kalimpong

Visit Chardham Namchi

Mangal Tours & Travels conducts regular package tour to Chardham, Siddheshwar Dham and Samdruptshe in Namchi from Kalimpong. It takes two and half hour drive from Kalimpong to reach Namchi in light vehicle. The price is very affordable i.e. Rs. 350 per head. Interested visitors may contact MTT for booking in advance. The number of visitors may vary from 6 to 7. They can avail the vehicular services of Eeco, Xylo or Innova. If the number of visitors is more than 7 and upto 10 they can be accommodated in Sumo, Max, Marshal etc. However, the visitors have to pay entry fee through their own pocket in respective gates of Chardham and Sabdruptshe. If you wish to pay a visit to these pilgrim centres please contact 87593-46939.

Tourist destination in Kalimpong

Lolegaon/Kaffer : In Nature’s Lap

                                                                                   - Anup Moktan

Anup Moktan

Want to get off the beaten path??? Then Lolegaon is the perfect destination for you.  Away from the din and bustle of cities and towns, virgin forests and a pristine ambience await you in Lolegaon. Lose yourself in the spectacular sunrise and sunset views seen from vantage points or the view of the entire Khangchendzonga range from anywhere in Lolegaon. Thrill yourselves with a hike in the forests or enjoy the local beverages available in its purest form. Come visit Lolegan/Kaffer.

Loley Gaon

About the place : Kaffer, also known by it’s more famous name, Lolegaon, is a hot destination for tourists in North Bengal. It is located in the Kalimpong sub-division in the Darjeeling District and perfecly placed in the ridge overlooking Kalimpong town with the Relli river in between. It’s altitude is about 5600 feet.

Places of interest :  Lolegaon has a rich cover of coniferous and mixed vegetation. The major attraction is the Sunrise, from Jhandi Dara, 3.5 kms from the bus stand, which is known to be the best that can be seen from anywhere. Ramitey Dara, which is at a walking distance, also is an excellent vantage point that offers spectacular views of the setting sun. One can view the 180 range of Kanchanjuinga from Lolegaon. Another major draw is the Heritage Forest, which includes the Canopy Walk, where one can walk among the century-old trees. Apart from these, Lolegaon is perfect starting point for organised hikes to upcoming eco-tourism hotspots like Charkhol and Samthar. The majority population follow Buddhism and there is a Gumba for people with religious inclinations. Lolegaon also offers a pristine environment for educational tours and institutions, and the place boasts of an English medium co-ed school, St. Stephen’s Academy, which offers classes till the ICSE level. Visitors can also witness regional flowers in some privately owned flowers nurseries.

How to reach : Lolegaon can be reached from Siliguri with a 4 hrs drive covering 124 kms via Kalimpong and Lava. Kalimpong, the nearest town, is 30 kms from Lolegaon via Relli.

The nearest airport is Bagdogra Airport, which is situated outside the town of Siliguri. The place is well connected and it receives international flights as well.

The New Jalpaiguri Station is the only one railway head in the region and if you are planning to arrive by rail, this is the most feasible option. The station is well connected to places such as Kolkata, New Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai and Dibrugarh. Taxis are available at the station as well.

Best seasons : The most favourable time to visit this tourist hub is March to June and October to December.

Temperature : Mercury drops down to 4-5 0C during the Winter.

Clothings : Warm clothings are advisable during the visit to this spot.

Lingua-franca : Nepali is the lingua-franca of Lolegaon.

Accomodation : Private hotels and lodges are available at very reasonable rates for budget tourists. Apart from this, the Forest Department and DGHC also accomodate the visitors in respective rest houses.

Food : Here the tourist can taste the delicious ethnic foods like kinema, gundruk, masem daal, thukpa, momo etc. on demand.

THREE GIRLS EMERGING TRAVELLERS

Suchitra Chhetri, Neeti Tamang and Smriti Chhetri are three girls in this tiny town of Kalimpong who are committedly working hard for the development of tourism to include this neglected destination in the tourism map of this nation.

Apart from formal study these young girls have been working as Travel Executives under Mangal Tours and Travels since last few months. They are staying in Siliguri, the nearest railway head. The interested visitors who intend to spare their vacation or brief holidays may contact any of the executives for booking hotel and transportation of their choice. The rate varies from luxury, standard to economic or budget. They are always ready to serve the visitors by providing them hotels, lodges, restaurants, reserved vehicles of their requirements. They also provide tourist guide if the visitors require. Their head office is located at Thana Dara, Kalimpong. They may be contacted at 8101541970, 9832553001, 8348188015. Fax No. 03552-256933.

Kalimpong : Not in Tourist Map

Though this beautiful hill town has been a destination for domestic and foreign tourists, it has, however, not been able to be registered as the official tourist hub in Indian tourism map. Hotel and Restaurant Association of Kalimpong (HORAK) has been struggling to include this tourist hub in the map of tourist interest in India since its inception, but in vain. The concerned authorities are not so serious to involve themselves in development of the tourism sector in Kalimpong. Most of the attractive projects are being drowned in Darjeeling town only while a very potential tourist attractions are lying unattended in Kalimpong since long.

However, following the prevailing peace and normalcy in hills the businessmen and the persons working in tourism field have started to see some rays of hope this time. They are hopeful of Kalimpong to be highlighted in the tourist map of India very soon.

Tourism prospects

Due to lack of rainfall the water shortage continues in Kalimpong. However, the local hotel businessmen are hopeful of rains within a day or two. If it rains then the season for tourist will be very pleasant in Kalimpong this time as there is no likelihood of any political uncertainty till no.

MANGAL TOURS & TRAVELS LAUNCHES OWN BLOG

KalimNews: Mangal Tours & Travels, a travel agency, of Kalimpong has started its own blog from today 16th February evening with an aim to cater information of tourist interest to the visitors who wish to come to this tiny Himalayan sub-division. The office of this travel agency is housed at Kodak Building, Jangabir Sapkota Road, Thana Dara, Kalimpong.

The blog will be updated as and when the latest information of tourism interest are received.