Places to visit in Kalimpong
The picturesque town of Kalimpong is one of the most beautiful places in India. A popular tourist destination in North East, the town lies about 55 kilometres from Darjeeling, at an altitude of 1250 metres. Once a part of Sikkim, this town was an important centre for trade and commerce for Tibetans from the north and the headquarters of the Governor of Bhutan. Now a part of West Bengal, this small town is an out of the world beauty. Kalimpong tours are for nature lovers who seek to enjoy the bliss of the North East. Combined with Darjeeling, Kalimpong is a wonderful holiday.
Snuggled in the Himalayas, though at a lower altitude, Kalimpong is one of the places than enjoy salubrious weather. With view of the Mt. Kanchenjunga, the third highest peak in the world and many other such high mountains, the horizon is interesting and a sight to soothe all your senses. The name of the hill town is interesting and has two stories. Kalimpong in local dialect means ‘the Stronghold of the King's Minister’. Another story suggests the name of the town comes from ‘kaulium’, a type of fibre plant used for making paper.
The hill town is one of the favourite places to visit in the mountains. It is known for its peaceful environs, abundance of greenery and the beautiful flowers, orchids and cacti that are found here. Places to visit in and around Kalimpong include the many Buddhist monasteries, and the Orchid Gardens and Farms. One of the prized highlights include the educational institutions established during the British colonial period.
A holiday in Kalimpong is not about sightseeing, it is mostly about taking a break from the city life and just breathe in the freshness of the mountains. The serene town has way to create some cherished memories. A visit to Darjeeling or Gangtok and river rafting in Teesta are some added pleasure sto undertake in Kalimpong.
Durpin Monastery
The monastery is located atop Durpin Hill, one of the two hills of the town. It was consecrated in 1976 by the visiting Dalai Lama. The monastery houses many rare scriptures that were brought into India after the invasion of Tibet in 1959. It also houses the 108 volumes of the Kangyur. It is also popularly known as the Durpin Monastery. The view from the hill-top is breathtaking
Phodong Monastery
Phodong Monastery is a Buddhist monastery in Sikkim, India. It is located 28 kilometres from Gangtok. It was built in the early 18th century but an older monastery had pre-existed the current one. 9th Karmapa was invited by the king of Sikkim, where he founded three monasteries: Rumtek, one of the most important monastery of the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism, Phodong and Ralang Monastery. It was reconstructed by Sidkeong Tulku Namgyal, who was recognized as the reincarnation of his uncle, Sidkeong Namgyal, the abbot of the monastery. The line was to be continued by Palden Thondup Namgyal The monastery has a residence of approximately 260 monks and has a numerous collection of some ancient murals
