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Kalimpong is a small hill station between Siliguri and Gangtok in Darjeeling district of the West Bengal state. This is situated at an altitude of about 1250 meters above sea level between the Durpin and the Deolo Hill. It is famous round the globe for beckoning Himalayas, dense virgin forests, green meadows and undulating valleys. The town was initially known as Kaleebung and later on the name got converted to Kalimpong. There are quite a few theories behind the naming of the town. Kalimpong is located on an overlooking bridge of River Teesta, and is fast becoming a popular tourist destination of the region. Being close to the well known tourist town of Darjeeling gives it an advantage. The town is quite close to the Indo-China border and is also the base of the Indian Armys 27 Mountain Division. In earlier times, Kalimpong have played the role of a gateway in the trade between Tibet and India. It was later closed after war between India and China and China’s annexation of Tibet. Horticulture is also important to Kalimpong. It has a flower market famous for orchids. There are also nurseries, which export Himalayan grown flower bulbs, tubers and rhizomes, and contribute to the people’s earning in Kalimpong. Best time to visit Kalimpong is from September to November.
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