Kalimpong amid hills, monasteries and nurseries

Kalimpong brings together several clearly distinct themes: hills and views, monasteries, historical objects and plants. If you are looking for a hotel in Kalimpong, these highlights can help you choose a destination that matches your interests. Scenery and views are especially prominent at Deolo Hill; culture and nurseries offer a different focus.

Hills and views

Kalimpong lies between two hills; Deolo Hill is one of them. At 1,704 metres, it is the highest point in the city. Its summit is home to a recreational park with exotic flowers that serves as a picnic spot for tourists and locals. From Deolo Hill, you can see the city of Kalimpong, villages in the Relli Valley, and the Teesta and its valleys. Deolo Hill thus combines a specific elevation, a facility on the summit and a view encompassing both the city and the surrounding landscape. Zang Dhok Palri Phodang, also called Durpin Monastery, is located on Durpin Hill at an elevation of 1,372 metres. By comparison, Deolo is 332 metres higher than the monastery site on Durpin Hill.

Monasteries and museum

Thongsa Gompa is a monastery of the Nyingma school and is also called Bhutanese Monastery. The Lepcha Museum in Kalimpong displays historical objects and texts associated with rituals and customs. These offer different cultural interests to choose from: the religious affiliation of a religious institution, or objects and texts connected with rituals and customs. The alternative names help distinguish the monasteries: Durpin Monastery refers to Zang Dhok Palri Phodang, while Bhutanese Monastery is another name for Thongsa Gompa.

Nurseries and plants

The nurseries add a botanical focus. Pine View Nursery has a large cactus collection and is one of Kalimpong’s most popular nurseries. The city’s nurseries also offer visitors a wide variety of plants. In addition to Pine View, Shantikunj, Orchid Retreat and Horticultural Trading Company are among the nurseries in Kalimpong. The cactus collection is a specific plant highlight of Pine View Nursery; the wide variety of plants refers to the nurseries as a whole. This distinguishes one particular collection from a broader botanical focus. If you are planning to visit a particular nursery, check in advance whether visits are possible.

Different travel interests

You can distinguish the themes for your selection by their specific features. Deolo combines the city’s highest point with a summit park and views, while Durpin is defined by the elevation of its monastery site. Among the monasteries, Thongsa Gompa is identified with the Nyingma school; the Lepcha Museum focuses on historical objects and texts about rituals and customs. This can help you decide whether landscape, a connection to monasteries, the museum or plants should be the focus of your trip.

Discover more destinations: Rishop, Mangwa Forest, Darjeeling, Singel Tea Garden, Mirik, Westnar Forest, Shiliguri, Kurseong

Go to the main travel overview: Darjeeling.