Kalimpong Tour is the largest of the four sub-divisions of the District of Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council, an autonomous body within the State of West Bengal. Kalimpong lies between the plains of the Dooars and the hills of Darjeeling – Sikkim Himalayas. It is 50 kms from Darjeeling and 65 kms away from Siliguri. Kalimpong town & the surrounding area, with its ideal location at an average of 4000 ft./1200 mtrs above mean sea level provides mild weather conditions throughout the year. The Kalimpong Tour Packages was once a part of the Kingdom of Bhutan. In 1865, after loosing out to an armed British intervention, Bhutan ceded the territory of Kalimpong to British India. As Tea gardens opened up in nearby Darjeeling people from Nepal migrated in search of livelihood. Some spilled over to Tour Packages Kalimpong. The British missionaries came in during the late 1800’s & left a legacy of good schools, high educational standards, charitable Institutions & architectural styles reminiscent of the English countryside. People from mainland India came in to settle in Kalimpong & brought with them their skills in entrepreneurship & trade. Over the years Kalimpong Tours slowly developed into a trading center from which all trade to & from Tibet passed. This continued till the mid sixties when Tibet ceased to exist as an independent nation & the mule trains wound up. You can find more details of Tour to Kalimpong in www.holidaymasti.com.
Places to visit :
Kalimpong Arts and Craft Centre:
The Kalimpong Tour Packages India Arts and Craft Centre is within a walking distance from the motor stand. The handicrafts of this Co-operative Handicrafts Centre received wide recognition all over the country. Some of the things made are tapestry bags, purses, pictorial wall panels, screens, embroidered bags, scrolls etc. Work is done on Bhutanese, Lepchas and Sikkimese designed cloth which is manufactured at this centre. This institution was founded by Mrs. Katherine Graham in the year 1897. It is stated that more than 500 people used to work when it was managed by the Scottish Missionaries.
Dr. Graham's Home:
Education through the medium of English was introduced into Tour to Kalimpong India and this was the work of another Scotsman, the Rev, Dr. J.A. Graham. Since his first 11 years in Kalimpong he spent in routine evangelism, but later he started concerntrating more of his time on establishing an orphanage-cum-school; St. Andrew's Colonial and Industrial Settlement, now simply known as 'Dr. Graham's Home'. The first cottage to house these little unfortunate ones or orphans went up on Kalimpong's eastern hillside, Deolo in 1900 for 35 children. Kalimpong at that time was a village of about 1000 people. With the changing time Kalimpong now has a population of about 50,000 and so has Dr. Graham's changed from a entirely Christian to multi-religious. Now it has students, boys and girls, boarders and day pupils, sponsored children and fee paying children. Deolo Hill is occupied by Dr. Graham's Homes comprising some fifty cottages; it is a unique institution still supported by part by charitable collections and sponsors from all over the world.
Tibetan Monasteries:
En route to the Dr. Graham's Homes are two Tibetan monasteries, the Tharpa Choling Monastery at Tirpai which belongs to the Yellow-Hat-Sect of lamas or Gelugpa Sect of the Dalai Lama. The new Buddhist Monastery, Zang-dog Palrifo Brang, completed, in 1975, is on the Durpin Dara Hill. H.H. the Dalai Lama, on his Tour Packages Kalimpong India in the year 1956 presented a set of rare manuscripts "Kangyur" of 108 volumes to the Durpin Dara Monastery. The Dalai Lama visited Kalimpong once again on May 29, 1976, for a four day visit, when he consecrated at Cheap Tour packages of Kalimpong the Durpin Dara Monastery.
Gouripur House:
Gaouripur House is situated on the way to Durpin Dara about 2 km from town (now Co-operative Training Institute). Though a small hill station, Kalimpong was one of the favourite place of the great Indian poet, Rabindranath Tagore. Whenever he visited Kalimpong he stayed at Gouripur House. He recited from this house on 25th April, 1940 the poem "Janamadin" through a telephone system linked with the All India Radio, Calcutta. He wrote many poems when he was residing in this house. He left this house last on 28th Sept 1954 never to return again.
Durpin Dara:
Towering over the town of Kalimpong is the Durpin Dara at an altitude of 1402 metres which offers breathtaking views. From the view point at Durpin which in fact means "binoculars" the whole Chola Range of Sikkim can be seen including the Jelep La Pass. On the Northwest horizon can be seen the panoramic view of Kanchenjunga Range. On the Southern horizon looms the Tiger Hill and between the gap in the Teesta Valley can be seen the rolling plains of West Bengal. Far down below, the rivers Relli and Ryang meet the mighty Teesta near the Rambhi bazaar area.
The Golf Courses:
The Lion's Golf Course, a challenging and picturesque Army Golf Course, consisting of nine holes, has been laid by the military authorities along the most picturesque, beautiful and undulating slopes at Durpin Ridge, Opposite the historic Singamari Tourist Lodge of Bengal Government and Circuit House. About 1000 plants have been planted here.
Swiss Welfare Dairy:
About four km from the town towards the Teesta and just above the Central Sericulture Station is the Co-operative Dairy called the Swiss Welfare Dairy.
Central Sericulture Station:
The State Sericulture Department at Kalimpong has taken up an expanding programme of mulberry cultivation in Darjeeling Hills. Following in the footsteps of India's preceptors, medicinal plants are being cultivated among the Rauwalfa Serpentina, Digitalia, Purpurea, Atropa Acuminata, Atropa Belladona etc.
Darmodaya Vihar:
The Nepalese Buddhists have a temple named the Dharmodaya Vihar which is on Rishi Road. It is the residence of Nepalese Buddhist monks. The idol of Buddha inside the temple at Dharmodaya Vihar was presented by Buddhists of Burma. It is run and maintained by the members of Kalimpong Dharmodaya Sabha. They have opened a Nursery school by the name "Dharmodaya Nursery School" in the old premises of the Vihar.
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