Holumba Haven

Holumba Haven facing Mount. Kanchenjunga is a 2 acre natural landscaped botanical extravaganza, water fed by a natural spring, inhabited by a flora population of over 1000 species of orchids, plants & trees, and conveniently located on the main highway, a kilometre ahead of Kalimpong town. It offers the nature loving tourists an expansive orchid nursery "Nurseryman's Haven", world wide exporter since 1972 - specialist in Indo-Burmese orchids & Himalayan & Exotic - bulbs, tubers, rhizomes, plants, & seeds.

Holumba Haven offers the tired travelers a quiet rest in quaint & affordable six individual homesstay in wooden chalet-type cottages of "Holumba Haven" complex, situated within the acres of orchid farm and forested botanical park.

Holumba Haven has 19 double rooms, all rooms with western style bathrooms with 24 hours hot & cold water fed by the private 'natural spring'. Some rooms are also fitted with attached living rooms, small reading room, kitchen & walk in closet.

Room types
Tree Top Cottages: Tree top cottages come with two rooms with attached bathrooms

Wood Cot Cottages: Wood Cot Cottage has 3 double accommodation rooms all with attached bathrooms. In addition, Room Nos. 1 & 3 have attached living rooms & walk in closet.

Bamboo Grove Cottage: Bamboo Grove Cottage has 3 rooms all with attached bathrooms. In addition, Room No. 1 has two bed rooms (a double bed room & a twin bedded room), attached small reading room & a walk in closet. Room No. 3 has a small attached reading room & a kitchenette.

Magnolia Cottage: Magnolia Cottage has 3 double accommodation rooms all with attached bathrooms & walk in closet room. The cottage also has a fully furnished living room, dining room & a large annexe kitchen. Room Nos. 2 & 3 have attached sitting room.

Pine Wood Cottage: Pine Wood Cottage has two rooms with attached bathrooms.

Spring Site Cottage: It comes with 3 double bedrooms apartment cottage with furnished living & dining room. Room No. 1 & 2 has attached bathrooms; Room No. 3 has two (2) separate wash room & a bathroom.

Arcadia: Arcadia is a cottage on adjacent property has 3 double rooms with attached bathrooms.

Nestled in the foothills of the Himalayans, Kalimpong town itself is the headquarters of the sub-division. Kalimpong compares favourably with the other hill stations of India - advantaged with relaxed surroundings atmosphere and magnificent panoramic views.

Sight Seeing

• Twice a week, there is a very interesting gathering on Wednesdays and Saturdays in the main market place haat bazar. The convergence of the sellers from rural ethnic groups in their traditional dresses and costumes makes this weekly haats charming.
• Cottage industries managed by people of Tibetan origin manufacturing noodles & incense sticks.
• Silver smiths mostly the Newars ( Sakyas ) & Kamies communities can be seen working on ethnic hand-crafted items.
• Kalimpong is the wholesale market - supplying Tibetan Buddhist religious & cultural items to the Eastern Himalayas
• The Cottage Industry manufacturing Handmade paper & it's by products is best in the region.
• Hindu temples - Kali Mandir, Thakur Bari, Mangal Dhametc
  

There are many Religious institutes, schools & spaces are dotted around Kalimpong, all of which have played an important part towards the development of Kalimpong.

Tours & short hikes

• Delho view point & picnic spot in the beautifully landscaped Garden of the luxury tourist lodge.
• Durpin view point & visit to 'Zang Dhok Palri Phodang' Ningpa kargu Buddhist Monastery, built in 1976.
• Floricultural nurseries specializing in cacti , foliage plants , Seed culture , Orchids & Plants for Cut-flowers.
• Diary's producing Cottage cheese - the Swiss method.

Adventure & eco tourism:
Slowly but steadily Adventure & eco friendly tourism is seeping into Kalimpong's programme. Trekking and rafting have already been introduced and adventure lovers from all over the world are all very excited at the prospect of a whole new area opening up for them.

• Picnic posts on the river banks of Teista , Reyang & Relly are great for a days outing or night camping sits
• Rafting is done on the Teista river.
• Trekking into the Neora Valley National park is an adventure. It is the oldest reserve forest in India & the only remaining representative sample of moist deciduous monsoon forest of West Bengal Himalayas.

Venture walks to the ethnic villages in deep rural areas like - Gumba Dara, Gitdubling - Budhabare & Suruk - Shamthar, is a delighting.

Religious instittutes & spaces
Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries of all the 3 sects of Gelupa, Ningpa & Kurgupa are dotted around Kalimpong.

• The oldest being 'Tongsa Gumba' built in the heart of town - sometime during the last quarter of the 17th Century by the Bhutanese Kargu sect. Some estimate it was completed in the year 1692.
• 'Tharpacholing' 1 /12 km from town on Thripi Hill is a Gelupa sect Monastery built in 1962.
• 'Zang Dhok Palri Phodang' 3 kms from town at Durpin Hill top ( also a view point ) is a Ningpa sect Monastery, built in 1976.
  

Holumba is conveniently located on the main highway, a kilometre ahead of Kalimpong town having its own car park, garage facility & Taxi service. It is a leisurely 10 minute level walk to town or a 2 minute drive.

• Nearest Air Port: ' Bagdogra ' 3 hours drive (via Siliguri by pass) 80 kms .
• Nearest Railway station: 'NJP'(New Jalpaiguri) - 3 hours drive (via Siliguri ) 75 kms

Distance from various cities

• From Siliguri: Tourist coming to Kalimpong via Siliguri can either hire a taxi or a bus. They are available at New Jalpaiguri (nearest rail head - 75 kms). Time taken 3 ½ hrs.
• From Bagdogra (nearest air terminal - 80 kms): Time taken 3 ½ hrs. From Siliguri town 67 kms.
• From Darjeeling: Either by jeep/bus. Time taken by jeep/car 2 hrs. Distance 55 kms.
• From Gangtok (Sikkim): Car/jeep/bus. Time taken 3 ½ hrs. Distance 84 kms.
  

Kalimpong is well connected by metallic roadway. In addition Kalimpong is also the centrally located town between Siliguri (Bagdogra Airport & NJP Railway station), Darjeeling & Gangtok with regular Bus, Jeeps & Van plying in-between.

From Kalimpong to:-

• Siliguri Metropolis - 2 ½ hours drive to Kalimpong (68 kms)
• Darjeeling Town (via Lopchu & Peshok Tea Estates ) - 2 ½ hours drive to Kalimpong ( 55 kms )
• Darjeeling Town (via Mongpong Cinchona Plantation & Rambi Bazar ) - 4 hours drive to Kalimpong ( kms )
• Gangtok Town - Capital of Sikkim ( via Rangpo check post ) - 3 hours drive to Kalimpong ( 72 kms )
• Gezing Town - District Headquarters West Sikkim ( Sikkim ) - hours drive to Kalimpong ( kms )
• Kafir / Lolay Gown - via Alagara & Lava forest Villages
• Kakarbhitta ( Nepal ) / Panitanki (India ) Border check post - 3 ½ hours drive to Kalimpong ( kms )
• Phuntsoling ( Bhutan ) / Jaigoan (India ) Border check post - 4 ½ hours drive to Kalimpong ( kms )