Image Credits : Kunalkrishna008
Image Credits : Rangan Datta
Image Credits : Mayukh Ghose
Kurseong, one of the most beautiful and awe-striking places to visit in West Bengal, sits close to Darjeeling. Popular as “Land of White Orchids,” Kurseong is home to many religious temples, attractive waterfalls, and remarkable Buddhist gompas. Lots of white orchids can be easily found here sitting on the hilly slopes of Kurseong. The snow-covered mountains, refreshing jungles, and tea plantation turn this hill station into heaven for nature lovers.
Located at an altitude of 4864 ft, this small, quiet hill station has mild and salubrious weather all through the year. During the monsoon season, this town becomes very beautiful with the flora looking fresher. This place is a marvelous weekend getaway from the hustle and bustle of townships. With lots of tourist attractions, Kurseong is one of the best hill stations in West Bengal.
The name of the town has an unclear origin; however, according to some stories, it came from kurson-rip which is a word used in Lepcha language for “small orchids.” It is because the whole valley is dotted with small white orchids at this place.
The Lesser-Known History of Kurseong
Lepcha people were the initial inhabitants here. They were the ones to name this place as Kurseong due to the fact that this place got alive with bright and alive Kurson-Rip orchids in every spring. In ancient times, Kurseong is known to be a part of Sikkim’s Kingdom before the arrival of the British in India. But in 1780, Kurseong was conquered and captured by the Nepalese. In the Gurkha War, Nepalese lost this place again. A Treaty of Titalia was signed in 1817 which again made Kurseong a part of Sikkim. Kurseong became the British favorite due to the dry and cool environment of this place during summers.
Since it was hard for them to travel from here due to the mountains, a road was constructed in the 1770-80s from the town of Kurseong to Darjeeling. Thanks to its irregular maintenance, a new route was soon made which was known as the Military Road. Hill Cart road, the next route opened in 1861 which fared a little better. The British in 1835 decided that Darjeeling made an outstanding sanitorium as well as a summer residence for the civilian and military officers. So, negotiations started with Tshudpud Namgyal, who was Chogyal of Sikkim. A strip of a hill territory was offered to them for a yearly fee in Kurseon. So, being a hill station on way to Darjeeling, soon this place started to develop. This place is also known to be the abode to one of the most ancient municipalities in West Bengal. In 1879, it was made an independent municipality but didn’t change to a sub-division till 1890. Then Kurseong was added to Rajshahi Division by the British for Bengal Presidency. They were then transferred to Bhagalpur Division in 1908. In 1929, after Bengal came under British India, the town of Kurseong was asked to elect its member for becoming the chairman. However, the British Raj continues sending the ward commissioners until India’s Independence. Kurseong started growing rapidly after 1939.
There is no dearth of places to visit in Kurseong. Below is the list of places you should definitely visit on your trip to Kurseong:
Shopping: Kurseong lets you purchase some of the finest quality tea from the tea estates directly or from the local shops. You can buy postcards of scenic locations in Kurseong as memorabilia for family and friends.
Visit Tea Estate: Take guided tours of tea estates to know the history, meet the workers, and even participate in the tea tasting session. The beautiful tea estates of Kurseong are sure to mesmerize you. The verdant tea estates are a great sight to behold.
Adventure Sports: Kurseong is the best place for all those adventure lovers since it is quite suitable for hikes and treks. While trekking you will get to enjoy the spectacular views of the surrounding areas. Nature in Kurseong is at its pristine best. Due to lush green covering, both trekking and hiking are excellent experiences. Hiking through the undulating terrains and forests is an outstanding experience.
River Rafting: River Rafting in Teesta is a very famous activity in Kurseong. It is a very famous activity among tourists and travelers. For those strong-hearted people, river rafting is a must-do activity.
Toy Train Ride: If you have ever thought of riding on a toy train, Kurseong offers you the opportunity to do so. Darjeeling toy train ride is one of the best activities to do in Kurseong. This fascinating ride will treat you to a few of the most stunning wonders in the town.
Kurseong is located at a distance of 34 km from Siliguri and 32 km from Darjeeling. The nearest railway station to Kurseong is the New Jalpaiguri Railway Station located nearly 45 km away and the nearest airport to Kurseong is the Bagdogra Airport.
So, embark on a trip to Kurseong to let yourself spend some quality time with your dear ones. Plan your vacay to Kurseong immediately for an outstanding holiday experience and get ready to soak yourself in the peaceful vibes of this hill station!