Kalimpong 's winter plans for tourists

Inspired by the success of the Darjeeling Carnival, residents of Kalimpong have got together to organise the `Kalimpong Winter Fest`, an eight-day cultural extravaganza that will open from Christmas eve and continue till New Year's eve. In recent years, more tourists have been visiting the hills during winter, taking advantage of the off-season rates and lesser crowd.

Kalimpong is preferred by many tourists because it is relatively less cold. The festival's chief coordinator, Mr Sundeep Jain, said would be offered special discounts in hotels, restaurants and some shops during the duration.

He noted that the Fest had been tailored along the lines of the recently concluded 10-day Darjeeling Carnival. In fact, some of the organisers of the carnival are helping organise the winter fest in Kalimpong. The events during the Kalimpong Winter Fest will be, according to Mr Jain, staged at different venues scattered over the sub-division.

This will allow visitors access to places not included in the usual itinerary, but still attractive. Events are being organised at Pedong, Relli and Teesta, besides Kalimpong town. While adventure lovers can enjoy parasailing and rock-climbing at Pedong, white river rafting and other water sports will be organised at the Teesta.

Pedong is situated close to the Damsang Fort of the Lepchas that is being promoted by local residents as a tourist attraction. Relli, which is set amid a picture perfect valley of crop-fields with a river flowing through it, will be a place for picnics offering ethic food. Mr Jain said the DGAHC, the Army and several cultural organisations have been roped in for the winter fest.

In the town, programmes will begin in the afternoon on all days of the fest. The accent of the entire event will be on culture, which is preserved in its original form in the Kalimpong sub-division more than anywhere else in the hills.

`It will be a memorable experience for the visitors who will be exposed to the best of the mountains and its people,` Mr Jain said. He added that the festival will focus on a different community every day.

Courtesy
The Statesman

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