Honeymoon in Kalimpong – Flowers – the most romantic symbol of love – are what Kalimpong is all about. There are flowers everywhere. wild flowers, fields of flowers, and valleys of flowers. Orchids, gladioli, poppies, rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and primulas, the colour of purple passion, the heat of flaming red, sensual fuchsias and wines; fragrant, heady and wild. Kalimpong’s nurseries produce orchids and gladioli for the entire country. This charming bazaar town in the foothills of the Himalayas is a romantic getaway for that blissful honeymoon. 50 km away from popular Darjeeling, Kalimpong is just off the beaten track and secluded enough for honeymooners to simply lose themselves.
Besides snuggling in your cosy bed and watching fabulous views of the snow capped Himalayas, go for long walks up the surrounding mountainside. Wander through the hamlet of Teesta Bazaar, visit the old churches and monasteries, the Thorpa Choeling Gompa, the Tongsa Gompa and the Zong Dog Palri F0-Brang Gompa. Feeling even more adventurous? Ride the rapids with a spot of white water rafting down the Teesta River, 16 km away from Kalimpong. The best time to do this is between mid November and February.
How to Reach Kalimpong:
Kalimpong is at a height of 1250 m. The nearest airport is at Bagdogra, 80 km away, directly connected to Kolkata, Delhi, and Guwahati. You can cover Bagdogra to Kalimpong in 3 hours by bus or taxi. The nearest railheads are New Jalpaiguri (77 km) and Siliguri (66 km). New Jalpaiguri has connections to Kolkata, Delhi, Guwahati, Madras, Bombay, Bangalore, Bhubaneshwar, Tirupati, Trivandrum and Cochin. The road distances are Kolkata 651 km, Gangtok 100 km and Darjeeling 51 km. Within Kalimpong you can hire jeeps or simply walk around the town.
Best Time to Visit Kalimpong:
Kalimpong has a pleasantly mild climate throughout the year, because of its low elevation. Summer, April to June, is warm and sunny. The monsoons, July to August, are heavy and turn the mountainside a lush green. Winter, September to March, sees beautifully clear skies and splendid vistas of snowy peaks. It gets very cold at night in winter, so carry plenty of woollens.
Accommodation in Kalimpong:
There are two great hotels to stay at in Kalimpong, both with flower gardens and views of the Kanchenjunga peak. In fact all the hotels have panoramic views of the hills, vales and the snow laden Himalayas. The difference would only be of the facilities accessible in the hotels, like the availability of hot water, room service, maintenance etc. Luxury accommodation can be had for anything above Rs 2500 and a basic room for as little as Rs 300.