Places Of Interest

Kalimpong Haat Bazaar - Raja Dorji Market
Best explored on foot, the main market place is a bustling beehive of human activity where vendors vie with each other to sell off their homegrown food produce. The ‘haat bazaar’ typifies the traditional open-air market, a venue where villagers from the surrounding area are allowed to set up temporary stalls.

Zongdogpaldri Fobrang Monastery
Consecrated by the Dalai Lama in 1976, this monastery has 108 volumes of the Kangyur brought by the Dalai Lama himself when he fled Tibet.

Dr. Graham's Homes
Established in 1900, by Rev Dr. John Anderson Graham to house and educate inter-racial offspring of British tea planters and local women who were disallowed admissions into regular schools by the society then, it is now an public school open to all. Of interest are the original buildings and chapel. The School celebrated its centenary in 2000.

Tharpo Choling Monastery
The oldest monastery of Kalimpong built in 1692 by the Bhutanese during the occupation, and in their typical flavour.

Tongsa Gompa
Established in 1900, by Rev Dr. John Anderson Graham to house and educate inter-racial offspring of British tea planters and local women who were disallowed admissions into regular schools by the society then, it is now an public school open to all. Of interest are the original buildings and chapel. The School celebrated its centenary in 2000.

Colonial Bungalows
Built by British traders during ‘the Raj’, these quaint houses are mostly found in the upper section of the town. They include Surya Sadan, Crookety, Galingka, Morgan House, Tashiding and Ringking Farm to name some. Of these, Morgan House and Tashiding have been converted as Tourist Lodges and are open to visitors.

St .Theresa Church
Built by local craftsmen to resemble a Gompa, it has wooden carvings on the walls of Biblical scenes and in continuance to the theme, the characters are depicted in the attire of the Buddhist clergy.

Flower Nurseries
The flower nurseries of Kalimpong specialize in the cultivation of exotic orchid species, and other plants such as palms and Bird of Paradise, Gladioli, Cacti, Amaryllis, Anthuriums, Bromeliads, Gerberas, Dahlias and a whole lot of flower bulbs.

Deolo View Point
At 1,914 meters Deolo Hill commands an excellent view of the town, the Teesta Valley below and the snowy ranges in the distant horizon.

Pedong
A small town 24 kilometers from Kalimpong. It has a monastery of Bhutanese origin that was built in 1837.

Lava
Surrounded by virgin pine forests and often hidden in mists and clouds at an altitude of 2,350 meters, this small village lies 34 kilometers away from Kalimpong on the old trade route to Bhutan. It has a beautiful monastery of Bhutanese origin and a Nature Interpretation Centre. Popular for nature exploration and bird watching, it is also the starting point for treks into the Neora National Park, which abounds with floral and faunal wealth.

Kaffer / Lolay Gaon
A superb spot to view the sunrise over the mountains to those eager to take a 59-kilometer morning drive from Kalimpong through lovely forested hills. The area itself has a heritage forest and offers fine views of the snowy Singalila Range.

Samthar Plateau
Scenic and remote, at an elevation of 1,400 meters, Samthar Plateau is 80 kilometers from Kalimpong, and 45 kilometers from Lava. It has breathtaking views of the snowy mountains, superb sunrise and sunset, picture post card hamlets, exotic flora, forests, mountain streams and river-pools, all far from the madding crowd. This is an area popular for nature hikes, angling, mountain biking and cultural explorations.

Neora National Park
A 4-day trek through forests and exotic flora of the National Park, culminating in the ascent of the 3,152 meter Rache La tri-junction, to view the Chola Range. Other activities include nature and culture exploration of the Rishi Valley and remote waterfalls. Altogether, a memorable experience.