Religious Shrines in Kalimpong

If you are up for a peaceful vacation where you are surrounded by nature, kalimpong is one of the best places to be. The weather is mostly cool and is a relaxing town located under the himalayas.

Kalimpong is a destination that doesn’t fail to impress.

Kalimpong is also rich in culture and heritage. From beautifully architectured monasteries to amazing churches. Kalimpong has the best religious sites to visit.

Few of them are listed below.

Tharpa Choling Monastery : The monastery is located at the hilltop of Kalimpong. It was founded in 1912 by Domo Geshe Rinpoche,a geluk tradition reincarnate of Tibetan buddhism. He founded the monastery during his visit to India for pilgrimage and in the search of medicinal plants from Nepal, Bhutan and india.

The Monastery is under the direct supervision of the religious department and the Dalai Lama Administration. The relationship between Tharpa Choling Monastery and the people of Kalimpong is warm, cordial and harmonious. It is also known as the center of Buddhism.

Thongsa Gompa: It is the oldest bhutanese monastery built in the year 1692. It is a very peaceful and sacred monastery. It was built after the Bhutanese captured Kalimpong hills from the Chogyals of Sikkim. The monastery is set up in a blissful location, surrounded by greenery and frequently flocked by the group of chirping birds.

It is a perfect place to meditate and find peace. It is believed that this gompa was constructed under the guidance of the king of Bhutan.

Zong Dog Palri Fo Brang Monastery: the monastery is located at the top of durpin dara. It was built in the mid seventies and consecrated by the Dalai Lama belongs to the yellow hut sect of Lamas. This Gompa is finely decorated by impressive wall paintings with a rare three dimensional Mandala upstairs. This monastery is a fine sample of Buddhist architecture and an important site for Buddhists. It houses close to 110 published texts on Buddhism. One can also witness the amazing view of the Himalayas from there.

MacFarlane Memorial Church: This is the oldest church in kalimpong. It has the Scottish structure and is beautiful inside out. It is named after the first Scottish missionary that came to this region. The church was built in the Gothic Revival style of architecture, which was very common in Scotland at that time.The church is still frequented by the local Catholic population and is often used for cultural and social events. It is also worth noting that this is one of the few churches in India where service is offered in 10 languages including Sanskrit, Bodo, Tibetan and Urdu, apart from English, Bengali and Hindi.

Mangal Dham Temple: Mangal Dham is a Hindu temple located in Kalimpong of West Bengal. Situated close to Thongsa Gompa, it is one of the most significant religious centers in West Bengal and among the must visit places in Kalimpong.Mangal Dham was built in 1993 by Shri Krishna Pranami in the divine memory of late guru Shri Mangaldasji. In 1940, Guruji Shri Mangal Dasji Maharaj visited Kalimpong. The visit had a profound impact on him. He decided to realize his divine dreams of serving the poor and needy in Kalimpong. He built many orphanages, schools and temples.. The temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna. The whole theme of the dham is Knowledge, Devotion and Service. The ambience in the dham is serene and visitors can walk across to various parts of the dham. The area outside the temple has a beautiful garden with colorful fragrant flowers.

Hanuman Temple: A 25ft high statue of Hanuman, a hindu God is the special attraction of this temple. The statue is colored in saffron color. The temple is located near deolo hills, a famous tourist spot in Kalimpong. There is a small durga mandir located near the entrance of the temple. Dedicated to Lord Hanuman, the Hanuman Temple was inaugurated in 2004 by Karma Wangchuk. One needs to climb a flight of stairs to reach the temple. The temple offers a majestic view of the Kanchenjunga peak.

25 ft tall statue of Lord Hanuman.

Also read: Religious Shrines in Sikkim

Religious Shrines in Darjeeling