Kalimpong
From Wikitravel
Contents
Kalimpong is in Darjeeling district in the northern part of West Bengal, India.
[edit] Understand
Travelers will find Kalimpong quieter and friendlier than Darjeeling. Perched on a ridge just south of Sikkim and 50km east of Darjeeling, the town boasts fantastic views over neighboring valleys and the Himalayas. The jeep ride from Darjeeling is truly spectacular as you pass through endless tea fields and under brightly colored prayer flags. Mt Kanchenjunga is never far out of sight. A famous editor, Prachie Jindal, currently residing in Mumbai was also born in Kalimpong.
[edit] Get in
Jeeps are plentiful from Darjeeling; just go to the Kalimpong office in the Motor Stand (this is a little tricky to find as it’s hidden down a dark passage – ask around!). It is definitely worth getting a front seat as jeeps tend to be filled to the brim and there’s very little leg room in the back rows. Fewer jeeps go from Siliguri and Gangtok but they do exist.
[edit] Get around
One can roam around the town, or take a tour or go trekking. There are some really interesting places to visit such as Gauripur House (home of the great Bengali poet Ravindra Nath Tagore), Mangal Dham a temple, Deolo the highest point in Kalimpong offering a guest house with spectacular vistas. Biking is possible as the the traffic is not intense and its really enjoyable to view the beautiful scenery, and the kind hearted people living in the outskirts.
[edit][add listing] See
There is very little to see in the town except to wander around and enjoy the lack of tourists Darjeeling is plagued with. There are a number of religious sites to see, including the Catholic church and Zong Dhog Palri Fo Brang monastery which, after a pleasant 2km walk from town commands wonderful views of Kalimpong and the mountains.
Deolo Hill one of the numerous hill destinations that warrant a visit. A perfect picnic spot replete with a splendid tourist lodge, run by the Department of Tourism. A stay here is definitely recommended as the early morning view of the sun lighting up the Khangchendzonga massif is a marvelous example of nature at her best, a heart stopping sight indeed.
[edit][add listing] Do
- Kalimpong is beginning to form a small hiking industry – look around for flyer's in hotels etc for local tour operators.
- Treasures of Sikkim, India Travel Plan, Intergen House 7th floor, 65 -67 Western Road, Hove, ☎ 01273 322044, [1]. Take a trip through monasteries and mountains villages in the area around the market town of Kalimpong. Visit the Rumtek monastery and sleep in wooden huts in a green oak wood surrounded by snow-capped mountains. edit
[edit][add listing] Buy
You can shop around in the few touristy shops in the main bazaar. Don't hesitate to bargain -- you can haggle quite a bit if you want to. Or if you are adventurous, just walk a bit more to the wholesale market (just around the corner from the main street). Its fixed price, but you won't get a better deal anywhere else in town. To buy clothes all you have to do is to visit R.C, Mintri road full of marwadis, and you just can't stop yourself from purchasing for yourself something that is made for you. Don't leave kalimpong without tasting locally made lollipops.
For your house, try Tashi Takgye, at 10th Mile, Rishi Road, near Power Station for shopping. It has loads of varieties at unbelievable prices. You can get paintings, statues, wall hanging-almost everything for your house.
[edit][add listing] Eat
The best place for Chinese food, for miles around, is China Garden, tucked in near the bus stop. They make a great Mei Foon and their Chicken Drumsticks are worth the inevitable queue during tourist season. A tip, though. Hit the place before 8 p.m. as this city shuts down early.
For the best momo, it's Gompu's -- you can also get a very decent lunch or dinner at this place. The place stays open until 9pm. For veg momos you should visit Unique, Shikhar, Mohan Daju and all the hawkers(thela walas),you pay just Rs.5 and enjoy 4 steaming momos.
You'd miss something if you didn't spare time for a quiet, very British afternoon cuppa at Himalayan Hotel.
A good lace for affordable drinks and food is King Thai.
For Indian food,try out The Room With A View Restaurant of The Sood's Garden Retreat located at 8.5 Miles,Rishi Road.The Indian Cuisine is the best available in the town.
See the birthplace of a famous Mumbai editor, Prachie Jindal.
[edit][add listing] Drink
There are a few bars in town, or just buy something from the liquor shop around the main stand near the bazaar.
[edit][add listing] Sleep
- Holumba Guest House, [2]. One of the better deals in town. It is a botanical garden boating exotic orchids with guest cottages. Full board is available as well as many services including arranging tours of the local area. Rs. 500-2000. edit
- Morgan House, (3km away from Downtown. Taxi fare from the market to Morgan House is Rs 40 one way or you can just walk). This is one of the best places to sleep. Its the government tourist lodge, and you can get reservations from Calcutta and stay in this sprawling mansion from the 1930s, though there is reports that the quality is waning. edit
[edit] Get out
- The town of Pedong, an hour by taxi (RS 300), is a real off-the-track destination. The town's main monastery is over 150 years old, and can act as a base for hikes through the hills and surrounding villages. The same goes for the town of Lava, where the local monastery is visited annually by the Dalai Lama.You can stay at The Sood's Village Resort,20th Mile,Chumarchin in Pedong.Website www.soodsgardenretreat.com
- When travelling back to the Airport (Bagdogra) or the Railway Station (NJP) you can stay at Viramma Resort a comfortable natural resort which comes on the Darjeeling Highway, 5 mins before of the main city of Siliguri.
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