Kalimpong is a hill station (a hill town) nestled in the Shiwalik Hills (or Lower Himalaya) in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is located at 27.06° N 88.47° E at an average elevation of 1,247 m (4,100 feet). The town is the headquarters of the Kalimpong subdivision, a part of the district of Darjeeling. A major forward base of the Indian Army is located on the outskirts of the town.
Kalimpong is well-known for its many educational institutions, which attract students from all over North East India, West Bengal, Bhutan, Nepal, and Bangladesh. In recent times, Kalimpong has become an important tourist destination owing to its temperate climate and proximity to popular tourist locations in the region. Kalimpong is also famous for its flower market, especially the wide array of orchids. It also houses several of Buddhist monasteries which hold a number of rare Tibetan Buddhist scriptures.
The most significant contributor to the Kalimpong economy is tourism. The summer and spring seasons are the most popular with tourists, keeping many of Kalimpong's residents employed directly and indirectly.
Farming on terraced slopes is a major source of livelihood for its rural populace and it supplies the town with fruits and vegetables. Although education used to be the primary driver of the economy of the town, in recent years its contributions have stagnated.
Many establishments cater to the Indian army base near the town, supplying 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, fisheries etc. provide a steady source of employment to many of its residents. Kalimpong is well known for its flower export industry[2] – specially for its wide array of indigenous orchids and gladioli. If the Indian government's proposal[3] to reopen the Nathula and Jelepla passes by mid-2005 is realised, the economy will get a significant boost, due to Kalimpong's location on the historic trade route.
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