The picturesque town of Kalimpong is a hill station with a difference. It is quite different from its more illustrious neighbour Darjeeling. Fewer tourists, a walker and a trekker’s paradise, a haven for bird watchers, adventure sports like river rafting and mountain biking, spectacular monasteries all wait for you. Kalimpong is an ideal place for a quiet holiday amidst gently rolling hills and deep valleys at the foot of the mighty Himalayas. An ideal way to spend your day in Kalimpong is to have Momos and Thupkas in breakfast, laze around the bazaar, visit the different points which offer spectacular views from the city, come back to your hotel, have a quick nap, have a nice cup of Darjeeling tea made for you in the evening, sit on a comfortable easy chair and read your favourite novel, enjoy a sumptuous dinner in the dining room decorated with Tibetan memorabilia and enjoy the night by the fireplace. This is my idea of a day of Kalimpong. To make your trip truly memorable stay at the Himalayan Hotel. The hotel offers some unforgettable views of the Kanchenjunga and the surrounding mountain ranges, which drop to the nearby Teesta and Rangit rivers from the rooms. The hotel possesses real charm and character and is in my opinion the best place to live in Kalimpong.
There are some cool places around Kalimpong. They are:
Lava:- Only 34 kms away, hidden in mists and clouds, at an altitude of 2, 350 Metres, this wonderful place is surrounded by virgin pine forests. An interesting monastery of Bhutanese origin and numerous birds are there for you to explore.
Lolegaon: 25 kms from Lava. More than the place the drive to Lolegaon will be a thrilling experience.
Samco Ropeway: 20 kms from Kalimpong on the highway towards Siliguri. Spanning the Teesta and Relli Rivers over 1 1/2 kms, it is a chilling ride over 120 feet over the river with unforgettable views.
Access:
By Air: Nearest Airport is Bagdogra (80 kms). A 3 hours drive from the airport will take you to Kalimpong. Bagdogra is connected to New Delhi, Guwahati and Calcutta, by Indian Airlines.
By Rail: The nearest railhead is New Jalpaiguri 80 kms, which connect you to all parts of India. 2 1/2 hours drive from the station.
By Road: 66 kms from Siliguri, 79 kms from Gangtok, 51 kms from Darjeeling.