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Day1:
Arrive in Kalimpong
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Check into Hotel Stroll / Visit to market area or
at leisure |
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Day 2:
Local sightseeing
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A day
tour of Kalimpong can be divided into a morning session and an afternoon
session. Each session will be approximately of 4 hours duration.
Morning session: Visit Mangal Dham, constructed in memory of the late Guru Shree
(108) Mangal Dasji and dedicated to Lord Krishna. Devotees, especially of the
Pranami Dharma, come from far away places. Close by Mangal dham is the Mary
Mother of God Church. This is a Roman Catholic Church and the frescoes on the
wall of the Church depict are unique in that they depict the infant Jesus and
and Joseph and Mary in local costumes and their faces are depicted in local
features. Dr. Graham’s Homes, founded in 1900 by Rev. Dr. J.A. Graham, a
Scottish missionary. This institution was established as an orphanage-cum-school
for destitute Anglo-Indian children. It is now a renowned regular co-educational
school situated in a 500 acre campus. Dr. Graham’s Homes can be visited on the
way to Deolo Hill, the highest point within Kalimpong municipality area
(elevation approximately 1650 metres) which provides a 360 degree panoramic
view. The Kanchenjunga massif is to the north, beyond the hills of Sikkim that
rise from the river valleys. A fantastic bird’s-eye-view of Dr. Graham’s Homes,
Kalimpong town and Durpin hill can be had from here. The Tourism Department has
developed a sprawling eight-acre park with exotic and local flora. There is a
Deolo Tourist Lodge with a regular restaurant catering to visitors. Children can
avail of pony rides here. One can spend several hours at this spot picnicking or
just lazing around and soaking in the view and pure mountain air. Sherpa Taar or
Sherpa View Point on the way to Deolo hill is a watershed from where you see the
mountains descending to the hills and river valleys below. On the southern side
is the Relli river valley with Kafer and the hills of Samthar plateau. On the
North is Sikkim and the Kinchenjunga panorama. A Durga Mandir (Hindu temple) as
well as a viewing gallery has been built here. Just near the Durga Mandir a
Hanuman Mandir has recently been constructed with a gigantic statue of Lord
Hanuman. Just before these places of worship an impressive statue of Lord
Buddha, serene in the lotus position has been consecrated with a landscaped rock
garden in front. Good place to take photographs. One can arrange for lunch at
the Deolo Tourist Lodge before embarking on the afternoon leg of the Kalimpong
Tour.
Afternoon session: The post lunch tour takes you to the western side of
Kalimpong. Commence sightseeing after lunch visiting Nature Interpretation
Centre a museum run the Forest Department which depicts nature of the Kalimpong
region. Rishi Bankim Park is a well laid out spot for taking a leisurely walk.
Army Golf Course a nine hole golf course overlooking beautiful views of the
mountains. Visitors can play a round of golf here by paying a special fee. Just
opposite the Army Golf Course is an old and imposing mansion built Durpin
Monastery a Tibetan temple belonging to the Yellow Hat sect of lamaism, Morgan
House, Gouripur House are heritage houses with Morgan House converted into a
hotel run by West Bengal Tourism Department., Rishi Bankim Park is a small but
well laid out Park, Pine View Nursery where one can marvel at the Cacti &
succulents and many flowering plants. Back to Hotel after enjoying sites of
Kalimpong. |
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Day 3: Excursion to Damsang Fort |
Morning departure for a half hour drive to the ruins of Damsang Fort dating back
to 1690 followed by a visit to Pedong town and Rikissum view-point. Jeeps take
one close enough to the Damsang Fort and a fifteen minute walk through a lovely
wooded area of Rhododendrons and other native trees and shrubs brings one to the
ruins. After touring the ruins a drive to Rikissum to take in the fabulous
views. This is also the spot where an ancient Bhutanese monastery stood. A drive
into Pedong Bazaar culminates the excursion by visiting an old Bhutanese
monastery, Sangchen Dorjee Gumpa built in 1780, an old Lepcha house in Kashyong
and some heritage sites. On the return trip stop by at Algarah and take a half
hour walk to Jhandi Dara (6,800 ft msl) from where one can get a panaromic view
of Kanchenjunga and the surrounding snow capped Himalayan mountain range. You
can also catch breathtaking sunrise and sunset scenes from this point.
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Day 4: Rafting in the Teesta |
Post
breakfast departure for Chitray, 14 km. (a half hour drive) downhill from
Kalimpong which is the starting point for river rafting. The Darjeeling Gorkha
Hill Council Tourism Department and some private entrepreneurs conduct
three-hour rafting trips on the river Teesta. Trained river guides using the
utmost safety norms take you on a very memorable white water river rafting
experience especially for first timers and children. Late afternoon departure
for Hotel. |
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Day 5:
Memorable View Points
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Morning
departure for Teen Chuley View Point, Eco-Tourism Village, Ramitay View Point,
Cross Hill View Point. These view points provide panoramic views of the
magnificent Himalayan snow peaks and valleys and forests and rivers. Excellent
opportunities for photography so carry that extra roll of film. Evening return
to your Hotel |
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Day 6:
Picnic by the Relli River |
Numerous
picnic spots on the sandy banks - Kalimpong’s very own beach- of the Relli
River. One can take along a picnic hamper or sample some local cuisine available
in small eateries and a Wayside Inn managed by the Tourism Department. Indulge
in a swim or just simply explore the banks and hunt for garnets among the rocks
(some of gem quality) or just bask in the sun surrounded by nature. Return to
Hotel in the evening |
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Day 8:
Lava & or Lolay-gaon excursion |
Whole day
Excursion to Lava with a visit to the Tibetan Monastery at Lava and a drive to
Lolaygaon where you can walk among the tree tops on a specially built tree-top
pathway. Late evening drive back to Kalimpong and your Hotel |
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Day 9:
At Leisure / Shopping
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Pick
up those souvenirs, mementoes and knick-knacks, local handicrafts. Great
shopping for those into “Imported Clothes” and Perfume
While planning your itinerary be sure to keep aside half a Saturday or
Wednesday. On these two days, Kalimpong hosts a “haat” or market day where in an
open air market one can shop for seasonal fresh vegetables, goats, chickens,
village products of all type, clothes, shoes, ethnic foodstuff and…you’ll have
to visit to see all that is displayed.
You
might want to try out the local cuisine during your stay in Kalimpong. Momos
will be high on your list of eatables. You can get them with mixed vegetable
stuffing, soya-chunk stuffing, chicken stuffing, succulent pork stuffing and
mutton stuffing with aromatic juices that just linger in your taste buds.
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