Must Visit Attractions in Kurseong

Kurseong, a small town in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal maybe small in terms of the geographical area but has a lot more to offer. This small town is filled with the vibrance of various religions, heritage and culture coming together as one.  Although it is situated at an altitude of about 4860 feet is enjoys a relatively lower elevation and thus is prone to a very healthy climate. It is a place of great serenity and calm away from the chaos and hubbub of the cities.

FEW HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT FACTS ABOUT KURSEONG:
Kurseong is also known to have attracted many great personalities to it. Rabindranath Tagore is said to have composed some of his songs and poems in kurseong. Similarly the disciple of Swami Vivekananda, sister Nivedita found herself building a home in Kurseong. Even Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose spent a couple of months in Gidapahar while he was interned by the colonial government during his time.

THE ATTRACTIONS:
Kurseong is known as the land of the white orchids. The white orchid signifies elegance and beauty, both of which can be found in the beautiful hill station. Here are a few places that you must visit in kurseong:

• The Tea Gardens:
There are two big tea gardens or estates in Kurseong that you can visit, the Makaibari tea estate or the Ambootia tea garden. These tea estates, as a part of the tourism program also provide tours of the entire estate. You can participate in a full conducted tour with the help of a guide and meet with all the workers of the tea estate and also witness the working and making of the tea. In addition to that there are tea tasting sessions that you can participate in during the tours.

• Eagle’s Craig:
The local people call it EC and you can often find people from all ages visiting the place. It is a town favourite where youngsters as well as the elderly indulge in its beauty. In the morning you can see people walking their dogs as the sun rises and as the day progresses the place is filled with the laughter and giggles of people filling in the space of the beautiful viewpoint. As you enter eagle’s Craig you will come upon an observatory which provides a phenomenal view of the rest of the hill as well as what lies beyond it. The steel caged observatory is definitely not for the faint hearted as it stands tall overlooking the entire hill. You can witness beautiful sunsets as well that paint the skies in hues of yellow, orange, red and pink in the evening.

• The Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose museum:
The house in which Netaji Subhas Chandra was placed under house arrest for up to seven months by the British Government was converted into a four room museum which was designed by the Indian Museum in Kolkata. The house is filled with historic documents and pictures and sacred memories of not only Subhas Chandra Bose but also Sarat Chandra Bose. Inside the museum you can see various important documents related to historical events and his interactions with other personalities like Jawaharlal Nehru as well as Rabindranath Tagore. Along with those the museum also depicts the involvement and participation of the hills in the Indian National Movement.

• Deer Park of the Downhill Eco Park:
This park situated at the top of the hill is one of the most famous attractions of kurseong. However, the park is not just visited by tourists but also the locals of the area. The park consists of various animals found in the area and has a small park in which the children can indulge in. The schools are often seen taking their students to the park for a picnic. Just outside the park there is also a small shop where you can indulge in the local foods like ‘momo’s’ and ‘alu-dum’. You can also take a trek to the park taking in the breathtaking scenic beauty of the place as you trudge toward the path filled with trees towards the park.

• Margaret’s Deck Tea Lounge:
This royal hanging restaurant will allow you to indulge in its wide variety of fine tea. It is a hanging restaurant with a beautiful veranda from which you can witness the beautiful view of the entire hill. Along with the scenic beauty and the splendid tea the restaurant also offers snacks to go along with it. The place is a must visit if you are a tea maniac or interested in good tea. You can also buy the variety of tea that is served there by the counter on the right side as soon as you enter the place.

These attractions are just the tip of the iceberg as they say.  The sights, sounds and the local delicacies will bewitch you and you will fall in love with the splendor of Kurseong. Each season will allow you to experience its different allures while travelling to the hill station from spring to summer to rainy to winter. Every season will be accompanied by its own charm and will heighten your travel experience to the best.

Namira khan

student of journalism and mass communication in Amity university, Kolkata and is an avid reader and writer, with a  passion  for art and photography.