- Kalimpong is a hill station in the Mahabharat Range (or Lesser Himalaya) in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is located at an average elevation of 1,250 metres (4,101 ft).
- The town is the headquarters of the Kalimpong subdivision, a part of the district of Darjeeling.
- The Indian Army's 27 Mountain Division is on the outskirts of the town.
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| Deoli Hill |
Tourist attraction :
- Kalimpong is known for its educational institutions many of which were established during the British colonial period.
- It used to be a gateway in the trade between Tibet and India before China's annexation of Tibet and the Sino-Indian War. Kalimpong and neighbouring Darjeeling were major centres calling for a separate Gorkhaland state in the 1980s.
- Kalimpong, on a ridge overlooking the Teesta River, is a tourist destination owing to its temperate climate and proximity to popular tourist locations in the region. Horticulture is important to Kalimpong: It has a flower market notable for its wide array of orchids; nurseries, which export Himalayan grown flower bulbs, tubers and rhizomes, contribute to the economy of Kalimpong.
- Home to ethnic Nepalis, indigenous Lepchas, other ethnic groups and non-native migrants from other parts of India, the town is a religious centre of Buddhism. The Buddhist monastery Zang Dhok Palri Phodang holds a number of rare Tibetan Buddhist scriptures.
- The Kalimpong Science Centre, established under the DGHC (Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council) in 2008 is a recent tourist attraction. The Science Centre, which provides for scientific awareness among the students of the town and the locals, is on the Deolo Hill on the way to the Deolo tourist lodge.
How to Reach :
- NH31A winds along the banks of the river Teesta near Kalimpong.
- Kalimpong is located off the National Highway 31A (NH31A), which links Sevok to Gangtok. The NH31A is an offshoot of the NH 31, which connects Sevok to Siliguri.These two National Highways together, via Sevok, links Kalimpong to the plains.
- Regular bus services and hired vehicles connect Kalimpong with Siliguri and the neighbouring towns of Kurseong, Darjeeling and Gangtok.
- Four wheel drives are popular means of transport, as they can easily navigate the steep slopes in the region. However, road communication often get disrupted in the monsoons due to landslides. In the town, people usually travel by foot.
- Residents also use bicycle, two-wheelers and hired taxis for short distances.
Nearest airport :
- Bagdogra near Siliguri, about 80 kilometres (50 mi) from Kalimpong. Indian Airlines, Jet Airways, Air Deccan and Druk Air (Bhutan) are the four major carriers that connect the airport to Delhi, Calcutta, Paro (Bhutan), Guwahati and Bangkok (Thailand).
- The closest major railway station is New Jalpaiguri, on the outskirts of Siliguri, which is connected with almost all major cities of the country.