Kalimpong, NE India & West Bengal
A former trade route for tea and spices between Tibet, Nepal and Bhutan, and belonging to the then kingdom of Sikkim, Kalimpong now lies between the states of West Bengal and Sikkim. Covered in forests of mountain oak, and carpets of flowers, in the spring it is famed for its cultivation of roses, dahlias and orchids. Influenced by its former trade link routes, Kalimpong is home to plenty Buddhist monasteries housing ancient Tibetan manuscripts and ornate wall paintings, Durpin Gompa being the most impressive.
by Applenet 