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43-429: Achyok faced active threats from Bhutan and formed an alliance with Tibet; the conflict resulted in several wars until Achyok was captured at Daling and executed. Achyok is a Lepcha name, which is more accurately transliterated as áchúk . The Tibetan spelling — Tibetan : ཨ་ལྕོག , Wylie : a lcog — can be variously transliterated as "Achuk", "Achok", "Achog", and "Ajok". Some Tibetan and Bhutanese sources also use

86-495: A certain Nyingma lama of Merak. The invasion was unsuccessful for Tibet — and for Achyok, by extension — and the troops had to be withdrawn. An armistice was called by the lamas of Tashilhunpo and other monasteries. In the post-war negotiations, both Tibet and Bhutan claimed Achyok's territory as theirs. Finally, a peace treaty was signed in 1669 which called for observation of the status-quo till 1675. Early in 1675, Achyok informed

129-683: 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. Apart from

172-497: A unique identity. Gyalsey Tenzin Rabgye Tenzin Rabgye (1638–1696) was the fourth Druk Desi (secular ruler of Bhutan ) who ruled from 1680 to 1694. He is believed to have been the first to have categorized formally the zorig chusum (the thirteen traditional arts of Bhutan ). In 1688, he renovated Tango Monastery , approximately 14 kilometres from Thimphu . In 1692, he was first formally categorized during

215-494: 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 lies in Kalimpong district from Kalijhora to Bagdogra Airport is the nearest airport from southern parts of Kalimpong district, and Pakyong Airport

258-429: Is commemorated with much fanfare. In April 2018, both Daling Fort and Damsang Fort were enlisted as heritage sites by West Bengal Heritage Commission . Daling fort 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 . The district is headquartered at Kalimpong , which grew to prominence as

301-586: Is headquartered in Kalimpong . The Kalimpong II block consists of 7 gram panchayats, namely Dalapchand, Gitdabling, Lava-Gitabeong, Lolay, Payong, Shangse, and Shantuk. This block is served by Kalimpong police station. The block is headquartered in Algarah . The Gorubathan block consists of 11 gram panchayats, namely Dalim, Gorubathan–I, Gorubathan–II, Patengodak, Todey Tangta, Kumai, Pokhreybong, Samsing, Aahaley, Nim and Rongo. This block has two police stations: Gorubathan and Jaldhaka . The block

344-651: Is headquartered in Fagu. 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. 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

387-519: Is now Kalimpong district was originally Sikkimese territory. It was controlled through two hill forts in the region, at Damsang and Daling (or Dalingkot , meaning "Daling fort"). The region itself seems to have been referred to as Dalingkot. In 1718, the Kingdom of Bhutan annexed this territory, and ruled it for the following 150 years. The area was sparsely populated by Indian Hindus, Lepchas , and migrant Bhutia , Limbu and Kirati tribes. After

430-580: Is the nearest airport from northern areas of Kalimpong district. 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. Kalonunia rice was awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) status tag from the Geographical Indications Registry under

473-614: 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 . 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. The ceded territory

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516-559: 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. The arrival of Scottish missionaries saw

559-624: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (Tamang faction) . 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

602-645: The Jelep La route to Tibet. Gyaltshan constructed several small monasteries in and around the region; he is said to have received all necessary approvals from the Chogyals. In the meanwhile, Bhutan's religio-military assault kept on the rise with chronicles recording a dispatch of forces to nearby Dagana in 1650, to subdue recalcitrant monpas — this might have affected Damsang as well. Despite these hurdles, including what he notes to be an increased presence of Bhutanese monks, Gyaltshan managed to exert significant command in

645-601: 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. Kalimpong district has an area of 1,053.60 km (406.80 sq mi), with Kalimpong I block having an area of 360.46 km (139.17 sq mi); Kalimpong II block an area of 241.26 km (93.15 sq mi); Gorubathan block an area of 442.72 km (170.94 sq mi); and Kalimpong Municipality an area of 9.16 km (3.54 sq mi). What

688-530: The Union Government of India on 2 January 2024 (valid until 11 March 2034). It is a common and widely cultivated crop in disticts of Cooch Behar , Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar along with some parts of Darjeeling & Kalimpong districts of West Bengal. State Agricultural Management & Extension Training Institute (SAMETI) from Narendrapur , proposed the GI registration of Kalonunia rice. After filing

731-734: The Bhutanese Lamas began to exert pressure on the Lepchas, aided by their regional fortress at Daling , which was probably an old Lepcha fort usurped by the Bhutanese in the war of 1650s. In 1668 Gaeboo Achyok sought assistance from the 5th Dalai Lama , and had an audience with him at Lhasa ; that, Bhutanese expansions had triggered conflicts with the Tibetans on multiple fronts, he expected a favorable response. Two months later, Tibet sent multiple columns of army to invade Bhutan in support of Achyok as well as

774-537: The Darjeeling hills. The Kamtapur People's Party and its supporters' movement for a separate Kamtapur state covering North Bengal have gained momentum. 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. This block has one police station at Kalimpong. The block

817-470: 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 Ruden Sada Lepcha of

860-577: The Lama of Chang Gangkha) born in 1638 AD, received religious instructions from a very young age in the Drukpa Lineage tradition from Zhabdrung and his teacher Damchoe Gyeltshen and was very proficient in the tradition when he ascended the throne of Desi at the age of 31. He also became the 4th Desi at the age of 43. As the 4th Temporal Ruler he creditably ruled the country in accordance with set spiritual and temporal laws. This Bhutanese biographical article

903-523: The September 1675, Dalai Lama had unwillingly conceded to Bhutan's hardball tactics but in return, he stopped all border-trade with Bhutan. The stoppage of border trade appears to have fomented local rebellions which was capitalized by Achyok; in response, Bhutan launched military operations but they proved to be little effective with Achyok capturing the frontier outpost of Daling. Rituals were held in Punakha for

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946-559: The Tibetans that the Bhutanese were secretly preparing for an all-out offensive against him before the expiry of the peace treaty. While routine border incursions were commonplace, this was an unprecedented development and the Dalai Lama ordered a preemptive attack, which was carried out, burning a frontier outpost at Tendung. Protracted diplomatic negotiations including on the status of Achyok's territory followed at Phari (var. Phag Ri ), with Bhutan claiming all rights to Achyok's territory. By

989-617: 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. 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

1032-603: The construction of schools and welfare centres for the British. Rev. W. Macfarlane in the early 1870s established the first schools in the area. 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. The young missionary (and aspiring writer and poet) Aeneas Francon Williams , aged 24, arrived in Kalimpong in 1910 to take up

1075-502: The deal. However, the massive expansion of Gelugpa Monastery came soon, in what has been since interpreted as a deterrent to Bhutanese expansionism. Contrary to popular memory, Gaeboo Achyok was not the last Lepcha "King". A successor to Achyok had emerged by 1680, called "Monpa Adzin" in Bhutanese records. He seems to have not taken any side in the Tibeto–Bhutanese conflict but played off the two sides to unknown results. He partook in

1118-489: The early 17th century, Tibetans started to immigrate and settle in the region due to a variety of causes including sectarian persecution. In 1642, the royal house of Chogyals was founded in Western Sikkim, ostensibly as an alliance between Lepchas and these immigrants. Around the same time, the Bhutanese state was getting unified under Ngawang Namgyal and would enter into a protracted conflict with an expansionist Tibet —

1161-617: The first war was fought in late 1650s, which the Tibetans lost comprehensively. The first mention of Gaeebo Achyok is found in the biography of Kunchok Gyaltshan. C. 1634, Kunchok Gyaltshan, a Tibetan monk of the Barawa sect was exiled from Bhutan along with his followers for not supporting the Namgyal regime. He went on to settle in Damsang — a strategic location on a ridge overlooking the Rhenock valley and

1204-463: The local population. In 1660, he chose to return to his home monastery — in Tibet — for a vacation. By the time he returned c. 1663, more Lamas from Bhutan had encroached on his territories and a local Lepcha chieftain, Gaeebo Achyok, had assumed control. Gyaltshan did not resist these encroachments and ventured northwards. The extent of Achyok's sovereignty at this stage remains uncertain. Soon afterwards,

1247-418: The negotiations over land rights in lower Chumbi Valley with the representatives of Tibet and Bhutan. The Bhutanese claim that he took their side in the negotiations, which concluded after over two years in 1687. By 1690, Bhutanese frontier-men, if not the state, seem to have recovered Damsang for they had erected border cairns. Achyok remains a hero to the Lepchas and his birthday — allegedly on 20 December —

1290-510: 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,

1333-468: The population respectively. 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%). Languages of Kalimpong district (2011) At the time of the 1951 census, only 24% of those now living in Kalimpong district spoke Nepali as their mother tongue. Most of

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1376-405: 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. 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. However at

1419-621: The post of assistant schoolmaster at Dr. Graham's Homes , where he later became Bursar and remained working at the school for the next fourteen years. 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. Following Indian independence in 1947, Kalimpong remained in West Bengal,

1462-606: The rule of Tenzin Rabgye (1680–1694), the 4th Druk Desi (secular ruler). In 1692, he visited the sacred cave of Taktsang Pelphug during the Tsechu season and founded a temple there devoted to Padmasambhava . The temple is known as Taktsang Lhakhang (the Temple of the Guru with Eight Names) and was completed in 1694. Gyalsey Tenzin Rabgye was son of Tshewang Tenzin and Damchoe Tenzima (daughter of

1505-480: The scorching summer heat in the plains . 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. 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

1548-492: The spelling "Amchok". Lepchas honor him with Gyebú , translating to "great". The Tibetans refer to him as a Gyalpo , meaning "king". In contrast, the Bhutanese address him as a Monpa (low-lander), regarding him as their rebel-subject. The region consisting of present-day Sikkim , Chumbi Valley and western Bhutan was largely a frontier territory since early seventeenth century. Not held by any major power, its primary inhabitants were Indian tribes, Lepchas and Bhutias. In

1591-752: The time of the 2011 census, 51.25% of the population spoke Nepali , 3.18% Hindi , 2.67% Lepcha , 1.16% Bhojpuri and 41.74% Others languages as their first language. Kalimpong district is home to the Neora Valley National Park , which has an area of 159.89 km (61.73 sq mi). 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 . National Highways The currently functioning nearest railway station from Kalimpong district

1634-600: The visiting Dalai Lama consecrated the Zang Dhok Palri Phodang monastery, which houses many of the Tibetan Buddhist scriptures. 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

1677-445: The vitalization of Bhutan's forces and by the third month of 1676, the fort was taken back; Gaeboo Achyok was captured and executed while his territories were annexed. His head and arms were reportedly paraded in public after being staked in a pole. Gyalsey Tenzin Rabgye even composed a poem of compassion, deeming Achyok to have committed great evil. With a new regent at helm of affairs in Tibet, Bhutan's capture of Achyok's territories

1720-576: Was added to the Western Duars district at first, and later transferred to the Darjeeling district of the Bengal province in 1866. 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. At that time, Kalimpong was a small hamlet, with only two or three families known to reside there. However the neighbourhood of Kalimpong

1763-411: Was not favorably received. War preparations were initiated, and months later, Tibet would mount the largest ever invasion of Bhutan with eleven columns of army aiming to besiege them from all sides. Tibet fared better than previous attempts but were yet again warded off. Finally, in 1679, another peace deal was agreed upon and the frontiers settled. Tibetan records mention nothing about this conflict or

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1806-598: 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

1849-441: 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. The temperate climate prompted the British to develop the town as an alternative hill station to Darjeeling , to escape

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