KURSEONG |
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Located at a lower elevation for those who dislike the severe winters of Darjeeling, Kurseong enjoys a milder and a very healthy climate throughout the year.
Guru Rabindra Nath Tagore and the great composer Atul Prasad Sen got inspiration for some of their famous works around Kurseong. Sister Nivedita, the great disciple of Swami Vivekananda made Kurseong her home. From Bagdogra / New Jalpaiguri/Siliguri, the road / railway track passes through Kurseong.
The rich flora of Kurseong town and surroundings is fascinating, and it has aptly been described as a 'Botanists' Paradise'. With the first showers in May, after a relatively dry winter and spring, the river beds glitter in the light of the sun like silver lines, while the sunlight and dappled shadows play hide and seek on the higher slopes of the valley. Sometimes on a clear day, one can see the clouds piling up in the plains and advancing slowly but relentlessly to cover the foothills. Apart from the charm and beauty that nature has bestowed upon Kurseong, the tourism infrastructure in Kurseong is fast developing. Besides that, the people of this place are joyous and funloving and welcome visitors with warmth and hospitality. |
Places to see
A picnic at Kettle Valley Picnic Spot at Dilaram Tea Estate on the Banks of the river Rinchengtong offers you a rares opportunity to play in its crystal clear waters in the backdrop of snow-clad mountains.
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KURSEONG: CONNECTIONS :
Trips to make
Quickinfo: Altitude: 1767 msl |
Situated at an altitude of 2458 Mts.(4864 ft), 51 kms from Siliguri
and 30 kms from Darjeeling, Kurseong's natural advantages make it a very attractive
tourist destination. 
It is the peace,
serenity and the healthy climate of Kurseong, that attracted many a great person to this
place.
It is believed that even Mark Twain had also spent some
time in Kurseong in 1885. Fazul Haque, the Prime Minister of undivided Bengal also stayed
here. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was interned by the colonial Government for a couple of
months in 1936 in a house at Giddhapahar near Kurseong town.
A delightful walk through the forest of
Cryptomaria japonica on the road, now called Aranya Sarani, leads to the vast open meadows
at Chimney. The curious name of the place is reminiscent of the days, when there was a
staging Bungalow here on the only road (Old Military Road) leading to Darjeeling, a long
chimney is the only remnant of this.
Nearly 4 kilometers from Kurseong Railway
Station in an elegant mansion in the deep woods of St. Mary's Hill is housed the Eastern
Forest Rangers' College (EFRC). Earlier the campus was the sight of St. Mary's seminary,
the first such seminary of the east of Suez. A statue of Jesus and Mary and the newly
built Jt. John's Church, an example of modern architectural excellence, are also located
on the same hill.
Trekking from Kurseong to surrounding
areas is most fascinating. The best one day trekking route is from Kurseong to Mirik via
Namsu and Balasun river. The Tourism Department organizes such trekking in group.