The name, Kalimpong, has three different origins. One, it means the place where the local tribesmen gathered to organize field sports, second, it takes it’s name from the Bhutanese king’s minister’s stronghold and thirdly, it is named after Kaulim, a fibrous plant found in abundance in this region.

Set in beautiful wooded mountains Kalimpong is a remote hill station about 80 kms from Darjeeling is known for its beautiful orchids. The Tharpa Choling monastery has a library of Tibetan manuscripts and thankas which can be visited. Kalimpong also offers pleasant hikes and walks through rice fields and tea fields around the town.

Kalimpong's attractions include three Buddhist monasteries, spectacular churches, an excellent private library for the study of Tibetan and Himalayan language and culture, a sericulture centre and a fine view of the surrounding countryside.

Kalimpong is an important orchid-growing area and flowers are exported from here to various countries. The Sri Ganesh Moni Pradhan Nursery and the Udai Mani Pradhan Nursery are among the most important in the area. There's a flower festival in Kalimpong in October.

Kalimpong has a well laid-out golf course near the Durpin Dara Monastery. The monastery was built in the mid-1970's at Durpin Dara and consecrated by the Dalai Lama. The view from here is breath-taking. The nine-hole golf course at Senchal ( near Darjeeling) is one of the highest in the world.

Shopping
Markets in Kalimpong, which are open on Wednesdays and Saturdays, are good places for the souvenir hunter. Kalimpong offers a wide range of traditional handicrafts to the traveler. Woodcarvings, embroidered items, bags and purses with tapestry work, copperware, scrolls, Tibetan jewelry and artifacts can be picked up from the shops and markets across the town. 
 
Gompas
The Tharpa Choeling Gompa, which belongs to the Yellow Hat (Gelukpa) sect of Tibetan Buddhism, is a 40 minute walk from town. Lower down the hill, the Tongsa Gompa, or Bhutanese Monastery, is the oldest monastery in the area and dates back to 1692. Zong Dog Palri Fo-Brang Gompa, was built in the mid-70s at Durpin Dara Hill and was consecrated by the Dalai Lama. The gompa is worth a visit for its impressive wall paintings in the prayer room, and a rare three-dimensional mandala upstairs. The mountain views are amazing from Durpin Dara Hill.

Flower Nurseries
Kalimpong produces 80% of India’s gladioli and is a significant orchid-growing area and it comes as no surprise that flowers are exported from here to many cities in northern India.

Shri Mangal Dham
A lavish tribute would still fall short to a soul so divine. Nevertheless "Mangal Dham" is a memorial built in this divine memory in 1993.Sprawling over an area of two acres, "Mangal Dham" is considered to be one of the most splendid temples in India.

Golf Course
Kalimpong has a well laid-out golf course near the Durpin Dara Monastery. The monastery was built in the mid-1970s at Durpin Dara and consecrated by the Dalai Lama. The view from here is breath-taking. The nine-hole golf course at Senchal ( near Darjeeling) is one of the highest in the world.

Nature Interpretation Centre
Located on Rinkingpong Rd, this centre consists of a number of well-organized dioramas, which depict the effects of human activity on the environment. The centre is open to visitors from Friday to Wednesday from 10 am to 4 PM and admission is free.
 
Teesta Bazaar
Located 16 km from Kalimpong, is an important place for white water rafting. The rafting season is between mid-November to mid-February. The small village of Lava, located at 2,353 m above sea level and about 30 km east of Kalimpong, is an important place to visit. Kagyupa Gompa is located here.

The village of Kaffer
Located at 1555 m above sea level, is beyond Lava and one can have magnificent view of the summit of Kanchenjunga from here. The Samco Ropeway across the Teesta River, on the main Siliguri. Gangtok road is an important attraction near Kalimpong. One has to take a bus for Siliguri from Kalimpong in order to visit this ropeway en route. 
 
How to get there 
 
By Road : Kalimpong is well connected to the other major East Indian Himalayan destinations of Gangtok and Darjeeling, both of which are less than 3 hours away.

By Air : Bagdogra (80 kms away) is served by regular Indian Airlines and Jet Airways flights from Kolkata and Delhi.

By Rail : New Jalpaiguri (77 kms away) is the nearest mainline rail station for Kalimpong.