My Hometown Darjeeling/Kurseong

This is the place where I belong...Kurseong (The land of white orchid)...

Kurseong is a hill station (and sub-divisional town) situated in Darjeeling district of West Bengal, India. Located at an altitude of 1458 metres (4864 ft), Kurseong is just 30 km from Darjeeling. It has a pleasant climate throughout the year and the winters are not as severe as Darjeeling.
The local name of Kurseong is called "Kharsang" which in the Lepcha language means "Land of the White Orchids". Kurseong is 47 km from Siliguri and is connected to the city by road and the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. The nearest airport is at Bagdogra.The nearest major railway station is New Jalpaiguri [NJP], which is about 53 kilometers from Kurseong. The town is based mainly on schools and tourism. The best times to visit Kurseong are between March end and May and between the end of August and October.

Kurseong was ceded to the British Empire by the chogyal (monarch) of Sikkim in 1835. Later in 1880, the small hamlet became a tourist destination for the colonial authorities and was a preferred place for sanatoriums where the sick would recuperate.

Kurseong is developing as a quiet hill station. The gardens include Castleton, Makaibarie, Ambotia and Goomtee. The Cochrane is amongst the best places to stay for a hill station.

Other main attractions you can visit in Kurseong are:

Religious Attractions:

• The Ambhotia Shiva Temple. (The way towards Ambhotia Tea Estate and the temple in itself is a lifetime experience of scenic beauty.)
• Giddapahar Durga Mata Mandir.
• Jagdish Mandir on Bank Road (on way to the Eagle's Craige). This is a very old temple (almost 300 years old) of Lord Jagannath.
• St. Pauls Church on Hill Cart Road, Near St. Joshephs School.
• Buddhist Gompa in Montieviot.
• Buddhist Gompa in Dowhill Road.

Natural attractions:

• Eagle's Craig.
• Deer Park - Now known as DowHill Park, on the DowHill Road.
• The Kholas (Water Falls - Springs) like Whistle Khola [ named by the Britishers, as there is a bend and the toy train whistles when passing through it, locals call it Hussel Khola.