{{Short description|District in West Bengal, India}} {{About|the district|its eponymous headquarters|Kalimpong}} {{Use Indian English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Kalimpong district | native_name = | other_name = | settlement_type = District | image_skyline = {{Photomontage |photo1a = Kalimpong (5736819285).jpg |photo1b = Morgan House Kalimpong Late evening shot of the front portion.jpg |photo2a = Deolo, Kalimpong, West Bengal 734316, India - panoramio (1).jpg |photo2a_size = 400 |photo2b = Exteriors of Gouripur house at Kalimpong 04.jpg |photo3a = A fairy tale... (25133738313).jpg |size = 300 |foot_montage = Clockwise from top-left: View of Kalimpong, Morgan House in Kalimpong, Gouripur house, view from Rishyap, Neora Valley National Park }} | mapframe = yes | mapframe-point = none | mapsize = 300 | map_caption1 = Location of Kalimpong district in West Bengal | coordinates = {{coord|27.06|N|88.47|E|display=inline,title}} | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{flag|India}} | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_name1 = West Bengal | subdivision_type2 = Division | subdivision_name2 = Jalpaiguri | seat_type = Headquarters | seat = Kalimpong | leader_title = Subdivisions | leader_name = Kalimpong Sadar | leader_title1 = CD Blocks | leader_name1 = Kalimpong I, Kalimpong II, Gorubathan | leader_title2 = Lok Sabha constituencies | leader_name2 = Darjeeling | leader_title3 = Vidhan Sabha constituencies | leader_name3 = Kalimpong | total_type = Total | area_total_km2 = 1044.60 | area_footnotes = | population_as_of = 2011 | population_total = 251642 | population_footnotes = <ref name=census2011/> | population_urban = | population_density_km2 = auto | demographics_type1 = Demographics | demographics1_title1 = Literacy | demographics1_info1 = 78.57 per cent | demographics1_title2 = Sex ratio | demographics1_info2 = 949 ♂/♀ | demographics_type2 = Languages | demographics2_title1 = Official | demographics2_info1 = Bengali,<ref name="wblangoff">{{cite web|title=Fact and Figures|url=https://wb.gov.in/portal/web/guest/facts-and-figures;jsessionid=JzdD9RHb7aMY5esZPtcsIVLy|website=Wb.gov.in|access-date=5 July 2019}}</ref><ref name="NCLM">{{cite web|title=52nd Report of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities in India|url=http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM52ndReport.pdf|website=Nclm.nic.in|publisher=Ministry of Minority Affairs|access-date=5 July 2019|page=85|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525141614/http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM52ndReport.pdf|archive-date=25 May 2017}}</ref> Nepali<ref name="NCLM"/> | demographics2_title2 = Additional official | demographics2_info2 = English<ref name="wblangoff"/> | timezone1 = IST | utc_offset1 = +05:30 | website = {{URL|https://kalimpong.gov.in/}} }} thumb|250px|Blue orchids of Kalimpong
'''Kalimpong district''' is a district in the state of West Bengal, India. In 2017, it was carved out as a separate district to become the 21st district of West Bengal.<ref> {{cite news |title=Carved out of Darjeeling, Kalimpong a district today |publisher=Times of India |access-date=14 February 2017 |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/carved-out-of-darjeeling-kalimpong-a-district-today/articleshow/57137909.cms }} </ref><ref> {{Cite news |title=Kalimpong district may stoke Gorkhaland fire |newspaper=Hindustan Times |date=13 February 2017 |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/kolkata/kalimpong-district-may-stoke-gorkhaland-fire/story-0clHDbeqUyadP0M928AqsJ.html}} </ref> The district is headquartered at Kalimpong, which grew to prominence as a market town for Indo-Tibetan trade during the British period. It is bounded by Pakyong district of Sikkim in the north, Bhutan in the east, Darjeeling district in the west, and Jalpaiguri district in the south.
The district consists of the Kalimpong municipality and four community development blocks: Kalimpong I, Kalimpong II, Gorubathan and Pedong. The towns and villages in Kalimpong District are: Kalimpong, Gorubathan, Melli Bazar, Teesta Bazar, Algarah, Labha, Samsing and Rambi.
== Etymology == The precise origin of the name ''Kalimpong'' remains unclear. There are many theories on 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").<ref name="Kalimpong Etymology">{{cite web |url=http://www.wb.nic.in/westbg/kalimpong2.html |title=Kalimpong Etymology |publisher=Government of West Bengal |access-date=22 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205152844/http://www.wb.nic.in/westbg/kalimpong2.html |archive-date=5 December 2008 }}</ref> 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 the hills call the area ''Kalempung'' ("the black spurs").{{citation needed|date=December 2021}}
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";<ref name="kalidarjhist">{{cite web|url=http://www.darjeelingnews.net/kalimpong_history.html |title=History of Kalimpong |access-date=17 February 2007 |work=Darjeelingnews.net |publisher=Darjeeling News Service |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070205043810/http://darjeelingnews.net/kalimpong_history.html |archive-date=5 February 2007 }}</ref> in time, the name was distorted to ''Kalebung'', and later further contorted to Kalimpong. Another possible derivation points to Kaulim, locally known as odal Scientific name ''Sterculia Villosa,'' a fibrous plant found in abundance in the region.<ref name="wbnicpagearch">{{cite web|title=Kalimpong |publisher=NITPU Kolkata, West Bengal |access-date=11 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006025217/http://www.wb.nic.in/westbg/kalimpong.html |archive-date=6 October 2008 |url=http://www.wb.nic.in/westbg/kalimpong.html }}</ref>
== History == thumb|upright|Katherine Graham Memorial Chapel, Dr. Graham's Homes established in 1925. thumb|upright|The Clock Tower of Kalimpong. What is now Kalimpong district was originally Sikkimese territory.<ref name="Darjeelingnews.net"> {{cite web |title=History of Kalimpong |publisher=Darjeeling News Service |url=http://www.darjeelingnews.net/kalimpong_history.html |access-date=17 February 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070205043810/http://darjeelingnews.net/kalimpong_history.html |archive-date=5 February 2007 }} </ref><ref name="Gurung & Gurung">{{cite book |last=Gurung |first=Chanda |author2=Gurung, Nawraj |title=Social and Gender Analysis in Natural Resource Management |editor=Ronnie Vernooy |publisher=International Development Research Centre (Canada), NetLibrary, Inc |year=2006 |pages=39–43 |chapter=The Social and Gendered Nature of Ginger Production and Commercialization |isbn=1-55250-218-X }}</ref> It was controlled through two hill forts in the region, at Damsang{{efn|Alternative spellings include "Damsung", "Damsong", "Dumsong", "Dhumsong" etc.}} and Daling{{efn|Also called "Dalim". Variant spellings include "Dhalim" and "Dhaling".}} (or '''Dalingkot''', meaning "Daling fort"). The region itself seems to have been referred to as Dalingkot.<ref name="Somen Sengupta">{{cite news |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060903/asp/calcutta/story_6691778.asp |title=Next weekend you can be at ... Kalimpong |first=Somen |last=Sengupta |date=3 September 2006 |publisher=The Telegraph |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605094054/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060903/asp/calcutta/story_6691778.asp |archive-date=5 June 2011}}</ref> In 1718, the Kingdom of Bhutan annexed this territory, and ruled it for the following 150 years.{{sfnp|Roy, Survey and Settlement of the Western Duars|2013|pp=6, 41}}<ref>{{citation |title=History, Culture and Customs of Sikkim |first=J. R. |last=Subba |publisher=Gyan Publishing House |year=2008 |isbn=9788121209649 |page=50}}</ref> The area was sparsely populated by Lepchas, and migrant Bhutia, Limbu and Kirati tribes.
After the Anglo-Bhutan War in 1864, the Treaty of Sinchula (1865) was signed, in which certain "hill territory to east of the Teesta River" was ceded to British India.<ref name="Darjeelingnews.net"/> The precise territory was unspecified but included the fort of Dalingkot. In 1866–1867, British surveyors demarcated the area, and set the Di Chu and Ni Chu rivers as the eastern and northeastern boundaries.<ref name="Gorkhaland Movement: A Study in Ethnic Separatism">{{harvp|Samanta|2000|p=43}}</ref><ref name=Hunter/>
[[File:Southern border of Bhutan1985.jpg|thumb|280px|Southern Boundary of Bhutan before the 1865 Duar War]]
The ceded territory was added to the Western Duars district at first, and later transferred to the Darjeeling district of the Bengal province in 1866.{{sfnp|Roy, Survey and Settlement of the Western Duars|2013|pp=6, 41}} It was referred to as the "tract of Dalingkot" or "tract of Damsang", after the hill forts through which it had been administered in the past.<ref name=Hunter> {{citation |last=Hunter |first=W. W. |title=A Statistical Account Of Bengal, Vol. X: Districts of Darjiling and Jalpaiguri, State of Kuch Behar |publisher=Trubner & Co |location=London |year=1876 |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.281462/ |via=archive.org |page=19}}: "In August 1866, by a Government Resolution, the hilly tract situated east of the Tista, west of the Ne-chu and De-chu rivers, and south of Independent Sikkim, being part of the territory acquired as the result of the Bhutan campaign of 1864, was added to the jurisdiction of Darjiling, and now forms the tract known as '''Damsang''' or '''Dalingkot'''." </ref><ref> {{harvp|Roy, Survey and Settlement of the Western Duars|2013|p=6}}: "... the '''Dalingkot tahsil''', which includes the mountainous part of the annexed territory." </ref> At that time, Kalimpong was a small hamlet, with only two or three families known to reside there.<ref name="tribunekalim"> {{cite web |last=Banerjee |first=Partha S |title=A quiet hill retreat, far from the tourist crowd |work=Spectrum, The Tribune |date=19 May 2002 |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020519/spectrum/travel.htm}} </ref> However the neighbourhood of Kalimpong was well-populated with several villages, as recorded by Ashley Eden during a mission to Bhutan in 1864. Eden mentioned that the people there were well-disposed to the British administration and had frequently traded with the Darjeeling area to the west of Teesta in defiance of the Bhutanese authorities.{{sfnp|Rennie, Bhotan and the Dooar War|1866|pp=64–66}}
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 Indo-Gangetic Plain. Kalimpong's proximity to the Nathu La and Jelep La passes 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.<ref name="khawaslhasa">{{cite news |title=The Forgotten Way: Recalling the road to Lhasa from Kalimpong |last=Khawas |first=Vimal |date=31 December 2004 |work=The Statesman |publisher=The Statesman Ltd }}</ref> The increase in commerce attracted large numbers of Nepalis from neighbouring Nepal and also the lower regions of Sikkim where Nepalis had been 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 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 the Bhutan House, a Bhutanese administrative and cultural centre.<ref name=Syamukapu>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hbgVAQAAMAAJ |title=Syamukapu: The Lhasa Newars of Kalimpong and Kathmandu |first=Deb Shova Kansakar |last=Hilker |publisher=Vajra Publications |year=2005 |isbn=99946-644-6-8 |access-date=12 August 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eONIAQAAIAAJ |title=Arts of Asia |volume=17 |publisher=Arts of Asia Publications |year=1987 |page=107 |access-date=12 August 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tVGgEbhi5JAC |title=In the service of his country: the biography of Dasang Damdul Tsarong, commander general of Tibet |first1=Dundul Namgyal |last1=Tsarong |first2=Ani K. Trinlay |last2=Chödron |editor=Ani K. Trinlay Chödron |publisher=Snow Lion Publications |year=2000 |isbn=1-55939-151-0 |page=35 |access-date=12 August 2011}}</ref>
The arrival of Scottish missionaries saw the construction of schools and welfare centres for the British.<ref name="tribunekalim" /> Rev. W. Macfarlane in the early 1870s established the first schools in the area.<ref name="tribunekalim" /> 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.<ref name="tribunekalim" /> The young missionary (and aspiring writer and poet) Aeneas Francon Williams, aged 24, arrived in Kalimpong in 1910 to take up the post of assistant schoolmaster at Dr. Graham's Homes,<ref>Correspondence from Aeneas Francon Williams addressed from Wolseley House, Kalimpong, is stored in the Dr. Graham Kalimpong Archive held at the National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh</ref> where he later became Bursar and remained working at the school for the next fourteen years.<ref>Marriage Certificate for Aeneas Francon Williams and Clara Anne Rendall, 2 December 1914: Findmypast.co.uk – Williams rank of profession is registered as ‘Assistant School Master.’</ref> 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.<ref name="tribunekalim" />
Following Indian independence in 1947, Kalimpong remained in West Bengal, the part of Bengal allocated to India during the Paritiion. With China's annexation of Tibet in 1950, many Buddhist monks fled Tibet and established monasteries in Kalimpong. These monks brought rare Buddhist scriptures with them. In 1962, the permanent closure of Jelep La after the Sino-Indian War disrupted trade between Tibet and India, and led to a slowdown in Kalimpong's economy. In 1976, the visiting Dalai Lama consecrated the Zang Dhok Palri Phodang monastery, which houses many of the Tibetan Buddhist scriptures.<ref name="tribunekalim" />
[[File:Kalimpongkanchenjanga.jpg|thumb|Most large houses in Kalimpong were built during the British era. In the background is Kangchenjunga.]] [[File:Morgan House Kalimpong 2.jpg|thumb|Morgan House is a classic example of colonial architecture in Kalimpong.]] 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 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 the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and its supporters in the Darjeeling hills.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.darjeelingtimes.com/news/Top-Story/Call-for-Gorkhaland-renewed.html |title=Call for Gorkhaland renewed |date=7 October 2007 |publisher=Darjeeling Times |access-date=13 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081222214506/http://www.darjeelingtimes.com/news/Top-Story/Call-for-Gorkhaland-renewed.html |archive-date=22 December 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The Kamtapur People's Party and its supporters' movement for a separate Kamtapur state covering North Bengal have gained momentum.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-12-29/india/28100583_1_kamtapur-state-north-bengal-demand |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130617172345/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-12-29/india/28100583_1_kamtapur-state-north-bengal-demand |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 June 2013 |title=Now, demand for a separate Kamtapur state in WBengal |author=Press Trust of India (PTI) |date=29 December 2009 |work=The Times of India |access-date=11 December 2012}}</ref>
==Geography==
===Geographical indication=== Kalonunia rice was awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) status tag from the Geographical Indications Registry under the Union Government of India on 2 January 2024 (valid until 11 March 2034). It is a common and widely cultivated crop in districts of Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar along with some parts of Darjeeling & Kalimpong districts of West Bengal.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bengal's own Gobindabhog and Tulaipanji soon to get a distinct stand on world map |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/kolkata/how-new-grading-rules-for-non-basmati-rice-varieties-can-put-gobindabhog-on-world-map-9091192/ |access-date=23 November 2024 |work=The Indian Express |date=2 January 2024 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Khush |first1=Gurdev S. |last2=Hettel |first2=Gene |last3=Rola |first3=Tess |title=Rice Genetics III: Proceedings of the Third International Rice Genetics Symposium, Manila, Philippines, 16-20 October 1995 |date=1996 |publisher=Int. Rice Res. Inst. |isbn=978-971-22-0087-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M_hKLjbOuBEC&dq=Kalonunia+rice&pg=PA823 |access-date=23 November 2024 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Roychoudhury |first1=Aryadeep |title=Rice Research for Quality Improvement: Genomics and Genetic Engineering: Volume 2: Nutrient Biofortification and Herbicide and Biotic Stress Resistance in Rice |date=29 July 2020 |publisher=Springer Nature |isbn=978-981-15-5337-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6RL0DwAAQBAJ&dq=Kalonunia+rice&pg=PA393 |access-date=23 November 2024 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Sarker |first1=Dilip De |last2=Saha |first2=Manas Ranjan |last3=Saha |first3=Subrata |title=Perspective of dietetic and antioxidant medicinal plants |date=1 January 2015 |publisher=Notion Press |isbn=978-93-84878-95-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YTrECQAAQBAJ&dq=Kalonunia+rice&pg=PT20 |language=en}}</ref>
State Agricultural Management & Extension Training Institute (SAMETI) from Narendrapur, proposed the GI registration of Kalonunia rice. After filing the application in March 2021, the rice was granted the GI tag in 2024 by the Geographical Indication Registry in Chennai, making the name "Kalonunia rice" exclusive to the rice grown in the region.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kalonunia Rice |url=https://search.ipindia.gov.in/GIRPublic/Application/Details/743 |website=Intellectual Property India |access-date=23 November 2024}}</ref> It thus became the third rice variety from West Bengal after Tulaipanji rice and the 26th type of goods from West Bengal to earn the GI tag.
The GI tag protects the rice from illegal selling and marketing, and gives it legal protection and a unique identity.
===Flora and fauna=== [[File:Red Panda at Neora Valley National Park West Bengal India 2012.jpg|thumb|250px|Red Panda at Neora Valley National Park]] Kalimpong district is home to the Neora Valley National Park, which has an area of {{convert|159.89|km2|mi2|abbr=on|2}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=National Parks |url=http://wiienvis.nic.in/Database/npa_8231.aspx |publisher=ENVIS Centre on Wildlife & Protected Areas |access-date=17 February 2017}}</ref> Mammals reported from this area are Indian leopard, five viverrid species, Asiatic black bear, sloth bear, Asian golden cat, wild boar, leopard cat, goral, serow, barking deer, sambar deer, flying squirrel, tahr, red panda and clouded leopard.<ref>[http://ibcn.in/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/West-Bengal.pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203184337/http://ibcn.in/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/West-Bengal.pdf|date=3 February 2016}}, IBAs in West Bengal – Page 20.</ref>
===Rivers=== The major rivers flowing through Kalimpong district are River Teesta, River Jaldhaka and River Rangpo. Other rivers are Relli Khola, Riyang Khola,Murti Khola, Reshi Khola, Chel Khola, River Ghish, Bindu Khola, Les Khola, Neora Khola etc.
==Demographics== According to the 2011 census, Kalimpong district (enumerated as Kalimpong subdivision then) has a population of 251,642. Kalimpong I block had a population of 74,746; Kalimpong II block had a population of 66,830; Gorubathan block had a population of 60,663; and Kalimpong Municipality had a population of 49,403. Kalimpong district has a sex ratio of 959 females per 1000 males. 56,192 (22.33%) live in urban areas. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes made up 16,433 (6.53%) and 74,976 (29.79%) of the population respectively.<ref name=census2011 />
=== Religion ===
{{bar box |title=Religion in Kalimpong district (2011)<ref name="Religion"/> |titlebar=#Fcd116 |float=right |bars= {{bar percent|Hinduism|darkorange|60.94}} {{bar percent|Buddhism|yellow|20.94}} {{bar percent|Christianity|dodgerblue|14.88}} {{bar percent|Islam|green|1.59}} {{bar percent|Traditional religion|red|1.29}} {{bar percent|Other or not stated|black|0.36}} }}
{| class="wikitable sortable" |+Religion in present-day Kalimpong district ! rowspan="2" |Religion ! colspan="2" |1941 ! colspan="2" |2011 |- !Pop.<ref name="1941religion">{{cite web |title=CENSUS OF INDIA, 1941 VOLUME VI BENGAL PROVINCE |url=https://dspace.gipe.ac.in/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10973/37365/GIPE-020591.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y |access-date=13 August 2022}}</ref>{{rp|90–91}} !% !Pop.<ref name="Religion" /> !% |- |Hinduism 16x16px |35,928 |45.45% |153,355 |60.94% |- |Tribal religion 15x15px |31,674 |40.07% |3,243 |1.29% |- |Christianity 21x21px |714 |0.9% |37,453 |14.88% |- |Islam 15x15px |324 |0.41% |3,998 |1.59% |- |Buddhism 15x15px |<nowiki>---</nowiki> | --- |52,688 |20.94% |- |Others{{efn|Including Jainism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Ad-Dharmis, or not stated}} |10,402 |13.16% |905 |0.36% |- |'''Total Population''' |79,042 |'''100%''' |'''251,642''' |'''100%''' |}
According to the 2011 census, Hindus numbered 153,355 (60.94%), Buddhists numbered 52,688 (20.94%), Christians numbered 37,453 (14.88%). Muslims numbered 3,998 (1.59%) of the population, while traditional faiths (such as Kirat Mundhum) were 3,243 (1.29%).<ref name="Religion">{{cite web |title=Table C-01 Population by Religion: West Bengal|url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11396/download/14509/DDW19C-01%20MDDS.XLS|website=censusindia.gov.in|publisher=Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India}}</ref>
=== Languages === {{Pie chart |caption=Languages of Kalimpong district (2011)<ref name="language"/><ref name="langtown"/> |label1 = Nepali |value1 = 87.61 |color1 = sienna |label2 = Hindi |value2 = 3.18 |color2 = orange |label3 = Lepcha |value3 = 2.67 |color3 = midnightblue |label4 = Bhojpuri |value4 = 1.16 |color4 = gold |label5 = Others |value5 = 5.38 |color5 = grey }}
At the time of the 1951 census, only 24% of those now living in Kalimpong district spoke Nepali as their mother tongue. Most of the population spoke a variety of other languages such as Rai, Limbu, Lepcha and Tamang, although nearly all could speak Nepali as a second language.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1951 |title=Table 1.19 Languages: Darjeeling district |url=http://lsi.gov.in:8081/jspui/bitstream/123456789/5104/1/45554_1951_DAR.pdf |website=Census of India |publisher=Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India}}</ref> By 1961, the proportion of people in Kalimpong returning Nepali as their mother tongue had jumped to 75%. This was accompanied by a dramatic fall in the numbers of other languages spoken by the variety of ethnic groups in the hills.<ref name="census1961">{{Cite web |date=1961 |title=Table C.V Languages: Darjeeling district |url=http://lsi.gov.in:8081/jspui/bitstream/123456789/5167/1/22888_1961_DAR.pdf |website=Census of India |publisher=Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India}}</ref>
However at the time of the 2011 census, 87.61% of the population spoke Nepali, 3.18% Hindi, 2.67% Lepcha, 1.16% Bhojpuri and 5.38% Others languages as their first language.<ref name="language">{{Cite web |title=Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: West Bengal|url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/10226/download/13338/DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-1900.XLSX|website=Census of India |publisher=Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India}} see Kalimpong-I, Kalimpong-II, Gorubuthan blocks</ref><ref name="langtown">{{Cite web |title=Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: West Bengal (Urban)|url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/10245/download/13357/DDW-C16-TOWN-STMT-MDDS-1900.XLSX|website=Census of India |publisher=Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India}} see Kalimpong (M).</ref>
==Government and politics== ===Area=== Apart from the Kalimpong municipality that consists of 23 wards, the district contains rural areas of 42 gram panchayats under four community development blocks: Kalimpong I, Kalimpong II, Gorubathan and Pedong.<ref name=blocdir> {{cite web |title=Directory of District, Sub division, Panchayat Samiti/ Block and Gram Panchayats in West Bengal, March 2008 |date=19 March 2008 |publisher=Government of West Bengal |url=http://wbdemo5.nic.in/writereaddata/Directoryof_District_Block_GPs(RevisedMarch-2008).doc |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090225032419/http://wbdemo5.nic.in/writereaddata/Directoryof_District_Block_GPs%28RevisedMarch-2008%29.doc |archive-date=25 February 2009 }} </ref>
Kalimpong district has an area of {{convert|1053.60|km2|mi2|abbr=on|2}}, with Kalimpong I block having an area of {{convert|360.46|km2|mi2|abbr=on|2}}; Kalimpong II block an area of {{convert|241.26|km2|mi2|abbr=on|2}}; Gorubathan block an area of {{convert|442.72|km2|mi2|abbr=on|2}}; and Kalimpong Municipality an area of {{convert|9.16|km2|mi2|abbr=on|2}}.<ref name=census2011>{{Cite web |date=2011 |title=District Census Handbook: Darjeeling |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/1329/download/4330/DH_2011_1901_PART_B_DCHB_DARJILING.pdf |website=censusindia.gov.in |publisher=Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India}}</ref>
===Blocks===
====Kalimpong I block==== The Kalimpong I block consists of 18 gram panchayats; Bong, Kalimpong, Samalbong, Tista, Dr. Graham's Homes, Lower Echhay, Samthar, Neembong, Dungra, Upper Echhay, Seokbir, Bhalukhop, Yangmakum, Pabringtar, Sindebong, Kafer Kanke Bong, Pudung and Tashiding.<ref name=blocdir/> This block has one police station at Kalimpong.<ref name=distProfile>{{cite web |url=http://darjeeling.gov.in/dist-prof.html |title=District Profile |publisher=Official website of Darjeeling district |access-date=9 December 2008}}</ref> The block is headquartered in Kalimpong.<ref name=BDOaddresses>{{cite web |url=http://wbdemo5.nic.in/html/asp/bdo_contact.asp?cd=DH |title=Contact details of Block Development Officers |publisher=Panchayats and Rural Development Department, Government of West Bengal |work=Darjeeling district |access-date=26 December 2008 }}{{dead link |date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
====Kalimpong II block==== The Kalimpong II block consists of 7 gram panchayats, namely Dalapchand, Gitdabling, Lava-Gitabeong, Lolay, Payong, Shangse, and Shantuk.<ref name=blocdir/> This block is served by Kalimpong police station.<ref name=distProfile/> The block is headquartered in Algarah.<ref name=BDOaddresses/>
====Gorubathan block==== The Gorubathan block consists of 11 gram panchayats, namely Dalim, Gorubathan–I, Gorubathan–II, Patengodak, Todey Tangta, Kumai, Pokhreybong, Samsing, Aahaley, Nim and Rongo.<ref name=blocdir/> This block has two police stations: Gorubathan and Jaldhaka.<ref name=distProfile/> The block is headquartered in Fagu.<ref name=BDOaddresses/>
====Pedong block==== The Pedong block consists of 6 gram panchayats, namely Kage, Kashyong, Lingsey, Lingseykha, Pedong and Syakiyong. This block is served by Kalimpong police station. The block is headquartered in Pedong.
===Legislative segments=== As per order of the Delimitation Commission in respect of the delimitation of constituencies in West Bengal, the whole area under the district of Kalimpong (formerly Kalimpong subdivision), namely the Kalimpong municipality and the three blocks of Kalimpong–I, Kalimpong–II and Gorubathan together constitutes the Kalimpong Assembly constituency of West Bengal. This constituency is part of Darjeeling Lok Sabha constituency. Darjeeling is represented by Neeraj Zimba of the Bharatiya Janata Party, while Kalimpong Assembly constituency is represented by Bharat Chettri also from the Bharatiya Janata Party.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wbgov.com/e-gov/English/DELIMITATION.pdf |title=Press Note, Delimitation Commission |access-date=10 January 2009 |work=Assembly Constituencies in West Bengal |publisher=Delimitation Commission |pages=5, 23}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" !No. !Name !Lok Sabha !MLA ! colspan="2" |2026 Winner ! colspan="2" |2024 Lead |- | 22 |Kalimpong |Darjeeling |Bharat Chettri |{{Full party name with color|Bharatiya Janata Party}} |{{Full party name with color|Bharatiya Janata Party}} |- |}
==Transport== ===Roadways=== '''National Highways''' * National Highway 10 connecting Siliguri to Gangtok, lies in Kalimpong District from Kalijhora to Atal Setu Bridge, Rangpo via Teesta Bazaar, Rambi Bazar and Melli.
* National Highway-717A Connecting Bagrakote to Gangtok lies in Kalimpong district from Bagrakote to Resi Sikkim border, via Chuikhim, Nimbong, Loleygaon, Lava, Algarah, Pedong, and Kataray Bazar.<ref>Aishik Chanda, [https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2018/may/28/doklam-effect-sikkim-to-get-new-all-weather-highway-1820559.html Doklam effect: Sikkim to get new all-weather highway], The New Indian Express, 28 May 2018.</ref>
* National Highway 17 connecting Sevoke to Guwahati lies in Kalimpong district at Coronation Bridge - Mongpong area.
===Railway=== The currently functioning nearest railway station from Kalimpong district is Sivok railway station of Darjeeling district and Bagrakote Railway Station of Jalpaiguri district. The nearest major railway stations are '''Malbazar Junction, Siliguri Junction and New Jalpaiguri railway station'''.
The under construction Sevoke - Rangpo railway line, and Matelli - Naxal railway line lies in Kalimpong district, the following are the under construction railway stations under Kalimpong district:
*Melli Railway Station *Riyang Railway Station *Tista Bazaar Railway Station *Naxal railway station
===Airways=== Bagdogra Airport is the nearest airport from southern parts of Kalimpong district, and Pakyong Airport is the nearest airport from northern areas of Kalimpong district.
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==Bibliography== * {{citation |last=Rennie |first=Surgeon |title=Bhotan and the Dooar War |publisher=John Murray |year=1866 |url=https://archive.org/details/b29352150 |via=archive.org |ref={{sfnref|Rennie, Bhotan and the Dooar War|1866}}}} * {{citation |editor-last=Roy |editor-first=D. C. |others=D. H. E. Sunder |title=Survey and Settlement of the Western Duarsl in the District of Jalpaiguri 1889-1895 |date=1895 |publisher=N. L. Publishers |location=Siliguri |url=https://archive.org/details/sunder-survey-and-settlement-of-the-western-duars-in-the-district-of-jalpaiguri-1889-1895 |via=archive.org |ref={{sfnref|Roy, Survey and Settlement of the Western Duars|2013}}}} * {{cite book |first=Amiya K. |last=Samanta |title=Gorkhaland Movement: A Study in Ethnic Separatism |publisher=APH Publishing |year=2000 |isbn=978-81-7648-166-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J4GqdfG0EU8C }}
==External links== {{Commons category}}
* {{official website|https://kalimpong.gov.in/}} * [https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/9541241#map=10/27.0275/88.6380&layers=C Kalimpong district], OpenStreetMap, retrieved 2 December 2021.
{{Geographic location |Centre = Kalimpong district |North = Namchi district, Sikkim, Gangtok district, Sikkim |Northeast = Bhutan, Gangtok district, Sikkim |East = Bhutan |Southeast = Jalpaiguri district |South = Jalpaiguri district |Southwest = Darjeeling district |West = Darjeeling district |Northwest = Darjeeling district, Gyalshing district, Sikkim }} {{Kalimpong topics}} {{Kalimpong District}} {{Districts of West Bengal}} {{Kalimpong district topics}}
Category:Kalimpong district Category:Districts of West Bengal Category:2017 establishments in West Bengal