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Kurseong
Beautiful white orchids grew in abundance at this place, giving it its name 'Karsan Rup' - place of white flowers - now Kurseong. Approximately halfway between the plains and Darjeeliiig, Kurseong has its own standing as a hill station.
Kurseong is at an elevation of 4864 ft. and has a congenial atmosphere which endears it to many visitors wary of the severe winters of Darjeeling. As the cheerful people bustle about, you cannot help but notice the homely ambience of the place. Kurseong offers a wide range of accommodation facilities including the Kurseong Tourist Centre and the Snow View Youth Hostel.
Views of both the mountains and the plains may be seen to advantage from Kuresong. A kilometre's ascent takes one to the top of Eagle's Crag where a well-developed tourist complex is situtated. From the garden there, the impassive face of Kangchengzonga can be seen along with other peaks. You also see the striking spectacle of the hills suddenly flattening out to form the extensive plains of North Bengal.
A view from Constantia corroborates your experience. All around are the ubiquitous tea bushes. Nearby is Castleton Tea Estate, whose tea holds the record price of Rs. 2700 per kg. A climb to Dowhill is a must. The forest Museum there, the Deer Park and the water reservoir, all set amid moss-laden conifers is worth a visit.
Sightseeing
Makaibari Tea Estate :
4 km, where visitors can see tea manufacture and buy the same.
Eagle's Craig : 1 km from the railway station, is an ideal spot for a view of the hills and plains. The sunset are an unforgettable experience.
Deer Park : 4 km from the town on Dow Hill has an amusement park. Forest Museum is a part of the Forest School with exhibits.
Giddhapahar Mandir : 2 km , on Hill Cart Road, is a Shiva temple. A fair is held on Shivratri.
Ambotia Shiv Mandir : 5 km, another Shiva shrine on the Ambotia Tea Estate. Ambotia landside drops 1,000 metres and is 1.5 km wide.
Travel Information
By Air : Bagdogra Airport, Siliguri, is 60 km away. Taxis/buses are available at the airport for transit to Kurseong.
By Rail : Siliguri, 50 km and New Jalpaiguri, 57 km are the nearest main stations. It is an important station on the toy train route from New Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling. The Toy Train takes a little over 5 hrs from New Jalpaiguri to Kurseong.
By Road :Taxis and buses are available from Siliguri in plenty, taking around 3 hrs for the journey. Mirik is also 3 hrs away, and Darjeeling is 2 hrs away. Taxi/buses for Darjeeling, Siliguri/Bagdogra are available throughout the day.
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