Durpin Dara Hill

Durpin Dara hill, Kalimpong

Offering the panoramic view of the town of Kalimpong, the snow-clad Himalayan ranges of West Sikkim, the Teesta river and its valleys, Durpin Dara Hill also has a golf course and the Zang Dhok Palri Monastery. There is also a famous botanical garden there. As you enter the monastery, the first thing you will notice are the two large cylinders on two sides (each about some 10-ft high). You can turn the cylinders by a crank, and a lever is so arranged that a bell will ring at every turn. As common with most Buddhist monasteries, outside on the wall you will see a row of prayer wheels. Durpin monastery was constructed in 1972 by Hon. Dudjum Rimponche.

There are rare Buddhist manuscripts on Tibetology inside called "The Kangyur" of 108 volumes. These were presented by Dalai Lama when he visited Kalimpong in 1956. He brought them from Tibet. Some idols inside were also brought from Tibet. Dalali Lama revisited Kalimpong on 29th May 1976 when he consecrated at Durpin Monastery.