Kalimpong is a beautiful place of grate attraction. this sleepy little town situated at an altitude of 1,200 mtrs, some 50 kms to the east of Darjeeling. It once used to be the hub of the trans-Himalayan trade between India and Tibet when merchants used to ferry commerce by mule caravan over the Jelepla pass on the Sikkim-Tibet border.
The places to visit are Kalimpong Arts and Craft Center for handicraft goods, Tharpa Choling Monastery, a repository of old scriptures, and documents Thongsa (Bhutan) Monastery, the oldest in the area Dharmodaya Vihar, a Nepalese Bhuddhist Temple Parnami Mandir and Mangal Dham, Durpin Danda from where the mountain ranges of Sikkim, including Jelepla, Tiger Hill and the confluence of the Relli, Riang and Tista rivers can be views. Zong Dog Palri Fo Brang Monastery at Durpin Danda, deolo View Point for magnificent views: and Kalimpong famous flower nurseries.
Kalimpong is situated on the northern edge of West Bengal in east India and is about 53km away from Darjeeling 2.5hrs drive. With the alpine weather and panoramic view of the adjacent valley Kalimpong is the paradise for nature lover. Somewhat secluded and tucked away in the corner under the big Darjeeling umbrella, Kalimpong offers a quiet and relaxed holiday against the backdrop of Kanchenjunga.
There are many places for tourist interest in Kalimpong, with three important gompas or monasteries theTharpa Choeling Gompa, the Tongsa Gompa and Zong Dog Palri Fo-Brang Gompa making Kalimpong a major hub for the Buddhism follower. The Tharpa Choeling Gompa was established in 1922 and belongs to the Yellow Hat (Gelukpa) sect of Tibetan Buddhism. His Highness the Dalai Lama also belongs to this sect, which was founded in the 14th century in Tibet. The Tongsa Gompa is located near the Tharpa Choeling Gompa. It is the oldest monastery in Kalimpong and was founded in 1692. The present building is constructed over the ruins of the original monastery, which was raised by the Gurkhas, in the pre-British era. The Zong Dog Palri Fo-Brang Gompa was built in the mid-1970s on Durpin Hill and is located 5 km south from the town center. It was consecrated by His Highness the Dalai Lama. This monastery is famous for its traditional Tibetan wall paintings.
