Kalimpong: Assembly of the king's minister

       

         Origin of the name Kalimpong still remains suspicious with lots of untold stories behind it.  Where one of thetheory claims that the word "Kalimpong means-  assembly of the king's minister". This word is derived from kalon ("King's ministers") and pong ("stockade") which was once known as Dalingkot means isolated spot under Sikkimese rule. People from the hills also called the area Kalempung ("the black spurs").

       Prior to China's invasion over Tibet and Sino Indian war Kalimpong used to be the gateway of trade between Tibet and India.

       Kalimpong and Darjeeling called for a separate Gorkhaland in 1980s and later in 2010. Between 1986 and 1988 this demand grew more. Since 2007 this demand has been revived by "Gorkha Janmukti Morcha."

     Until mid 19th century the area around was rules by sikkemese and bhutanese. Under Sikkimese rule, the area was known as Dalingkot. 

   Later, in the year 1706 this place was renamed as Kalimpong by bhutanese when their king won this territory from sikkimese monarch. This area was thinly populated by lepchas and migrant bhutanese along with limbu tribe.

    Post Anglo Bhutan war in 1864, treaty of sinchula was signed in 1865. At that time 2-3 families resides there. Kalimpong was added to district of Darjeeling in 1866.   Between 1866–1867 an Anglo-Bhutanese commission stands up wall between them giving up a shape to Kalimpong sub-division and Darjeeling district.

     It soon became an important trading outpost in the trade of furs, wools and food grains between India and Tibet which attracted Nepali's who were residing in the lower region of Sikkim since the Gorkha invasion of Sikkim in 1790. This also increases the population of Kalimpong from 2-3 families to number of families and people who later started residing there turning it into 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, a Bhutanese administrative and cultural centre. 

      Kalimpong turned out to be  known for its educational institutes after the arrivals of Scottish missionaries. Revi W. Macfarlane in the early 1870s established the first schools in the area followed by Scottish University Mission Institution which 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 writer cum poet Aeneas Francon Williams, aged 24, arrived in Kalimpong in 1910 to take up 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 increased to 7,880.

      Post 1947 Kalimpong became part of West Bengal. Original settlers of Kalimpong are lepchas. Kalimpong is also said to be home of Trinley Thaye Dorje—one of the 17th Karmapa incarnations.

    Every year since 1947 a football tournament is said to be arranged as part of two days independence celebration. 

    Kalimpong is also said to be major production centre for  gladioli in India.

     The area around Kalimpong lies in the Eastern Himalayas, which is classified as an ecological hotspot, one of only three among the ecoregions of India.

     

Seven species of rhododendrons are found in the region east of Kalimpong.

   The temperate deciduous forests include oak, birch, maple and alder. Three hundred species of orchid are found around Kalimpong. Kalimpong is also known for their rich practice of cactus cultivation.