Archive for the ‘Kurseong Hill Station’ Category
November 23rd, 2011 | 
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Introduction
Situated at an altitude of 1,458 Mts.(4,864 ft), 51 km from Siliguri and 30 km from Darjeeling, Kurseong’s natural advantages make it a very attractive tourist destination. Located at a lower elevation, Kurseong enjoys a milder and a very healthy climate throughout the year. It is the peace, serenity and the healthy climate of Kurseong, that attracted many a great person to this place. Guru Rabindra Nath Tagore got inspiration for some of their famous works around Kurseong. Sister Nivedita, the great disciple of Swami Vivekananda made Kurseong her home.
The rich flora of Kurseong town and surroundings is fascinating, and it has aptly been described as a ‘Botanists’ Paradise’. Apart from the charm and beauty that nature has bestowed upon Kurseong, the people of this place are joyous and fun loving and welcome visitors with warmth and hospitality.
Places To Visit
St. Mary’s Hill
The St Mary’s Hill is located around 4 km from the Kurseong Railway Station. It is a scenic natural area covered with lush green forests all around and the way leading to it is equally enthralling. Amidst the greenery is the Eastern Forest Rangers’ College (EFRC) which was the erstwhile site of St. Mary’s seminary. There is a statue of Jesus and Mary here and tourists come here to view this. St. Mary’s Hill also has a beautiful church of St. John and this has been recently built. The church is appreciated for its architectural beauty as much as it is liked is for its scenic locate.
Kettle Valley Picnic Spot
The Kettle Valley Picnic Spot is a popular picnic stop in the town of Kurseong and is visited by locals as well as tourists. This scenic location is enjoyed on a picnic or a day outing with family and friends. It is a beautiful spot on the banks of the river Rinchengtong and one can spot the Dilaram Tea Estate, which is also located close by. The landscape of the place is breathtaking as one can view the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas in the backdrop. The surrounding area is lush green with the clear water of the river flowing along side.
Ambotia Shiva Mandir
Kurseong has quite a few well known temples in and around the town and the Ambotia Shiva Mandir is one of the most popular Hindu temples in Kurseong. The Ambotia Shiva Mandir is at a distance of about 5 km from Kurseong town and is located in the Ambotia Tea Estate. Apart from its religious importance, the temple is known for its scenic location. There is a beautiful orange orchard nearby. While visiting the temple, tourists can also see the Ambodia Landslide, which is about a kilometre downhill, dropping down about thousand metres to Balasan.
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Museum
The Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Museum is a popular museum dedicated to the famous freedom fighter of India, Subhash Chandra Bose. The museum is located at Giddhapahar which is about 4 km from the main town of Kurseong. This was earlier the house of Netaji’s older brother, and later came to be converted to a museum. The museum houses many documents, artefacts and articles which are connected to the freedom fighter. Articles like old letters, photographs and personal memorabilia tell the story of the great man and this is a place worth visiting, especially for those interested in the country’s freedom history.
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General Information
Area – 5.05 sq. km
Altitude – 1458 Metres (4864 ft)
Population – 35000 (app)
Rainfall – 160 inches (Annual)
Best Season September to mid June
Clothing Summer - Light Woollens Winter : Heavy Woollens
Languages – Nepali, Hindi, Tibetan, English and Bengali
Kurseong is a hill town that is situated in the state of West Bengal in the Darjeeling district. The quiet town is an up and coming tourist destination and this is an ideal place to relax and unwind from the hectic pace of urban life. Tourist places in Kurseong are some of the well-known tourist destinations close to Darjeeling town. Kurseong is a hill station and also a sub-divisional town situated in Darjeeling district of West Bengal. The local name of Kurseong is called “Kharsang” which in the Lepcha language depicts “Land of the White Orchids”. Besides being a great tourist spot, Kurseong is also a hub for quality educational institutions.
Kurseong in West Bengal is located at an altitude of 1458 metres and is just 30 km from the tourist hub Darjeeling. It has a pleasant climate throughout the year and the winters are not as severe as Darjeeling. The best times to visit Kurseong are between March end and May and between the end of August and October.
As you leave the small town you can find acres of verdant slopes covered with tea bushes – one of the finest varieties of Darjeeling Tea is found in the tea gardens surrounding Kurseong. The finest teas are produced by Castleton, Makaibari and Ambootia Tea Estate. Visitor can have a first hand experience of how tea leaves are processed and prepared for production by visiting the nearby tea factories.
Even though Kurseong has lagged behind in the race to become a preferred tourist destination compared to its glamorous counterpart Darjeeling, there is tranquility and peace about the place that does not fail to affect a visitor – and that quest for peace and tranquility brings him back again.
Kurseong is connected to Siliguri by two alternative routes; one is the Pankhabari route which is faster but very steep. The other road traverses through Rongtong, Ghayabari, Mahanadi and Gidda Pahar which provides a breathtaking view of the natural surroundings. If you travel through this road in monsoon you can enjoy the magnificent sight of waterfalls cascading from the hills.
Places To Visit :
Forest Museum – The forest museum is also located in Dow Hill and is overseen by the forest department. You will get to know the types of animals that inhabited the forest area here in the past when you visit the museum.
Giddapahar view point – Giddapahar view point in Giddapahar, a few kilometers from Kurseong, provides a great view of the mountains and is a great place for clicking photographs.
Giddapahar Seti Mata Temple – This temple is carved out of an ancient rock and is dedicated to Goddess Durga. A sacred place of the Hindus.
Ambootia Temple – This temple is located within the Ambootia Tea Estate area. It has an old temple thronged by many devotees.
Dowhill’s Girls School – Provides a glimpse of the British era with its architecture and elegance. This school is well known for its beautiful location surrounded by pine trees and the quality of education it provides.
Victoria Boy’s School – This school was also created by the British and still maintains its Victorian looks and fame.
Grotto – The grotto houses the statue of Virgin Mary and is located in a beautiful surrounding that takes you to another place and time. It is a peaceful place and peace is what you feel when you’re there. Devotees light candles and pray to God here; it is also frequented by young couples because it offers seclusion.
Bhangzang Salamander Lake – It is located 14 km from Kurseong. In the past, it used to be a favorite place for the British and people from the neighboring towns used to hang out here frequently. A relatively unknown getaway among the tourist destinations in Darjeeling brought to you by naturebeyond. It is a beautiful green-tinged lake that shelters the rarest and most endangered species of salamanders – a species under threat of extinction.
Bagora – Bagora is also called zero point because it is the place with the highest elevation in Kurseong. It has also has a base camp of the Indian Air Force with a helipad.
Kurseong is located at an altitude of 2458 Mts.(4864 ft), 51 kms away from Siliguri and 30 kms away from Darjeeling.The peace, serenity and the healthy climate of Kurseong attracts the tourist to this place.Guru Rabindra Nath Tagore and the great composer Atul Prasad Sen has been inspired by the beauty of the place. Sister Nivedita, the great disciple of Swami Vivekananda also resided here.
Best Time To Visit
The best time to visit the place in during summers commence from mid April to June.As the maximum temperature etends to 29 degree celsius.In winter it last from mid September to December.