Rahagir
Durpin Monastery on Durpin Hill

Destinations / West Bengal

Kalimpong

A quiet ridge-top hill town above the Teesta valley, known for monasteries, nurseries and colonial houses.

FamousHill-stationHeritagePilgrimage

Kalimpong sits on a ridge between Deolo and Durpin hills, about 50 km from Darjeeling, and is calmer than its better-known neighbour. It suits travellers who like Buddhist monasteries, old mission buildings, flower and cactus nurseries and easy viewpoints, with short drives out to Lava, Lolegaon and Pedong.

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Durpin Monastery on Durpin Hill
Durpin Monastery on Durpin Hill
Morgan House, a colonial-era tourist lodge
Morgan House, a colonial-era tourist lodge
Mangal Dham temple
Mangal Dham temple
Crookety House, a colonial-era building
Crookety House, a colonial-era building
Chitrabhanu, a historic house in Kalimpong
Chitrabhanu, a historic house in Kalimpong

Photos from Wikimedia Commons. Select a photo for its author and licence.

Best time to go

WhenWhat to expect
March to MaySpring is pleasant and is a busy season, so book rooms early. May and June can be crowded.
June to SeptemberMonsoon. July is the wettest month and landslides can block roads; Neora Valley National Park closes in the rains.
October and NovemberTourism picks up again after the rains; nurseries often hold flower shows in October.
December to FebruaryCool to cold, about 5 to 15 C, with no snow in town. Hotels and tours often offer discounts.

Sights and activities

1

Deolo Hill

The highest point around Kalimpong, with a landscaped park, a Buddha statue and, on clear days, views of Kanchenjunga.

Distance
About 8 to 10 km from town
Entry
About 20 to 30 rupees per person
Timings
Daytime, roughly 9 am to 6 pm
Time needed
1 to 2 hours

MapWrong fee or timing?

2

Zang Dhok Palri Phodang (Durpin Monastery)

A Nyingma monastery on Durpin Hill consecrated by the Dalai Lama in 1976, with murals and views over the Teesta valley.

Distance
About 5 km from town
Entry
Free
Timings
9 am to 5 pm
Time needed
1 hour

MapWrong fee or timing?

3

Tharpa Choling Monastery

A Gelugpa monastery on a slope above the town, off KD Pradhan Road.

Distance
About 2 km from town
Entry
Free
Timings
9 am to 6 pm
Time needed
1 hour

MapWrong fee or timing?

4

Thongsa Gompa

Often called the Bhutanese monastery and described as the oldest in Kalimpong, with more than 200 prayer wheels.

Distance
In town
Entry
Free
Timings
8 am to 5 pm
Time needed
45 minutes

MapWrong fee or timing?

5

Pine View Nursery

A nursery known for its large cactus collection and a view over the town.

Distance
About 2.5 km from town
Entry
20 rupees per person
Timings
9 am to 5 pm, closed Sundays
Time needed
1 hour

MapWrong fee or timing?

6

Dr. Graham's Homes

A school campus founded in 1900 by a Scottish missionary for children of tea estate workers, with a chapel that has stained glass windows.

Distance
About 5 km from town
Entry
Free
Timings
One guide lists 2 pm to 5 pm
Time needed
1 hour

MapWrong fee or timing?

7

Lepcha Museum

A small museum of Lepcha culture and artefacts.

Distance
About 1 to 2 km from town
Timings
About 10:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday to Friday, 10 am to 12 noon Saturday, closed Sunday
Time needed
1 hour

MapWrong fee or timing?

8

Mangal Dham

A large Hindu temple complex in town.

Distance
In town
Entry
Free
Timings
9 am to 5 pm
Time needed
45 minutes

MapWrong fee or timing?

Getting there

By bus
North Bengal State Transport and private buses run between Siliguri/NJP and Kalimpong, and shared jeeps leave from Siliguri and NJP during the day, usually until about 3 pm. Buses and shared jeeps also link Kalimpong with Gangtok and Darjeeling.
By train
There is no station in Kalimpong. The nearest major railhead is New Jalpaiguri (NJP), about 70 km away, roughly 2.5 hours by road.
By air
Bagdogra Airport near Siliguri is about 75 to 80 km away, roughly 2.5 to 3 hours by road. Prepaid taxi counters operate at the airport.
Where to base yourself
Stay in or near the main town around the bus stand, or on Durpin Hill near Morgan House for quieter surroundings.

Getting around

  • Shared jeeps leave from the bus stand area for Lava, Lolegaon, Pedong and Gangtok, mostly between about 7 am and 3 pm; older reports put Lava and Pedong at about 100 rupees per seat.
  • Hired taxis are the usual way to cover Deolo, Durpin and the outer sights; a small car from Kalimpong to NJP or Darjeeling costs about 3,000 rupees.
  • Sights in the town centre, such as Thongsa Gompa, Mangal Dham and the Haat Bazaar, can be reached on foot.

On the way

Worth a stop on the drive from New Jalpaiguri (Siliguri), the last stretch whether you arrive by train, bus or air. Stopping needs a taxi or your own vehicle; buses do not wait. Distances are by road.

1

Coronation Bridge, Sevoke

Arched bridge over the Teesta gorge, built in 1941 to mark the coronation of King George VI. Roadside viewpoint; the Sevokeshwari Kali temple is nearby.

Distance
About 30 km from New Jalpaiguri (Siliguri), 45 km before Kalimpong

Map

2

Teesta Bazaar

Riverside market on the Teesta and the base for rafting trips, just before the climb to Kalimpong.

Distance
About 60 km from New Jalpaiguri (Siliguri), 15 km before Kalimpong

Map

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Where to stay

Budget levelTypePrice per night
BudgetBudget hotels and lodges in town₹650 to ₹1,400
Mid-rangeWest Bengal Tourism lodges such as Morgan House and Hill Top, and mid-range hotels₹2,200 to ₹4,800
LuxuryResorts and heritage hotels such as Mayfair, Fortune and Elgin Silver Oaks₹3,800 to ₹7,700

Food

Momos are sold at food stands in the Haat Bazaar on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Town restaurants serve Indian, Tibetan, Bhutanese and continental food, and homemade pickles are sold near the motor stand.

Try these

  • Momo (steamed dumplings with meat or vegetable filling)
  • Thukpa (noodle soup)
  • Churpee (hard cheese made from yak milk)

Vegetable momos and Indian vegetarian meals are available in town.

Daily costs

Budget levelStay per roomFood per personLocal transport
Budget₹900₹400₹150 per person
Mid-range₹3,000₹900₹2,000 per vehicle
Luxury₹7,000₹2,000₹3,000 per vehicle

Per day. Travel to and from your city is added in the planner above.

Permits and documents

No permit for Kalimpong town itself was mentioned in the sources found. Neora Valley National Park needs an entry permit from the forest office. Carry photo ID.

Safety

By day
Kalimpong is a busy market town and day sightseeing is common.
At night
Shared transport becomes scarce after about 3 pm, so plan to reach town before dark.
Roads
Hill roads with sharp bends; landslides can close routes in the monsoon. Roads to Lava and Lolegaon are rough and larger vehicles are advised.
Emergency numbers
112 (all emergencies)

Practical

Mobile network
All the main networks (Jio, Airtel, Vi and BSNL) work in town.
ATMs and cash
At least one ATM or bank within about 6 km of the centre (SBI State Bank of India), the nearest under 1 km away. Carry some cash as a back-up.
Fuel
There is a petrol pump within about 6 km of the centre.
Medical
Kalimpong District Hospital is in town. Siliguri, about 70 km away, has the nearest large hospitals. In an emergency dial 112.

Coverage maps: Jio · Airtel · Vi · BSNL. Report a problem

Accessibility

Seniors
Most town sights are reachable by car, but the town is built on slopes with steep lanes.
Children
Parks at Deolo and the nurseries are easy outings for children.
Wheelchair users
Steep streets and steps at monasteries make access difficult.

Unless a sight is described as accessible, assume it is not step-free.

Culture and responsible travel

  • Walk clockwise around monasteries and prayer wheels, and ask before photographing monks or inside prayer halls.
  • Dress modestly at monasteries and temples and remove shoes where asked.
  • Drive slowly and quietly through Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary on the way up from Siliguri, which is a silent zone.
  • Buy local products such as pickles, handmade paper and orchid bulbs from town shops and nurseries.

What to pack

  • Photo ID (Aadhaar, passport or driving licence); hotels and permits ask for it
  • Clothes that cover shoulders and knees, and socks for hot stone floors where shoes come off. Some temples do not allow phones or bags, so carry little
  • Some cash in small notes for autos, stalls and tips
  • Your regular medicines, plus basics for stomach upsets, headaches and cuts

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