Kalimpong (Nepali: कालिम्पोङ Kālimpoṅ, Bengali: কালিম্পং Kālimpaṁ) is a hill station in the Darjeeling Hills of West Bengal. It has less to see than Darjeeling but is, in comparison, quiet and pleasant to walk around and explore. The town has a number of interesting colonial-era buildings scattered around the town. The climate is ideal for growing a range of plants, particularly flowers and the area has many nurseries. The town is between two hills: Deolo and Durpin Dara, both of which provide views of Mt Kangchenjunga on a clear morning. Deolo provides the most sweeping panoramic views and also has a guesthouse, while Durpin Dara has the Zang Dhok Palri Phodang Monastery.

Understand

Kalimpong began as a trading post on the Tibet to India route. Then, from early 18th to mid-19th century, the town was successively ruled by the Sikkimese and Bhutanese kingdoms. After the Anglo-Bhutan War in 1864, the Treaty of Sinchula (1865) was signed, in which Bhutanese-held territory east of the Teesta River, which included Kalimpong, was ceded to the British East India Company. After falling under British control, the town was developed as a local administrative centre, and a number of missionary schools opened in the area.

The town is populated by mostly Nepalese-speaking people, with a large minority of Tibetans. There are several Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, private schools, and colleges scattered throughout the town and surrounding hills.

At around 1,250 metres, the town enjoys a moderate climate, which attracts people from towns at higher altitude in the winter and from the Plains in the summer.

Get in

Kalimpong is accessible mainly by terrain vehicle, due to the winding mountain roads. There is frequent transportation to and from nearby cities such as Darjeeling and Gangtok (Deorali Bus Stand), where one can book a 3½-hour ride by shared terrain vehicle for ₹130. Booking is not required ahead of time but is advisable if it is urgent.

Regular buses (every 20 minutes until 4PM) provide direct access to and from the Siliguri (Tenzing Norgay Bus Station) for ₹110-130 for the 2½-hour journey. Shared taxis: around ₹300. Private taxis: around ₹3,000. Buses and taxis also travel from New Jalpaiguri Station, with an additional cost of ₹20-30. The nearest airport from Kalimpong is Bagdogra Airport in Siliguri. Taxis ply the route between the airport and Kalimpong: around ₹3,000.

Get around

Kalimpong is a small and walkable city. The main form of transportation within Kalimpong is taxi and auto-rickshaw. The main bus stand is close to Damber Chowk.

See

• 1 Kalimpong Art Gallery. 
• 2 Lepcha Museum. 
• 3 Nature Interpretation Centre (Forest Museum). 
• 4 Kalimpong Science Centre. 
• Sericulture Research Institute. 
• Tashi Takgye (Colour House), 10th Mile, Rishi Road (Near Power Station), ☏ +91 9434007076. 
• 5 Mangal Dham, Reply Road. A tribute to Guru Mangaldasji, whose samadhi lies in the ground floor of the dham. 

Do

• Kalimpong is beginning to form a small hiking industry – look around for flyers in hotels for local tour operators.
• 1 Army Golf Course (27 Div Golf Course). 
• Buddha Pada (Japanese temple), 12th Mile, ☏ +91 89272 43259, info@buddhapada.in. An institute built in the Japanese minimalist style. Conducts workshops and classes in meditation, classical Indian dance, cinema, and other wisdom-based art forms. Accommodation available. Cafe and dining hall. (updated Dec 2022)
• 2 Children Park. 
• Paragliding. Delo Hill. ₹3,000 for short flight, ₹5000 for long flight. ₹500 extra for GoPro video. (as of December 2023). Open: 11AM.
• 3 Triveni Camping (Triveni Siliguri), Teesta Bazar, ☏ +91 7001608599, trivenicamping@gmail.com. 9AM - 8PM. A confluence of two rivers, the river Rangeet with its deep green and crystal clear water, meets with the forceful mountain stream Teesta at a point called Teesta Triveni. ₹1500 per person per night. (updated Jan 2023)

Buy

Most of the Tibetan shops are on 10th Mile Rishi Road, and R.C. Mintri Road.

The Haat Bazar (weekly bazzar), just off Relly Road, down the hill from the bus stand, occurs every Wednesday and Saturday and is a vibrant market with mainly clothing and vegetable stands. Food stands serve plates of momo for ₹50 (2023), as well as a delectable local pasta.

Don't hesitate to bargain: you can haggle quite a bit. Or if you are adventurous, just walk a bit more to the wholesale market (just around the corner from the main street). Its fixed price, but you won't get a better deal anywhere else in town.

To buy clothes all you have to do is to visit R.C. Mintri road full of marwadis. Don't leave Kalimpong without tasting locally made lollipops.

• Thangka House on 10th Mile, Rishi Road. This shop sells small souvenirs, and beautiful art such as thangkas and authentic hand paintings. They also have postcards and an assortment of prints for sale, which are cheaper than the hand paintings.

Eat

Kalimpong produces the only aged cheese made in India. It has the texture of a hard European cheese and a mild, Parmesan-like flavour

• Gompu's For the best momo. You can also get a very decent lunch or dinner at this place. Open until 9PM.
• A.B.C. Restaurant You can try other Tibetan/Chinese dishes like Thukpa (noodles), R.C. Mintri Road.
• Sagar, Evergreen (on the Main Road)
• Unique, Shikhar, Mohan Daju
• Rigyal Restaurant in Malli Road, 30 m downhill from the traffic point, local food with a hygienic kitchen
• China Garden is the place for Chinese food, tucked in near the bus stop. They make great Mei Foon and their Chicken Drumsticks are worth the inevitable queue during tourist season. Hit the place before 8PM as this town shuts down early.
• The Soods Garden Retreat For Indian food and drinks, open till 10PM.
• Himamlayan Hotel You'd miss something if you didn't spare time for a quiet, very British afternoon cup there.
• Cafe Refuel A good place for an English style breakfast and snacks in the outskirts of the town.
• King Thai A good place for affordable drinks and food.

Drink

Coffee

• Art Cafe, Sharma Building, Rishi Road, Chotta Bhalukhop (Lower part of town, opp Kalimpong Library), ☏ +91 97495 48034. F-W 9AM-7PM. A very hip cafe. Large outdoor seating area. View over mountains. Excellent coffee and cakes. Pizza and pasta. Fast and friendly service. 
• Roxberry The Street Outlet, D.B.Giri Road. 9:30AM-8:30PM. Chic cafe, serving espresso-based coffees, pizza, pasta, burgers, and sandwiches. Professional and quick service. 
• Tara Cafe, shop no. 8, Big Will Mart D.B.Giri Road. 9:30AM-8:30PM. Bright and airy cafe. Serves standard espresso-based coffees, pizza and pasta. Friendly service. 

Alcohol

There are a few bars in town, or just buy something from the liquor shop around the main stand near the bazaar.

• Melting Point, Opp. Kanchan Hall, ☏ +91 9593888088. Branch of the Melting Point Pelling, West Sikkim. 

Sleep

• Homestay Trinity, Off Seva Sadan Road (5 minutes drive from main motor stand towards Seva Sadan Hospital), ☏ +91 3552-258681, info@homestaytrinity.com. Spacious and clean. Well-equipped audiophile room with good collection of jazz music. Reading room. Meals prepared with home-grown organic vegetables. US$50. (updated Mar 2015)
• Holumba Guest House. Reasonable rates. Botanical garden with exotic orchids. Guest cottages. Local tours arranged. ₹500-2000. 
• Morgan House (3 km away from Downtown, taxi fare from the market to Morgan House is ₹40 one way or you can walk). A government tourist lodge in a 1930s mansion. Reservations can be made in Kolkata. 
• The Orchid Retreat. 
• Soods Garden Retreat, Reshi Road, ☏ +91 9733123113. 8½ miles (14 km) out of town 
• G P Lodge, 10 mile, ☏ +91 7890947710. Check-in: noon, check-out: 11:30AM. 900 to 2500. 
• Kalimpong Village Retreat (KVR), Kafley Goan, Lower Eechay (Just 7 km from town, near Shivalaya), ☏ +91 97754- 48485, +91 94140- 66260, info@kalimpongvillageretreat.com. Check-in: noon, check-out: 11AM. Situated on a 6-acre (2½ ha) farm. Surrounded by forests and lush terraced paddy fields. Views over the Relli river and the hills of Lava. A popular birding destination. US$50. (updated Mar 2016)
• Tenam Garden, Dr. Grahams Homes, near Ronaldshay Park, 734301, ☏ +91 9475181164. Check-in: noon, check-out: 11AM. A family-run homestay that welcomes pets, with an on-site restaurant serving organic food. Located in a quiet neighbourhood 3 km outside of town, surrounded by lush greenery. (updated May 2024)

Go next

• Darjeeling — 50km
• Deolo Hill — 6 km, provides the most sweeping panoramic views and also has a guesthouse.
• Lava — 35 km
• Pedong — This town is an hour by taxi (₹300), is a real off-the-track destination. The town's main monastery is over 150 years old and can act as a base for hikes through the hills and surrounding villages.
• Rishop — 27 km
• Sikkim — 3 hours to Gangtok
• Siliguri — a major transportation hub and shopping and business destination. Buses depart from Kalimpong bus station to Tenzing Norgay Bus Station every 20 minutes until 4PM - ₹110-130 for the two and a half hour journey. Shared and private jeeps also ply to route from the same location - approx ₹300 and ₹2,800/₹3,000 respectively. Add ₹20-30 to the fare for New Jalpaiguri Station.