Kalimpong
Kalimpong is a hill station (a hill town) nestled in the Shiwalik Hills (or Lower Himalaya) in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is located at 27°04′N 88°28′E / 27.06°N 88.47°E at an average elevation of 1,247 m (4,100 feet). The town is the headquarters of the Kalimpong subdivision, a part of the district of Darjeeling. A major forward base of the Indian Army is located on the outskirts of the town.
Kalimpong is well-known for its numerous educational institutions which attracts students from all over North East India, West Bengal, Bhutan and Nepal. In recent times, Kalimpong has become an important tourist destination owing to its temperate climate and proximity to popular tourist locations in the region. Besides tourism and education, Kalimpong is world famous for it flower market, most notably the wide array of orchids available here. Kalimpong also houses a number of Buddhist monasteries which hold a number of rare and holy Tibetan Buddhist scriptures. Template:Kalimpong infobox
Origin of name
The precise origins of the name Kalimpong remains blurred. The most widely accepted origin of the name Kalimpong is "Assembly of the King's Minister" in Tibetan. Another possible origin to the name translates to "Ridges where we play" in Lepcha; obtained from the fact that the region was the location for tribesmen who used to assemble for summer sporting events.
The Tibetan translation of the word Kalimpong means "Stockade of King's Ministers" derived etymologically from Kalon meaning 'King's Ministers' and Pong meaning 'Stockade'. People from the hills also call Kalimpong: Kalibong or the "Black Spurs".
According to KP Tamsang, author of The Untold and Unknown Reality about the Lepchas, the term Kalimpong is educed from the name Kalenpung which in Lepcha means "Hillock of Assemblage". In due course of time, the name was distorted to Kaleebung; later corrupted to Kalimpong. Another possible derivation points to Kaulim, a fibrous plant found in profusion in the region.
History
Till the mid-19th century, the area around Kalimpong was ruled intermittently by the Sikkimese and Bhutanese kingdoms. The present day Kalimpong was believed to be the forward position of the Bhutanese in the 18th century, overlooking the Teesta valley. The area was sparsely populated by the indigenous Lepcha community and the migrant Bhutia and Limbus tribes. After the Anglo-Bhutan War in 1864, the Treaty of Sinchula was signed in 1865, in which Bhutan ceded the areas east of the Teesta River to the British East India Company. At that time Kalimpong was an inconsequential hamlet, with only four families known to reside there. The first recorded mention of the town, a flying reference, was made that year by Ashley Eden, a government official with the Bengal Civil Service.
After the war, the region was made into a subdivision of the Western Duars District, and the following year it was merged with the district of Darjeeling. The temperate climate prompted the British to develop the town as an alternative hill station to Darjeeling, to escape the scorching summer heat in the plains. Kalimpong's proximity to the Nathula and Jelepla passes, offshoots of the ancient Silk Route, was an added advantage and soon became an important trading outpost in the trade of furs, wools and food grains between India and Tibet. The increase in population attracted large numbers of migrants from Nepal, leading to a sudden population increase and economic prosperity.
The arrival of Scottish missionaries saw the construction of schools and welfare centres for the British. The Scottish University Mission Institution was the first to be opened in 1886, followed by the Kalimpong Girls High School. In 1900, Rev. JA Graham founded the Dr. Graham's Homes for destitute Anglo-Indian students. By 1907, most schools in Kalimpong also started offering education to Indian students resulting in the population increasing to 7,880 by 1911.
After India's independence in 1947, Kalimpong came under the state of West Bengal, after Bengal was partitioned between India and Pakistan. Following China's annexation of Tibet in 1959, many Buddhist monks fled Tibet and established monasteries in Kalimpong. The monks who fled persecution in Tibet also brought with them rare and holy Buddhist scriptures along with them. In 1962, the permanent closure of the Jelepla Pass after the Sino-Indian War led to the slowdown of the economy of Kalimpong which relied heavily in trade between Tibet and India. In 1976, the visiting Dalai Lama consecrated the Zang Dhok Palri Phodang monastery which housed many of the scriptures.
Between 1986 and 1988, the demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland and Kamtapuri based on ethnic lines grew strong. Riots between the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF), led by CK Pradhan and the West Bengal government reached a standoff after a forty day strike. The town was virtually under a siege, leading the state government to call in the Indian army to maintain law and order. This led to the formation of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council, a body that was given semi-autonomous powers to govern the district. Though Kalimpong is now peaceful, the issue on a separate state still lingers. In July 2004, the generally tranquil town was catapulted into national and international headlines after Maninder Pal Singh Kohli, a murderer wanted by Scotland Yard, was traced to be residing in Kalimpong[1].
Geography
The town centre is located on a ridge connecting two hills – Deolo Hill and Durpin Hill, at an elevation of 1,247 m (4,091 feet). Deolo, the highest point in Kalimpong, has an altitude of 1,704 m (5,590 feet) and Durpin Hill is at an elevation of 1,372 m (4,501 feet). The River Teesta flows in the valley below, separating Kalimpong from the state of Sikkim. The Shiwalik Hills, like most of the Himalayan foothills, have steep slopes and soft, loose topsoil, leading to frequent landslides in the monsoon season. The hills are nestled within higher peaks and the snow-clad Himalayan ranges tower over the town in the distance. Mount Kanchenjunga at 8,591 m (28,185 feet) the world's third tallest peak, is clearly visible from Kalimpong.
Kalimpong has five distinct seasons: spring, summer, autumn, winter and the monsoons. Summers are mild, with the highs usually never crossing 30 °C (86 °F). Summers last between May and June and is followed by the monsoon rains which lash the town between June and September. The monsoons are severe, often causing landslides which sequester the town from the rest of India. Winter lasts from December to February, with the maximum temperature being around 15 °C (59 °F). During the monsoon and winter seasons, Kalimpong is often enveloped by fog. The annual temperature ranges from a high of 30 °C to a low of –4 °C (25 °F).
Many locales in Kalimpong are named based on its distance in miles from Teesta Bazaar, a town which lies on the Teesta river in the valley below. For example, the locale 13th mile would be situated at a distance of 13 miles (21 km) from Teesta Bazaar.
Economy
Tourism is the primary economy of Kalimpong. Kalimpong is visited by many tourists during the summers and spring seasons. Tourism keeps a sizable portion of its population occupied, many of them indirectly. Away from the main town centre, farming on terraced slopes is the major source of livelihood for its rural populace, supplying the town with fruits and vegetables. Education used to be the primary economy of the town, though in recent years its contribution has stagnated.
Many establishments also cater to the Indian army base near the town, which keeps its economy moving by way of essential supplies. A small contribution to the economy is by way of the sale of traditional arts and crafts of Sikkim and Tibet. Government offices pertaining to sericulture, fisheries etc. provide a stead source of employment to many of its residents. Kalimpong is well known for its flower exporting industry[2] – primarily its wide array of indigenous orchids. If the Indian government's proposal[3] to reopen the Nathula and Jelepla passes by mid-2005 is realised, Kalimpong's economy will get a significant boost, as it lies on one of the historic trade routes.
Transport
Since distances are short in Kalimpong most people walk between their homes and the market. Those staying far from the town centre own vehicles or rely on local share-taxis to travel to their destinations. Taxis for exclusive use around the city are also available. Within the region, four wheel drives are the most popular means of transport, as they can easily navigate the steep slopes.
The nearest airport is Bagdogra Airport near Siliguri located at a distance of 80 km (50 miles). The nearest railhead connecting the rest of India is New Jalpaiguri, located on the outskirts of Siliguri. From Siliguri and New Jalpaiguri, regular bus and taxi services ferry passengers to Kalimpong, which is located off the national highway connecting Siliguri to Gangtok. Regular bus and taxi services link Kalimpong to neighbouring towns of Gangtok, Darjeeling, Siliguri, Jorethang, Namchi and Pelling.
Civic administration
Kalimpong is the headquarters of the Kalimpong division, a part of the Darjeeling district. The district is governed by the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC), a semi-autonomous body set up by the West Bengal government. Kalimpong elects eight councillors to the DGHC. The town is divided into twenty-three municipal wards by the local municipality. The rural area is composed of forty-seven gram panchayats. There are three blocks in Kalimpong.
The Public Works Department is responsible for the road connecting the town to the National Highway–NH-31A. Kalimpong's municipality is in charge of the infrastructure of the town such as potable water and roads. Two lakes atop Deolo Hill provide the town potable water. The condition of the roads is poor in most places though, owing to severe rains that wash away most of the surface. Street lighting is only available in the main town centre. The state electricity board provides electricity to Kalimpong. Though the town doesn't face power shortfalls, the voltage supply is unstable, so voltage stabilisers are necessary.
A district magistrate presides over the Kalimpong division. Kalimpong has a small police department with a lock-up. Most criminals are taken to the Darjeeling, the district headquarters for trial.
People and culture
The majority of the populace are ethnic Nepali, having migrated to Kalimpong in search of jobs while it was under British rule. Indigenous ethnic groups include the Lepchas, Bhutias, Sherpas, Rais, Yamloos, Damais, Kamais and the Limbus. Other non-native communities include the Bengalis, Marwaris, Anglo-Indian, Chinese, Biharis and Tibetans who escaped to Kalimpong after fleeing the Communist Chinese invasion of Tibet. Kalimpong, the closest Indian town to Bhutan's western border, also has a small number of Bhutanese nationals residing here. Hinduism is the largest religion in these Kalimpong. Buddhism is the second largest faith followed by Christianity. Islam has a minuscule presence in this region, with a mosque in the bazaar area.
Popular festivals include Diwali, Christmas, Dussera and the Buddhist festival of Loosong. Languages spoken in Kalimpong include Nepali, which is the predominant language; Hindi, English and Bengali. Cricket and football (soccer) are the most popular sports in Kalimpong.
The most popular snack in Kalimpong is the momo, steamed dumplings made up of pork, beef or vegetable cooked in a wrapping of flour and served with watery soup. Wai-Wai is a packaged snack which are noodles which are eaten either dry or in soup form. Churpee, a kind of cheese made from cow's milk is sometimes chewed. Thukpa is a kind of noodle, served in soup form is popular in Kalimpong. With the increase in tourism, restaurants also cater to them, offering a wide range of cuisine ranging from Indian to continental. Tea is the most popular beverage in Kalimpong, procured from the famed Darjeeling tea gardens.
Among the cultural centres in Kalimpong includes the Lepcha Museum and the Zang Dhok Palri Phodong monastery. The Lepcha Museum, situated a kilometre away from the town centre showcases the culture of the Lepcha community, the indigenous peoples of Sikkim. The Zang Dhok Palri Phodong monastery has 108 volumes of the Kangyur, and belongs to the Yellow Hat sect of Buddhism.
Media and education
Kalimpong receives almost all the television channels that are received elsewhere in India. Television is received mainly through cable, though in the outlying areas, Direct To Home is more common. Besides mainstream Indian channels, Kalimpong also receives local Nepali language channels. Newspapers in Kalimpong include the English language The Statesman and The Telegraph, which are printed in Siliguri, and The Hindu and the Times of India which are printed in Calcutta, which are received after a day's delay. In addition to these, there are a few Nepali, Hindi and Bengali language newspapers received.
Internet cafés are well established in the main market area, served through dial up lines as broadband connectivity is unavailable. The state All India Radio is the only radio channel received in Kalimpong. The area is well serviced by local cellular companies such as BSNL, Reliance Infocomm, and Airtel.
There are fifteen major schools in Kalimpong, the most notable among them being Dr. Graham's Homes, St. Augustine's School, St Joseph's Convent and Rockvale Academy. Schools offer education up to class 10, following which students may choose to join a Junior College or carry on with an additional two years of schooling. The Kalimpong College is the main college in the town. Most students however, choose to further their studies in Siliguri and Calcutta. The Tharpa Choling Monastery, near Kalimpong is an educational institute that imparts religious training to young Buddhist monks.
Flora and fauna
The area around Kalimpong falls under the Eastern Himalayas, which is classified as an ecological hotspot, one of only three among the Ecoregions of India. In the lower elevations of the town, acacia is commonly found. Cinnamon, ficus, bamboo, cacti and Cardamom, are found in the hillsides around Kalimpong. On higher elevations, forests are made up of pine trees and other evergreen alpine vegetation. Seven species of rhododendrons are found in the region east of Kalimpong. Temperate deciduous forests include oak, birch, maple and alder. Three hundred species of orchid are found around Kalimpong. Poinsettia and sunflower are some of the wild species that line the roads of Kalimpong.
The Red Panda, Himalayan Black Bear, Clouded Leopard Tiger, Siberian Weasel, Asiatic black bear, barking deer, Himalayan Tahr, goral, gaur, pangolin, Indian bison, moupan hare and Himalayan squirrel are some of the fauna found near Kalimpong. Avifauna of the region include the Griffon Vulture, Munal pheasant, hornbills, Indian black crested baza, Indian besra, sparrow hawks and the khaleej pheasant.
Kalimpong also has over forty-six nurseries which mainly cultivate orchids and gladioli, which are exported to many parts of the world. The Nature Interpretation Centre and the Rishi Bankim Chandra Park are two ecological museums within Kalimpong.
External links
- Govt. of West Bengal official site
- Map of Kalimpong
- Kalimpong News and Information
- Kalimpong
- Sikkim info Places near Sikkim
References
- ^ Wife duped by murder fugitive, Sunday Times (South Africa), Sunday, 2004-07-25.
- ^ Routes of promise, Frontline magazine, Volume 20, Issue 14; July 5-July 18, 2004.
- ^ Kalimpong, Hill stations in India
- Guide to Kalimpong – 3rd edition (2002) — Sandeep C. Jain — Himalayan Sales
- Sangharakshita, Facing Mount Kanchenjunga — Windhorse Publications, 1991, ISBN 0-904766-52-7
- Lepcha, My Vanishing Tribe — A.R. Foning, ASIN: 8120706854
- The Unknown and Untold Reality about the Lepchas — K.P. Tamsang ASIN B0006FEFIW