Sightseeing in Kalimpong

Kalimpong sightseeing options are limited. You can roam around town or do trekking.

The Thongsa Gompa is approximately a km from town and is the oldest monastery in the region. Built in the 17th century this monastery is of Bhutanese origin. Much of the original structure was destroyed in the inter clan wars before the British arrived. It contains the Kanguyar in 108 volumes that the Dalai Lama brought with him when he escaped from Tibet and also has a rare three dimensional mandala.

Other places of interest are the Catholic Church, Gauripur House (home of the great Bengali poet Ravindra Nath Tagore), Mangal Dham a temple and the Zong Dog Palri Fo-Brtang Monastery located in Durpin Dara which is a fairly new monastery.

There are numerous nurseries here as Kalimpong produces 80% of India’s gladioli and orchids. Check out the town during the Flower Festival held in October. There is a Sericulture Research Institute where silkworms are bred and silk is produced. Founded in 1900 is Dr. Graham’s Home a school established to educate children of tea garden workers. It has an old chapel with magnificent stained glass windows