Kalimpong is located in the Mahabharat Range (or Lesser Himalaya Range). It offers panoramic view of the great Himalayan ranges, and the views of the Kanchenjunga peak is quite breathtaking from here. The best thing every traveler feels about visiting Kalimpong is quiet atmosphere and the peaceful ambience. Kalimpong is also known for its educational institutions and most of them were established during the British colonial period. Kalimpong hosts an annual flower festival in October, which is definitely worth a look. At Kalimpong Arts and Crafts center, the tourists can get authentic Lepcha and Bhutanese embroidered work on clothing and purses.
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Until the 18th century AD, Kalimpong was a part of the Kingdom of Sikkim and was ruled by Sikkimese rulers. It was then taken over by the Bhutanese. In the 19th century, the British took over Kalimpong and merged into the present Indian state of West Bengal.
Air
The nearest airport is Bagdogra near Siliguri, which is at a distance of 79 km from Kalimpong. The taxi fare from the airport to Kalimpong is about Rs 1500. This airport is connected to Kolkata, Delhi and Guwahati. International travelers can get connecting flights from Kolkata or Delhi. Both are well connected with many cities in India and abroad.
Rail
The nearest rail is New Jalpaiguri, which is nearly 77 km away from Kalimpong. Taxi cab will charge about Rs 1500. This is well connected to most of the major cities in India.
Road
The Kalimpong city is well connected to other cities in Sikkim and the neighboring states by bus services. Private tourist buses are available from Kalimpong to Bagdogra (79 km) and to Siliguri (70 km).
Shops in Kalimpong have a wide variety of traditional handicrafts making it a paradise for souvenir collectors. Look out for embroidered items, woodcarvings, scrolls, Tibetan jewellery, artifacts, bags and purses, chinese lamps and copperware.
Visit the local bazaar at Kalimpong to get a glimpse of the traditional handicrafts that can be collected as souvenirs. You have a wide variety of embroidered items, wood carvings, scrolls, Tibetan jewelry, artifacts, bags and purses, Chinese lamps and copperware to choose leaving you in a dilemma to choose the best among them. Also enjoy the amazing sights of the snow covered Kanchenjunga.
Kalimpong also offers some good items to be purchased. The Kalimpong is famous for the tapestry bags and purses, copperware, scrolls and paintings from Dr Grahams house. Shops selling Tibetan Jewellery and art effects can be found in the streets to the east of Dambar Chowk.
Teesta Bazaar: Teesta Bazaar, also known as tenth mile among local people, is the main bazaar area in Kalimpong and is named after the lifeline Teesta River of Kalimpong. The market places thrive with many handicraft items and artifacts. One can shop for all kinds of commodities in this splendid market. The worthy and costly crafted items are the main attractions in this bazaar.
One can shop for variety of wares from China, Tibet and Bhutan. The local items like thankas, daggers, tea cups, footwear and lanterns are abundantly available here. Copper and Silver ware, Jewelry items, fruits, vegetables and cloths can also be shopped in moderate rates from this bazaar.
Samco Ropeway
Samco Ropeway, with a length of about 1.5 km, is the ropeway located over the famous rivers Teesta and Relli. Christian missionaries, to facilitate Lepcha population to come over to Samthar Suruk, area built the ropeway. This provides a good access to imposing Samthar valley and the hamlets of ethnic tribes.
One can enjoy the thrill of riding over the gorgeous rivers in the ropeway, which is placed at about 120 km above the water level. One can view spectacular view of the river under the ropeway and also the lusting greeneries surrounding the ropeway. This is really an unforgettable view for any kind of travelers.
Looking for adventures, take the Samco ropeway to explore the Himalayas in their natural beauty. About 20 km from Kalimpong on the highway to Siliguri, the ropeway spans over the Teesta and Relli rivers over 1.5 km. Visit the ethnic villages, Samthar Plateau and explore the forests on the way to enjoy some unforgettable views of the valley.
Hiking
Kalimpong is a nice spot for hiking. The hiking here offers mild to medium challenges as the altitude is only about 1500 m. Sightseeing and rafting are two important which can be associated with hiking. The hiking can be start at the down valley and many experienced guides can offer the tourists effective tips for hiking.
The undulated hilly terrains and the dense lush green forests add the charming enjoyment during the hiking. One can spend the gorgeous nights in mountain hamlets among the hospitable local populaces. Well defined hiking routes can be covered by four to five days.
River Rafting
For more beautiful surroundings and thrills to add to your Kalimpong holiday, there’s white water rafting in the Teesta and Rangeet rivers. Trained river guides take you along the river for some scenic beauty of the banks, surrounding hills, flora & fauna and several varieties of fishes. The entire trip is sure to leave you mesmerized and enthralled at the end of the day.
River water rafting in the famous Teesta River is a major attraction in Kalimpong. The popular rafting activities in the Kalimpong are a major attraction for adventurous tourists. Teesta River with its alpine surrounding is an ideal choice for rafting trips.
The rafting trips is Teesta river starts mostly at Melli Bridge and culminate at Geilkhola in Kalimpong. There are many agencies, private as well as government, arranging breathtaking adventurous rafting trips. These agencies are based in Chitray and Melli, the famous rafting bases in Kalimpong. Travelers looking for real worth lifetime experience of rafting can enjoy the same in Teesta River, which is rough sometimes with turbulent and quick rising waves.
Trekking
Hold on, there is still more to it. No visit to any hill station is complete without a trek through the forests. Kalimpong too offers you to explore some lush green pine covered hills along with tea gardens as the main highlight. While some of these treks can be really tough, attempt only if you are adventurous and willing to take risks.