About Kurseong

Kurseong is a tiny bustling city located in Darjeeling District of West Bengal State. Dotted with stunning landscapes and beautiful tea estates, this tiny little city is just as beautiful as immensely famous Darjeeling hills station. It is therefore not surprising to know that Kurseong has been attracting thousands of tourists since the age old days of British era. Today in fact number of visiting tourists has reached to millions, which again is not surprising at all. However, there is much more to this tiny little city than its tantalizing landscapes. This place has a rich history and not to mention the fact that today it is witnessing many changes to adopt itself to today’s modern times. To help you know more about all these below we’ve brought comprehensive and all round information about this city.

History of Kurseong

History suggests that Kurseong was once part of indigenous Sikkim kingdom, who actually lost control over this city after invasion by Nepalese army in year 1780, but only to regain complete control in 1817 through prolonged Gurkha War. After end of second Gurkha War Sikkim kingdom’s control over Kurseong city did not last for too long, as they had to succumb to rising power of British Empire. This, however, proved to be blessing in disguise for this city. This is because Kurseong hills station really came on its own during British Raj. First they were drawn by beauty of Darjeeling hills station and then of course it was only matter of time that they would be enchanted by beauty of neighboring Kurseong hills station. After being drawn by Kurseong’s intrinsic beauty Britishers then played a very important role in improving infrastructure of this small city. They first accorded municipality civic body to this city, which was actually one of the first civic bodies in West Bengal region. This was followed by construction of Kurseong Railway station, which directly connected Kurseong to Darjeeling city. All these well intended efforts invariably helped in attracting hordes of tourists to this place, including many great Bengali personalities like Rabindranath Tagore and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.

Administration in Kurseong

Kurseong Municipality is entrusted with the responsibility of looking after day to day civic administration of this city. Kurseong Municipality is one of the oldest civic bodies of West Bengal state. However, apart from this distinction, Kurseong Municipality is similar to all other civic bodies in all other aspects. Starting with responsibilities, then supplying drinking water to all households, sewerage maintenance, maintenance of street light, urban planning are some of the key responsibilities. Coming to administration aspect, then Kurseong Municipality has currently 20 wards. Municipal councilors for these wards are elected through elections that are held once in every 5 years.

Kurseong Municipality
13 , Dowhill Road
Kurseong Sub- Division
District - Darjeeling
West Bengal, India.
PIN - 734203
Phone No. – 0354-2344286
Fax No. – 0345-2344286
https://kurseongmunicipality.org/home.php

Tourist Attractions in Kurseong

Just like its famous Darjeeling hills station, even Karseong city is home to some of the most beautiful and famous hills stations of our country. Therefore without visiting these famous tea estates, your visit to Karseong hills station will be termed as incomplete. There are actually three famous tea estates in this hills station. These are Ambootia Tea Estate, Makaibari Tea Estate and Castleton Tea Estate. Other famous attractions in and around the city are mentioned below in brief.


Eagle Craig: Offers a very lovely view of the entire city as well as surrounding mountains and hills.

Dow Hill: Kurseong has many hills but this is by far the most famous one. Mainly because it has many tourist attractions. These tourist attractions are namely Dow Hill Park, Dow Hill Forest Museum, Dow Hill Forest Rest House, Dow Hill Water Reservoir and quite a few other worth visiting tourist attractions.

Giddapahar View Point: This view point is located some 15 kms away from the city. Just like Eagle Craig, it also offers stunning view of the city and surrounding mountains and hills.

Apart from scenic landscapes, Kurseong has many hills but this is by far the most famous one. Mainly because it has many tourist attractions. Th is also home to many beautiful temples as well. Among these the must visit temples are as follows: Ambootia Shiva Temple, Giddha Pahar Sita Ram Mandir,
Giddahpahar Durga Mata Mandir and Jagdish Mandir. Among these four temples Jagdish Mandir is especially more worth visiting. It is one of the oldest temples in the town and therefore attracts maximum numbers of devotees and tourists than other local temples. Read More.........................

Economy of Kurseong

The economy of Kurseong is heavily reliant on tourism sectors and huge tea estates that are spread across this city. Maximum numbers of locals here are employed in these two industries. These two industries are in fact so self sufficient and robust that this city hardly have to be reliant on other sectors like industries and agriculture to generate employment and revenue. This hills station city, however, has a pretty sizeable service sector. Decent numbers of hospitals, banks, educational institutions and hordes of self employed professionals makeup the local service sector. Overall, over the decades Kurseong’s economic demography has hardly witnessed any major change. Burgeoning tourism sector and local tea estates were just as critical in the past as they are today.

Healthcare Services in Kurseong

Being a small hills station town there is absolute dearth of hospitals here. The government owned SD or Sub divisional hospital is the only well equipped hospital in the town. Therefore every year significant numbers of Kurseong’s patients travel to neighboring cities like Darjeeling, New Jalpaiguri and Siliguri for medical treatment. And these neighboring cities do have pretty decent numbers of well equipped hospitals. Despite absence of hospitals in Kurseong, the general health of its local citizen is very good. This is mainly because Kurseong Municipality does conduct monthly health checkups and also provides many important healthcare services like vaccination etc, invariably ensuring that general health of the city remains in good shape.

Karseong Sub-division Hospital
Kurseong,
Darjeeling - 734203.
Phone No. - 0354 2254218

Banks in Kurseong

Handful of reputed banks do operate in Karseong hills station. Although these handful of reputed banks are obviously not sufficient enough, but this apparent shortage is somewhat covered by decent numbers of banks operating in neighboring Darjeeling city. That said, local citizens would obviously be far happier if their home city has more far more reputed banks to offer.

State Bank of India
Address: Kurseong, Darjeeling – 734203
Phone no: +(91)-354-2344297

ICICI Bank Ltd
Address: Hill Cart Road, Near Ranjeet Restaurant, Kurseong, Darjeeling – 734203
Phone no: +(91)-8101667777

Central Bank Of India
Address: Hill Cart Road, Kurseong, Darjeeling – 734203
Phone no: +(91)-354-2344495

Safety and Security in Kurseong

Tourists and locals alike always feel safe and secure in this tiny little hills station. The obvious reason for this is stable law and order, which actually has been characteristic of this small town since time immemorial. However, a local police station does operate in the heart of this town, whose duty is obviously to maintain law and order as it has always been – stable and peaceful. And to its credit it has been able to achieve this goal quite effectively.

Darjeeling District Police
EPABX NOS. = 0354 - 2252147 / 2254203
Control Room = 0354 - 2254247
Kurseong police station: 0354 – 2330222
Control Room, Kurseong: 0354 – 2344794
SDPO Kurseong: 0354 - 2344794
https://policewb.gov.in/wbp/telephone/dist/djg.html

Transportation in Kurseong

Owing to its burgeoning tourism sector this tourist city has successfully managed to built a very reliable local transportation system. There are more than decent numbers of auto rickshaws, omini vans and private cabs plying all across the city. Invariably ensuring that tourists and local commuters can travel to any part of the city with absolute ease and any problem whatsoever. Coming to connectivity, then via road Kurseong is very well connected to New Jalpaiguri, Siliguri and of course Darjeeling city. Then there is Kurseong Railway station where only the famous and historical toy train halts. This toy train directly connects Kurseong city only to Darjeeling and New Jalpaiguri cities. However, like most toy trains even these toy trains runs very slowly and besides its services are only available during tourist season. Therefore when it comes to traveling to rest of West Bengal and India Kurseong people have to travel all the way to New Jalpaiguri Railway station and Siliguri Railway Station. Both are important junctions.

Kurseong Railway Station
Address: Pankhabari Rd, Kurseong, West Bengal 734203

Kurseong at a glance

Country : India
State : West Bengal
District : Darjeeling
Area
• Total : 5.05 km2 (1.95 sq mi)
Elevation : 1,500 m (4,900 ft)
Population (2001)
• Total 80,377
• Density 16,000/km2 (41,000/sq mi)
Languages
• Regional Nepali, English
PIN : 734 203
Telephone code : 0354
Lok Sabha constituency : Darjeeling
Vidhan Sabha constituency : Kurseong
Total area: Area - 7.5 sq. km