenities required for a major Hill Station in place.
The Bhutanese rulers may have left a century and a half back but their imprint still remains. Their colourful cultural influence acts as a magnet for all those who are fascinated by the Bhutanese culture and architecture. Infact Kalimpong has had this wonderful ability to soak in all the positive attributes of its past masters. It has managed to turn itself into a place, small though it may be, that exhibits and flaunts its past glory- the colonial bungalows rub shoulders with traditional Bhutanese architecture, providing a feast for all which have been fed with images of the concrete jungle of the cities. 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. Also being located bang in the center of the Darjeeling- Sikkim region, Kalimpong is the ideal place to station oneself during a tour of the region. 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. The monasteries within the town are a virtual gold mine on the literature, culture, tradition and history of the region. One of the monasteries here, the Tongsa Gumpha, is believed to be the oldest in the region having been constructed in the middle of the 17th century. The Rellie River, 11 kilometers from the tow, is another place where visitors can have fun to their hearts content. Kalimpong’s true
joy lies in its richness of local culture, tradition and heritage. The diversity and richness of its culture is a delight for all its visitors. The Maruni Dance, the Saurathi Dance, The Mask Dance, The Yak Dance and many such traditional dance forms along with the Naumati Baja (traditional musical instruments of the Nepalese) are Kalimpong’s special attractions. This is best highlighted during the period Kalimpong hosts its annual tourist festival- the Kalimpong Winter Festival- during the Christmas week 924th December to 31st December) each year, when the entire town is decked up like a queen and tourists are treated like kings. Visitors to the town during the festival would surely fall in love not just with the town more so with the open hearted and simple residents of this hill town.
Kalimpong is the place to be for a flower lover. Its flower nurseries, world renowned for their quality and variety of flowers, are a delight for all flower lovers. A variety of orchids, flowers, climbers and indoor plants greet visitors to these nurseries, tempting many to come back even if just to spend some time more in this floral paradise.
Kalimpong otherwise is a sleepy little town, still untouched by the open commercialization that has crept into the other hills towns. It still retains its rustic charm despite being one of the major towns of the region. “Educating young minds” is Kalimpong’s forte. With some of the oldest and most sort after schools in North East India, Kalimpong is host to thousands of students from across the country as well as from Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and even from Thailand availing education here. Many leaders in their respective profession have spent their formative years here.
Adventure tourism too is slowly making an entry into the town with trekking, rafting and rock climbing being offered by the town. The town being at a moderate elevation of 1200 meters offers some of the most spectacular mid altitude treks in the region. One need not be a seasoned trekker to enjoy these treks as most of the treks offered here a moderate treks that can be undertaken even by an average tourist.
The colonial past of the town can best be enjoyed through some of the most fabulous bungalows constructed by the European settlers of the past. Kalimpong has scores of such bungalows dotting its residential areas. The cottages of Dr. Grahams Homes (the biggest and the oldest school of the town) are a prime example of this. The hundred and ten year Macfarlane Church, the tower of which looms over the Kalimpong skyline is another masterpiece of Scottish architecture.
Kalimpong stands tall amongst all the other hill station of the region only because it dares to be different. - Come enjoy the difference!!!