73-650: Singtam is a town which lies mostly in Gangtok District and partly in Pakyong District in the Indian state of Sikkim about 30 kilometres (19 mi) from the state capital Gangtok . The town lies on the banking of the rivers Teesta and Ranikhola , which join together just below the town. NH10 and NH510 meet in Singtam. The Indreni Bridge and Sherwani Bridge over the river Teesta are in
146-823: A Bhutanese administrative and cultural centre. The arrival of Scottish missionaries saw the construction of schools and welfare centres for the British. Rev. W. Macfarlane in the early 1870s established the first schools in the area. The Scottish University Mission Institution was opened in 1886, followed by the Kalimpong Girls High School. In 1900, Reverend J.A. Graham founded the Dr. Graham's Homes for destitute Anglo-Indian students. The young missionary (and aspiring writer and poet) Aeneas Francon Williams , aged 24, arrived in Kalimpong in 1910 to take up
219-558: A fibrous plant found in abundance in the region. Until the mid-19th century, the area around Kalimpong was ruled in succession by the Sikkimese and Bhutanese kingdoms. Kalimpong is said to have come under the control of Bhutan in the year 1706. However, according to historians, the Bhutanese encroachments had been in effect for about two decades by then, following the defeat of Gyalpo Ajok and other Lepcha chieftans. The area
292-603: A forty-day strike. The town was virtually under siege, and the state government called 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 Darjeeling district, except the area under the Siliguri subdivision . Since 2007, the demand for a separate Gorkhaland state has been revived by
365-596: A government official with the Bengal Civil Service. Kalimpong was added to district of Darjeeling in 1866. In 1866–1867 an Anglo-Bhutanese commission demarcated the common boundaries between the two, thereby giving shape to the Kalimpong subdivision and the Darjeeling district. After the war, the region became a subdivision of the Western Duars district, and the following year it was merged with
438-625: 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 Gelug of Buddhism. Kalimpong has access to most of the television channels aired in the rest of India. Cable Television still provides service to many homes in the town and its outskirts, while DTH connections are now practically mandatory throughout
511-534: A location in the Indian state of Sikkim is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . East Sikkim Gangtok District is an administrative district of the Indian state of Sikkim . It was renamed in 2021 as a result of administrative reorganisation of the state, which also saw three subdivisions of the East Sikkim district spawned off as a separate Pakyong district . The headquarters of
584-478: A number of rare Tibetan Buddhist scriptures. The Kalimpong Science Centre, established under the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council 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 . The precise origin of the name Kalimpong remains unclear. There are many theories on
657-524: A ridge overlooking the Teesta River and is a tourist destination owing to its temperate climate, natural environment 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. The Tibetan Buddhist monastery Zang Dhok Palri Phodang holds
730-451: A significant number of students from the plains, the neighbouring state of Sikkim and countries such as Bhutan , Bangladesh , Nepal and Thailand. Many establishments cater to the Indian army bases near the town, providing it with essential supplies. Small contributions to the economy come by the way of the sale of traditional arts and crafts of Sikkim and Tibet. Government efforts related to sericulture , seismology, and fisheries provide
803-622: A slowdown in Kalimpong's economy. In 1976, the visiting Dalai Lama consecrated the Zang Dhok Palri Phodang monastery, which houses many of the scriptures. Between 1986 and 1988, the demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland and Kamtapur based on ethnic lines grew strong. Riots between the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) and the West Bengal government reached a stand-off after
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#1732771967682876-478: A steady source of employment to many of its residents. Kalimpong is well renowned for its cheese, noodles and lollipops. Kalimpong exports a wide range of traditional handicrafts, wood-carvings, embroidered items, bags and purses with tapestry work, copper ware, scrolls, Tibetan jewellery and artefacts. Kalimpong is located off the NH10 , which links Sevoke to Gangtok. NH-717A connecting Bagrakote with Gangtok
949-485: Is Pakyong Airport 56 kilometres (35 mi) kilometres away and Bagdogra International Airport about 80 kilometres (50 mi) from Kalimpong. Vistara , IndiGo , Go First , Akasa Air , AIX Connect , Air India , SpiceJet and Druk Air ( Bhutan ) are the major carriers that connect Bagdogra airport to Chennai , Bangalore , Ahmedabad , Hyderabad , Mumbai , Delhi , Paro ( Bhutan ), Guwahati , Kolkata , Dibrugarh and Bangkok ( Thailand ) whereas SpiceJet
1022-609: Is 10 kilometres away from Singtam. If the planned prolongation to Gangtok is built, then Singtam should also get a railway station. National highway NH10 (Formerly NH-31A) passes through Singtam and connects to the town to the rest of the nation. Long-distance buses ply from major towns in Bihar , West Bengal and other neighbouring states to Siliguri . From Siliguri , it takes about 3 hours to reach Singtam. Private taxis, shared taxi jeeps ply regularly on NH10. Government buses (SNT) and Privately operated buses are also available throughout
1095-861: Is 66%. In Singtam, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age. Religious Demographic in Singtam Nagar Panchayat (2011) Languages spoken in Singtam Nagar Panchayat (2011) The nearest airport to Singtam is 33 kilometres (21 mi) at Pakyong Airport in Sikkim from where flights operate to and from Delhi , Guwahati and Kolkata and 92 kilometres (57 mi) away at Bagdogra in West Bengal , where scheduled flights operate to and from Kolkata , Delhi , Bangalore , Chennai , Jaipur , Hyderabad , Mumbai , Patna , Ahmedabad , Dibrugarh , and Guwahati . Druk Airways from Bagdogra operate to and from Bangkok and Paro . Bagdogra airport
1168-476: Is a Mosque , Kalimpong Anjuman Islamia Established in 1887 in the bazaar area of Kalimpong. Local Hindu festivals include Diwali , Holi , Dussehra , Tihar , Sakela Cultural Programme and the Tibetan festival of Losar . The official languages are Hindi , Bengali and Nepali , with English acting as the additional official language. Languages spoken in Kalimpong include Nepali and Hindi , which are
1241-514: Is a major production centre of gladioli in India, and orchids , which are exported to many parts of the world. The Rishi Bankim Chandra Park is an ecological museums within Kalimpong. Citrus Dieback Research Station at Kalimpong works towards control of diseases, plant protection and production of disease free orange seedlings. Kalimpong is also known for their rich practice of cactus cultivation. Its nurseries attract people from far and wide for
1314-463: Is a town and the headquarters of an eponymous district 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 region comes under Gorkhaland Territorial Administration which is an autonomous governing body within the state of West Bengal . The Indian Army 's 27 Mountain Division
1387-494: Is at an elevation of 1,372 m (4,501 ft). The River Teesta flows in the valley below and separates Kalimpong from the state of Sikkim. The soil in the Kalimpong area is typically reddish in colour. Occasional dark soils are found due to extensive existence of phyllite and schists . The Shiwalik Hills , like most of the Himalayan foothills, have steep slopes and soft, loose topsoil, leading to frequent landslides in
1460-521: Is connected to Gangtok by a helicopter service operating between Gangtok-Bagdogra-Gangtok. The two nearest railway stations in traffic in April 2023 are at Siliguri Junction 81 kilometres (50 mi) away and New Jalpaiguri 86 kilometres (53 mi) away. They provide links to all important cities in India. The new under construction Sivok–Rangpo line will end at the Rangpo railway station , which
1533-400: Is divided into three sub-divisions till June 2021. In June 2021, the two subdivisions of Pakyong and Rongli were constituted as Pakyong District : The major towns and cities of Gangtok District are East Sikkim is connected with wide road network managed by Border Road Organization , National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited and State PWD. East Sikkim has
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#17327719676821606-572: Is located at Algarah , 16 kilometres away from Kalimpong. These two National Highways together, via Sevoke and Labha , links Kalimpong to the plains. Regular bus services, Jeep Services and hired vehicles connect Kalimpong with Siliguri and the neighbouring towns and cities like Gangtok , Kurseong , Darjeeling , Namchi , Ravangla , Pakyong , Malbazar , Rhenock , Rongli , Algarah , Pedong , Labha , Gorubathan , Rangpo , Jaldhaka , Singtam , Pelling , Rorathang , Melli , Jorethang , Sevoke , Gyalshing and Mirik . The nearest airport
1679-581: Is located on the outskirts of the city. 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
1752-729: Is made through local tourist offices. Other tourist areas include the town of Gangtok, the Phodong Monastery north of Gangtok and the Rumtek Monastery . Other special attractions in the Capital City Gangtok are M G Marg, Hanuman Tok , Ranka Monastery, Himalayan Zoological Park, Palzor Stadium , Tashi View Point, Pakyong Airport view Point. Zuluk And Gnathang Valley are famous attractions in East Sikkim. Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary , and Fambong Lho Wildlife Sanctuary two famous wildlife sanctuaries lies in
1825-417: Is mainly found in migrants in urban centres, mainly Gangtok. At the time of the 2011 census , 65.59% of the population in the district spoke Nepali , 8.63% Hindi , 8.16% Sikkimese , 3.41% Lepcha , 2.25% Bhojpuri, 1.68% Bengali , 1.55% Limbu , 1.49% Tamang , 1.14% Sherpa , 0.75% Rai and 0.51% Tibetan as their first language. The district is divided into 7 assembly constituencies . East Sikkim
1898-593: Is popular in Kalimpong. There are a large number of restaurants which offer a wide variety of cuisines, ranging from Indian to continental, to cater to the tourists. Tea is the most popular beverage in Kalimpong, procured from the famed Darjeeling tea gardens. Kalimpong has a golf course besides Kalimpong Circuit House. The cultural centres in Kalimpong include, the Lepcha Museum and the Zang Dhok Palri Phodang monastery. The Lepcha Museum,
1971-638: Is responsible for the road connecting the town to the National Highway –NH-31A. The Kalimpong municipality has a total of 10 health care units, with a total of 433 bed capacity. The Kalimpong assembly constituency, which is an assembly segment of the Darjeeling parliamentary constituency , elects one member of the Vidhan Sabha of West Bengal. The majority of Indians in Kalimpong adhere to Hinduism . The original settlers of Kalimpong are
2044-403: Is the momo , steamed dumplings made of chicken, pork, beef or vegetable cooked in a wrapping of flour and served with watery soup. Wai-Wai is a packaged Thai snack made of noodles which are eaten either dry or in soup form. Churpee , a kind of hard cheese made from yak 's or chauri's (a hybrid of yak and cattle) milk, is sometimes chewed. A form of noodle called Thukpa , served in soup form
2117-523: Is the authoritative body for the departments of election, panchayat , law and order, revenue, etc., also acts as an interface of communication between the Council and the State Government . The rural area in the district covers three community development blocks Kalimpong I , Kalimpong II and Gorubathan consisting of forty-two gram panchayats . A Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) presides over
2190-411: Is the largest religion followed by Nijananda Sampradaya , Buddhism and Christianity . Islam has a minuscule presence in this region, The Oldest settlers include people residing since the mid of 19th Century and also mostly Tibetan Muslims who fled in 1959 after Chinese invasion of Tibet . The Buddhist monastery Zang Dhok Palri Phodang holds a number of rare Tibetan Buddhist scriptures. There
2263-411: Is the only carrier operating from Pakyong Airport which connects Delhi , Kolkata and Guwahati . Under construction The closest currently operating major railway stations from Kalimpong are as follows: At the 2011 India census , Kalimpong town area had a population of 42,988, of which 52% were male and 48% female. At the 2001 census, Kalimpong had an average literacy rate of 79%, higher than
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2336-624: The Hindustan Times , which are printed in Kolkata . Among other languages, Nepali, Hindi and Bengali are prominent vernacular languages used in this region. Newspapers in all these four languages are available in the Darjeeling Hills region. Of the largely circulated Nepali newspapers Himalay Darpan , Swarnabhumi and some Sikkim-based Nepali newspapers like Hamro Prajashakti and Samay Dainik are read most. The Tibet Mirror
2409-607: The Dalingkot tehsil , which consisted of all the mountainous part of the annexed territory. In 1867, the Dalingkot tehsil was merged with the Darjeeling district, and eventually renamed the Kalimpong Subdivision. At the time of annexation, Kalimpong was a hamlet, with only two or three families known to reside there. The first recorded mention of the town was a fleeting reference made that year by Ashley Eden ,
2482-575: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and its supporters in the Darjeeling hills. The Kamtapur People's Party and its supporters' movement for a separate Kamtapur state covering North Bengal have gained momentum. The town centre is on a ridge connecting two hills, Deolo Hill and Durpin Hill , at an elevation of 1,247 m (4,091 ft). Deolo, the highest point in Kalimpong, has an altitude of 1,704 m (5,591 ft) and Durpin Hill
2555-593: The Indian Gorkhas are the Bengalis , Muslims , Anglo-Indians , Chinese , Biharis and Tibetans who escaped to Kalimpong after fleeing the Communist Chinese invasion of Tibet. Kalimpong is home to Trinley Thaye Dorje —one of the 17th Karmapa incarnations. Kalimpong is the closest Indian town to Bhutan's western border, and has a small number of Bhutanese nationals residing here. Hinduism
2628-557: The Jelep La pass also be reopened to allow trade. Kalimpong is a major ginger growing area of India. Kalimpong and the state of Sikkim together contribute 15 per cent of the ginger produced in India. The Darjeeling Himalayan hill region is internationally famous for its tea industry . However, most of the tea gardens are on the western side of Teesta river (towards the town of Darjeeling) and so tea gardens near Kalimpong contribute only 4 percent of total tea production of
2701-568: The Lepchas , who also form one of main ethnic groups of Sikkim and Bhutan . The majority of the populace are ethnic Indian Gorkhas . Indigenous ethnic groups include the Bhutia , Limbus , Rais , Sherpas , Magars , Chettris , Bahuns , Thakuris , Gurungs , Tamangs , Yolmos , Bhujels , Yakkhas , Sunuwars , Sarkis , Damais and the Kamis . The other non-native communities as old as
2774-594: The Nathu La pass. The pass was first opened during the 1904 Younghusband Expedition to Tibet. It saw a tremendous boom in trade during 1950–1959 when the Chinese troops occupying Tibet were supplied through the pass. The pass and Baba Mandir are open to Indian nationals only. To enter this region a special permit is required; the Inner Line Permit has to be obtained one day prior to departure. This permit
2847-417: The monsoon season. The hills are nestled within higher peaks and the snow-clad Himalayan ranges tower over the town in the distance. Kanchenjunga , at 8,586 m (28,169 ft) the world's third tallest peak, is clearly visible from Kalimpong. Kalimpong has a temperate, monsoon-influenced subtropical highland climate ( Köppen : Cwb ). It has five distinct seasons: spring, summer, autumn, winter and
2920-433: The East Sikkim and Pakyong District . The important ones are Red panda the state animal, Blood pheasant , the state bird, Dendrobium nobile the state flower and Rhododendron the state tree are found in the wildlife sanctuaries of East sikkim. Other important wild animals include Snow Leopard , Himalayan black bear , Clouded leopard , Large Indian civet etc. Forest Department, Government of Sikkim has also confirmed
2993-509: The East Sikkim district. River Teesta , the largest river of state flows in East district from Dikchu to Singtam . River Jaldhaka originates from Kupup and flows south east towards Bhutan , West Bengal and Bangladesh . Other major rivers of east sikkim are Ranikhola , Ratey River , Roro River , Rangchang Khola etc. List of important lakes of Gangtok district and Pakyong District are: Variety of plants and wildlife are found in
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3066-596: The Eastern Himalayas, which is classified as an ecological hotspot , one of only three among the ecoregions of India . Neora Valley National Park lies within the Kalimpong subdivision and is home to tigers. Acacia is the most commonly found species at lower altitudes, while cinnamon , ficus , bamboo and cardamom , are found in the hillsides around Kalimpong. The forests found at higher altitudes are made up of pine trees and other evergreen alpine vegetation. Seven species of rhododendrons are found in
3139-586: The Gangtok district is Gangtok , which is also the state capital. Gangtok is the hub of all administrative activity in the state. The district is bounded by the Pakyong district in the south and southeast, Bhutan in the east, the People's Republic of China in the northeast, Mangan District in the north and Namchi District in the west. The civilian region is administered by a district collector , appointed by
3212-421: The Kalimpong subdivision. Kalimpong has a police station that serves the municipality and 18 gram panchayats of Kalimpong–I CD block . The Kalimpong municipality, which was established in 1945, is in charge of the infrastructure of the town such as potable water and roads. The municipal area is divided into twenty-three wards. Kalimpong municipality is constructing additional water storage tanks to meet
3285-539: The West Bengal government in 1988, administers this district as well as the Darjeeling Sadar and Kurseong subdivisions. Kalimpong elects eight councillors, who manage the departments of Public Health, Education, Public Works, Transport, Tourism, Market, Small scale industries, Agriculture, Agricultural waterways, Forest (except reserved forests), Water, Livestock, Vocational Training and Sports and Youth services. The district administration of Darjeeling, which
3358-815: The area was part of the kingdom of Sikkim under the protection of India. During the Sino-Indian War of 1962, the Nathula Pass witnessed a few skirmishes between India and China. In 1975, the Sikkim formally became part of the Indian Union as India's 22nd state. The district was under the occupation of the Nepalese for 30 years in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The district occupies an area of 560 km (220 sq mi). The two important Mountain Passes of East Sikkim are Nathula and Jelepla , both passes connects Sikkim with China. Military-wise,
3431-509: The country. Besides mainstream Indian channels, many Nepali-language channels such as Dainandini DD , Kalimpong Television KTv , Haal Khabar (an association of the Hill Channel Network), Jan Sarokar , Himalayan People's Channel (HPC), and Kalimpong Times are broadcast in Kalimpong. These channels, which mainly broadcast locally relevant news, are produced by regional media houses and news networks, and are broadcast through
3504-699: The day. These transport options mostly operate between Siliguri-Gangtok/Singtam route. Jeep services are available between Gangtok/Singtam-New Jalpaiguri (NJP) and Gangtok/Singtam-Bagdogra route. In Singtam NH-10 is joined by the following major roads: Daily Taxi services access almost all cities and towns of Sikkim and cities/towns of West Bengal like Siliguri , Kalimpong , Darjeeling , Kurseong , Jaigaon , Malbazar , Bagdogra , Panitanki etc. Frequent buses operated by Sikkim Nationalised Transport (SNT) are available from Singtam to Sikkim Nationalised Transport Bus Terminus (Siliguri) and Gangtok , apart from it many private buses and NBSTC buses are available from
3577-416: The decade 2001-2011 was 14.79%. East Sikkim has a sex ratio of 872 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 84.67%. Languages of Gangtok (2011) Hinduism is followed by majority of the people in the Gangtok district. Buddhism followed by a considerable minority, while Christianity is the third largest religion, 40% of its adherents live in Gangtok. Islam is the fourth-largest religion and
3650-575: The district is a very sensitive area with the Indian army having control over most areas east of Gangtok and near its borders with People's Republic of China and Bhutan . Visitors to this region are restricted and just a few areas are open to tourists in the areas east of Gangtok. Popular tourist locales of East Sikkim and Pakyong districts are the Tsongmo Lake , Lake Menmecho , Dzuluk , Baba Mandir, Gnathang Valley, Elephant Lake Kupup , Lungthung View Point, Tukla Valley, Thambi View Point and
3723-505: 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 Nathu La and Jelep La passes (La means "pass") for trading with Tibet was an added advantage. It soon became an important trading outpost in the trade of furs , wools and food grains between India and Tibet. The increase in commerce attracted large numbers of Nepali's from
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#17327719676823796-451: The following National Highways : Pakyong Airport lies on the town of Pakyong in Pakyong District is the nearest airport from East Sikkim. The airport has daily direct flight services from New Delhi , Guwahati and Kolkata . Rangpo Railway Station an under construction railway station of Northeast Frontier Railway zone is the nearest railway station that lies on Rangpo Town of Pakyong District . Kalimpong Kalimpong
3869-514: The hills call the area Kalempung ("the black spurs"). According to K.P. Tamsang, author of The Untold and Unknown Reality about the Lepchas , the term Kalimpong is deduced from the name Kalenpung , which in Lepcha means "Hillock of Assemblage"; in time, the name was distorted to Kalebung , and later further contorted to Kalimpong. Another possible derivation points to Kaulim(कलयुम), locally known as odal(उदाल) Scientific name Sterculia Villosa,
3942-406: The local cable network, which is now slowly becoming defunct due to the Indian government's ruling on mandatory digitisation of TV channels. The movie production houses like JBU films produces the movies on the nepali and other languages. Newspapers in Kalimpong include English language dailies The Statesman and The Telegraph , which are printed in Siliguri , and The Economic Times and
4015-528: The main online news sites that collect and present local and North Bengal & Sikkim news from its own agencies like KalimNews and other newspapers. Besides this there are others like kalimpong.info, kalimpongexpress.blogspot.com and several others. All India Radio and several other National and Private Channels including FM Radio are received in Kalimpong. The area is serviced by major telecommunication companies of India with most types of cellular services in most areas. The area around Kalimpong lies in
4088-503: The monsoon and winter seasons, Kalimpong is often enveloped by fog. Tourism is the most significant contributor to Kalimpong's economy. The summer and spring seasons are the most popular with tourists, keeping many of town's residents employed directly and indirectly. The town—earlier an important trade post between India and Tibet—hoped to boost its economy after the reopening of the Nathu La pass in April 2006. Though this resumed Indo–China border trades, local leaders requested that
4161-516: The monsoons. The annual temperature is 18 °C (64 °F). Summers are mild, with an average maximum temperature of 25.5 °C (77.9 °F) in August. Summers are 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 minimum temperature being around 8 °C (46 °F). During
4234-529: The national average of 59.5%: male literacy was 84%, and female literacy was 73%. In Kalimpong, 8% of the population was under 6 years of age. The Scheduled castes and scheduled tribes population for Kalimpong was 5,100 and 5,121 respectively. Religious Demographic in Kalimpong City (2011) Languages spoken in Kalimpong City (2011) Kalimpong is the headquarters of the Kalimpong district . The semi-autonomous Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council, set up by
4307-527: The neighbouring Nepal and the lower regions of Sikkim , the areas where, Nepali's were residing since the Gorkha invasion of Sikkim in 1790. The movement of people into the area, transformed Kalimpong from a small hamlet with a few houses, to a thriving town with increased economic prosperity. Britain assigned a plot within Kalimpong to the influential Bhutanese Dorji family , through which trade and relations with Bhutan flowed. This later became Bhutan House ,
4380-515: The origin of the name. One widely accepted theory claims that the name "Kalimpong" means "Assembly (or Stockade) of the King's Ministers" in Tibetan , derived from kalon ("King's ministers") and pong (" stockade "). The name may be derived from the translation "ridge where we play" from Lepcha , as it was known to be the place for traditional tribal gatherings for summer sporting events. People from
4453-563: The post of assistant schoolmaster at Dr. Graham's Homes , where he later became Bursar and remained working at the school for the next fourteen years. From 1907 onwards, most schools in Kalimpong had started offering education to Indian students. By 1911, the population comprised many ethnic groups, including Nepalis, Lepchas, Tibetans, Muslims, the Anglo-Indian communities. Hence by 1911, the population had swollen to 7,880. Following Indian independence in 1947, Kalimpong became part of
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#17327719676824526-594: The predominant languages; Lepcha , Limbu , Rai , Tamang , and English . Though there is a growing interest in cricket as a winter sport in Darjeeling Hills, football still remains the most popular sport in Kalimpong. Every year since 1947, the Independence Shield Football Tournament is organised here as part of the two-day-long Independence Day celebrations. Former captain of India national football team , Pem Dorjee Sherpa hails from Kalimpong. A popular snack in Kalimpong
4599-616: The presence of Royal Bengal Tiger in the Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary of Pakyong District in January 2019. According to the 2011 census East Sikkim district along with Pakyong District has a population of 283,583, roughly equal to the nation of Barbados . This gives it a ranking of 574th in India (out of a total of 640 ). The district has a population density of 295 inhabitants per square kilometre (760/sq mi) . Its population growth rate over
4672-568: The region east of Kalimpong. The temperate deciduous forests include oak , birch , maple and alder . Three hundred species of orchid are found around Kalimpong. The Red panda , Clouded leopard , Siberian weasel , Asiatic black bear , barking deer , Himalayan tahr , goral , gaur and pangolin are some of the fauna found near Kalimpong. Avifauna of the region include the pheasants , cuckoos , minivets , flycatchers , bulbuls , orioles, owls , partridges , sunbirds , warblers , swallows , swifts and woodpeckers . Kalimpong
4745-401: The region. In Kalimpong division, 90 percent of land is cultivable but only 10 percent is used for tea production. Kalimpong is well known for its flower export industry—especially for its wide array of indigenous orchids and gladioli . A significant contributor to the town's economy is education sector. The schools of Kalimpong, besides imparting education to the locals, attract
4818-546: The requirement of potable water, and it needs an increase of water supply from the 'Neora Khola Water Supply Scheme' for this purpose. Often, landslides occurring in monsoon season cause havoc to the roads in and around Kalimpong. The West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Corporation Limited (WBSEDCL) provides electricity here. Renewable Energy Development Agency of the state has plans to promote usage of solar street lights in Kalimpong and proposed an energy park here to sell renewable energy gadgets. The Public Works Department
4891-407: The river increases heavily, as a result destruction is caused on the low lying areas of the town especially at Adarsh gaon and Jublee line part of the town. As of 2001 India census , Singtam had a population of 5,868. Males constitute 56% of the population and females 44%. Singtam has an average literacy rate of 71%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 75%, and female literacy
4964-574: The state government. A major general is assigned to administer military forces in the district. As of 2011 it is the most populous of the six districts of Sikkim . East Sikkim was part of the kingdom of Sikkim for most of its history. In the 19th century, the district was under the rule of the Bhutanese . After the Anglo Bhutan War , the territory was virtually under the command of the British forces. After India's independence in 1947,
5037-458: The state of West Bengal, after Bengal was partitioned between India and East Pakistan . With China's annexation of Tibet in 1959, many Buddhist monks fled Tibet and established monasteries in Kalimpong. These monks brought many rare Buddhist scriptures with them. In 1962, the permanent closure of the Jelep Pass after the Sino-Indian War disrupted trade between Tibet and India, and led to
5110-483: The town to Gangtok , NJP Bus Stand and Tenzing Norgay Bus Terminus, (Siliguri) . Note: foreigners need a permit to enter Sikkim which they can easily get at Siliguri or at Rangpo , Sikkim. Singtam is one of largest market towns in Sikkim and is easily accessible from almost all cities and towns of Sikkim. The trade in large cardamom , the broom plant (kuccho) and ginger is important in Singtam's economy. 2023 Sikkim Flash Floods This article related to
5183-415: The town. Singtam District Hospital, the district hospital of Pakyong District , lies at Golitar, Singtam. Singtam is located at 27°09′N 88°23′E / 27.15°N 88.38°E / 27.15; 88.38 . It has an average elevation of 1396 feet. As the town lies on the bank of two rivers River Teesta and Ranikhola , so during Monsoon especially from June to September the volume of both
5256-625: Was sparsely populated by the indigenous Lepcha and Limbu community and migrant Bhutia and Kirati tribes. After the Anglo-Bhutan War in 1864, the Treaty of Sinchula (1865) was signed, in which Bhutanese-held territory east of the Teesta River was ceded to the British East India Company . It was administered as the 'Western Duars' district for a few years, and divided into three tehsils. Kalimpong fell into
5329-538: Was the first Tibetan-language newspaper published in Kalimpong in 1925. while Himalayan Times was the first English to have come out from Kalimpong in the year 1947, it was closed down in the year 1962 after the Chinese aggression but was started once again and is now in regular print. Internet service and Internet cafés are well established; these are mostly served through broadband , data card of different mobile services, WLL , dialup lines, Kalimpong News , Kalimpong Online News , Kalimpong Times and KTV are
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