Kalimpong

Kalimpong कालेबुड़
Town
Kalimpong town as viewed from a distant hill. In the background are the Himalayan Mountains.
Kalimpong Location of Kalimpong in West Bengal
Coordinates: 27°04′N 88°28′E / 27.06°N 88.47°E / 27.06; 88.47Coordinates: 27°04′N 88°28′E / 27.06°N 88.47°E / 27.06; 88.47
Country	India
State	West Bengal
District	Kalimpong
Government
• Body	Kalimpong Municipality
Area
• Total	1,056.5 km2 (407.9 sq mi)
Elevation	1,247 m (4,091 ft)
Population (2011)
• Total	49,403
• Density	40.70/km2 (105.4/sq mi)
Languages
• Official language	Bengali,
• Additional official	English Nepali in 3 divisions of Darjeeling
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	734 301
Telephone code	03552
Vehicle registration	WB-78, 79
Lok Sabha constituency	Darjeeling
Vidhan Sabha constituency	Kalimpong

Kalimpong is a hill station in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is located at an average elevation of 1,250 metres (4,101 ft). The town is the headquarters of the Kalimpong district. The Indian Army's 27 Mountain Division is located on the outskirts of the town.

Kalimpong is known for its educational institutions, many of which were established during the British colonial period. It used to be a gateway in the trade between Tibet and India before China's annexation of Tibet and the Sino-Indian War. Kalimpong and neighbouring Darjeeling were major centres calling for a separate Gorkhaland state in the 1980s, and more recently in 2010.

The municipality sits on a ridge overlooking the Teesta River and is a tourist destination owing to its temperate climate, magnificent Himalayan beauty and proximity to popular tourist locations in the region. Horticulture is important to Kalimpong: It has a flower market notable for its wide array of orchids; nurseries, which export Himalayan grown flower bulbs, tubers and rhizomes, contribute to the economy of Kalimpong. Home to ethnic Nepalis, indigenous Lepchas, other ethnic groups and non-native migrants from other parts of India, the town is a religious centre of Buddhism. The Buddhist monastery Zang Dhok Palri Phodang holds a number of rare Tibetan Buddhist scriptures.

The Kalimpong Science Centre, established under the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) in 2008 is a recent addition to its many tourist attractions. The Science Centre, which provides for scientific awareness among the students of the town and the locals sits atop the Deolo Hill.