With only a week’s leave from work, I & my friends were not very eager to engage in too much traveling. Rather the idea was to chill out and have a relaxing holiday. It was summer time, so, none of us disputed the idea of visiting a hill station. After three days of discussions, agreements and disagreements we decided to head for Kalimpong.
Five of us took a morning flight to Kolkata from where we boarded the Darjeeling mail in the evening for New Jalpaiguri. Thanks to our flight delay that we didn’t get the time to move around as much in Kolkata as we’d expected. Before boarding the train, we loaded ourselves with food, snacks to help us survive till morning. After a longtime, we all were freaking out together, so the energy levels were pretty high. We chatted, gossiped, played cards until dawn. By 6.45am, we were having garam kachori’s & jalebis at the NJP station while waiting for our booked gypsy. If you don’t want to break journey so much, then one can drive from Kolkata to Kalimpong as well.
Nestled among the rolling mountains is the small hill station Kalimpong, between Siliguri and Gangtok, which we eagerly waited to see. Even though we hadn’t slept all of last night, still we were fresh and beaming with excitement. We reached Kalimpong by around evening and parked ourselves into our rooms. Park Hotel, a decent stay option with fireplaces on offering, was really cozy.
Situated at an altitude of 1250 m above sea level, Kalimpong bears a name of historic significance. Once the headquarters of a Bhutanese Governor, the word 'Kalim' means King's Minister and ' pong' - the stronghold hence the stronghold of the King's minister.
The town is 1250 m above sea level and offers excellent views of the Mt.Kanchenjunga and the other Himalayan peaks. The nearest airport from Kalimpong is Bagdogra Airport is 80 km (3 hours). Kalimpong is also well connected by road with Siliguri, Gangtok, Darjeeling. The closest Railhead is at New Jalpaiguri which is around 77 km away from Kalimpong. There weren’t too many things to visit there, but still visit to Kalimpong requires ample time to get soaked in nature. The vast rolling meadows covered with a riot of wild flowers, the sparkling brooks and rivulets meandering lazily by the terraced fields are a feast for one's eyes.
Early in the morning, we all were ready to trek till the Durpin Dara. 3 kms from town, this place offers a breathtaking view of the mighty Himalayan ranges. The lush green valleys intersected by ice cold mountain rivers such as the Teesta, Relli and Riang on one side and the sight of the plains on the other provide a mesmeric view.
We also visited the Mangal Dhaam, a recently constructed place of worship & a marvellous piece of architecture, besides the numerous monateries. The monasteries in Kalimpong, date back to 1836 and tell a rich story not only of history but also of local art and culture. The Zong Dog Palri Fo-Brang Monastery, Pedong Monastery - situated about a kilometre from the Bhutanese fort of Damsong, Thongsha Gumpha, Tharpa Choling Monastery - situated at Tirpai hill around 2 kms from town & Lava Monastery - centre for Himalayan medicinal plants.
Kalimpong is a blaze of colour throughout the year owing to the richness of its stunning flora. The orchids of this region in particular are famous for their infinite variety as well as their delicate tints. Lava, 34 kms away from Kalimpong is a Biodiversity & Ecotourism Demonstration Project Hidden in the mist & clouds almost throughout the year. It stands against the backdrop of the Neora Valley National Park at a height of about 2350 mts (7755 ft). This National Park is at the junction of Sikkim, West Bengal and Bhutan.
If one wishes to, he can visit Darjeeling as well. The land of the muscatel flavoured Darjeeling tea is revered by connoisseurs across the globe. In this land of the world heritage Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, the century old miniature steam engine still chugs uphill vying for space with the fast disappearing Land Rovers. With ample time in hand, one can easily take a combo trip of Kolkata-Darjeeling-Kalimpong.
Last but not the least was the Kalimpong Market, which offers a unique experience. The weekly market days are Wednesday and Saturday and on these days the villagers turn up in their colourful traditional costumes to sell their wares. As usual, we couldn’t have completed out trip without shopping hard. So did us, besides savoring nature’s beauty.
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Kalimpong - the world of green hills