Kurseong
Encyclopedia
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.
The toy train station is the nucleus of the town. The train tracks run through the length of the town.
Religious sites:
1. The Ambhotia Shiva Temple.
2. Giddapahar Durga Mata Mandir.
3. Jagdish Mandir on Bank Road (on way to the Eagle's Craig). This temple has very old idols (almost 300 years old) of Lord Jagannath.
4. St. Paulseak Church on Hill Cart Road, Near St. Joshephs School.
5. Buddhist Gompa in Montieviot.
6. Buddhist Gompa in Dowhill Road.
7. Juma Mosque in Hat Bazaar.
Natural sites:
1. Eagle's Craig.
2. Deer Park - Now known as DowHill Park, on the DowHill Road.
3. 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.)
Museums:
1. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Museum and N S C Bose Institute of Asiatic Studies, hosted in the house of his elder brother, Sarat Chandra Bose, are situated at the Giddhapahar Area. Netaji was interned in this house by the British Govt. in the late thirties. The house now displays photocopies of the exchange of letters between Netaji and his would be wife, Ms. Emilie, many rare photographs of his Indian National Army (INA), other memorabilia of the Indian Freedom Movement and a few personal belongings of Netaji and the Bose Family.
Other Sites:
1. Chimney: A walk or ride through the forest of Cryptomaria Japonica on the road, now called Aranya Sarani, leads to the vast open meadows at Chimney. The curious name of the place is reminiscent of the days, when there was a Bungalow here on the only road (Old Military Road) leading to Darjeeling. A long, dilapidated chimney, standing all alone, is the only remnant of the bungalow now.
Presently Kurseong is facing a political movement from Gorkha JanMukti Morcha for a separate state. Due to this agitation the Municipal Committee is suspended
Kurseong has its own Munsif Megistrate Court and has the Police Station and Town Out Post in P B Road. The S.D.O. (Sub Divisional Officer) is the head of the administration for the Town.
HOSPITAL AND HEALTH CARE IN KURSEONG : KURSEONG has a Sub Divisional Hospital and no private nursing homes or clinics unlike Kalimpong and Darjeeling.
, Dowhill Girls School and Victoria Boys School.
The schools can be classified into two distinct groups. The English Medium and the Nepali Medium. The English medium schools are mostly affiliated to the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education [ICSE], Delhi while the Nepali Medium Schools are affiliated to the State Education Board i.e. West Bengal Board of Secondary Education [WBBSE], Calcutta. Some of the schools are also affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education [CBSE], Delhi.
ICSE/ISC -- St Helens Convent, Goethals Memorial School
, Dowhill Girls School Alumni Association, Victoria Boys' School Alumni Association, Himali Boarding School1, Glenhill Public School1,Daisies Boarding School, St Anthony's School1, Cambridge English Boarding School, Dawn Boarding School,St Augustine's School, Gyaneshwar Memorial Academy, Bellevue Boarding School.
CBSE -- Godwin Modern School, Tiny Tots School was the first English Medium nursery school opened in 1970 as a private school from where the trend of schools started in Kurseong and became the Town of Schools.
1 Schools that provides secondary [year 10] as well as higher secondary education [year 12]
Teachers of Dowhill Girls and Victoria Boys' School are recruited through W.B Public Service Commission. Both boys and girls are in Dow Hill School from KG till class III. Thereafter, it is only for the girls. The other school is for boys and from class IV. Both the schools set in picturesque natural surroundings, have hostel facility. While tuition fees are not needed in Govt. schools, moderate fees' for boarding facilities are charged and the amount is less than half of what is required in other schools of the category. These two schools, established between 3 and 17 August 1879, are among the old schools in the country. Sir Ashley Eden the then Lt. Governor of Bengal, had conceived the idea of establishing the school for the children of those in the lower ranks of Government service. When the school was started, it only used to admit children of European origin, and the environment as well as the ideals of the school were that of a typical British Public School. Since then, the educational facilities were extended to others. They are not a Church School. The ideals of the schools changed with Independence, and at that time the very existence of the schools was in jeopardy. But with the timely interference by the Education Department of the Government of West Bengal, the schools quickly adjusted to the new social atmosphere. Soon was a great influx of students of Indian origin and the number of European students decreased. At present almost all are Indian, barring a few from the neighbouring countries of Nepal
and Bhutan. Students from states other than West Bengal are also admitted without any restriction thus maintaining the cosmopolitan atmosphere. Though the medium of instruction is English, students are made aware of their rich Indian heritage in the classrooms, sports field and on the stage. They are the only schools under the Government of West Bengal, which are affiliated to I.C.S.E and they have produced many distinguished students settled in all parts of the world, who have excelled in different spheres and continue to excel.
Scottish Mission Girls School ESTABLISHED IN 1909 IS CELEBRATING ITS CENTENARY IN 2010. The building and the century old furniture makes the school a Heritage monument.
On May 16, 2005 Himali Boarding School has been appointed as the first Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) centre in north-east of India. The students have the option of sitting for the globally recognised, A and AS [equivalent to year 12 school board examination] level examinations of CIE or the school's own year 12 school board examination [I.S.C].
. It provides undergraduate studies - Bachelor of Arts [General and Honours], Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Commerce [General] the institute is fast developing and is offering bachelor degrees in various fields of science, commecrce and especially with the introduction of economics honours. The institution is looked after by a General body which comprises the principal of the college, the SDO of kurseong,appointed members for the general body and the most important personnel being the General secretary of the college who is nominated or elected through a free and fair election. There has been plans that have been taken and initiated and recently the college is expanding,utilising and constructing the premises. The college also offers diploma courses on various fields the 2006 batch also completed and received the three years diploma in communicative English,and computer education has been made mandatory now.And kurseong college is one of the most beautiful college in kurseong.
There is a polytechnic college "Darjeeling Polytechnic" which offers Diploma in Civil Engineering, Computer Science & Engineering, Diploma in Electrical Engineering, Diploma in Mechanical Engineering. The polytechnic college of Kurseong was one of the first and the best engineering college in past however the instiution has been facing a lot of discripency and has not been maintained by the authority and the authorities in turn lacks support from higher levels.
From 1889 to 1971 there was even, on St Mary's hill (two km north on the way to Darjeeling), a Theological College training Jesuit seminarians to the priesthood. The St Mary's College was shifted to Delhi where, from 1972 onwards (and under the new name of Vidyajyoti College of Theology
) it is still flourishing. The old Theologate's building now hosts the "Eastern Forest Rangers College", which provides training courses to the would be Forest Rangers of India. There is a "West Bengal Forest School" near Deer Park and Victoria Boys School, Dowhill which also provides training for foresters as well. About 6 kilometers north on the way to Darjeeling at Tung, there is an "Industrial Training Institute" [ITI] which offers various vocational course in plumbing, motor mechanics, and book binding.
Also in St Mary's Hills, "Holy Cross Institute" offers higher secondary course in Commerce via the vocational stream.
to Darjeeling. The Toy Train takes a little over 5 hours from New Jalpaiguri
to Kurseong. Kurseong is also well connected by roads. There are three roads from Siliguri to kurseong. The shortest one is called Pankabari road. Taxis are available and it takes 45 minutes to reach Kurseong from Siliguri.
, Kurseong had a population of 40,067. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Kurseong has an average literacy rate of 84%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 88%, and female literacy is 80%. In Kurseong, 6% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Darjeeling district
Darjeeling District is the northernmost district of the state of West Bengal in eastern India in the foothills of the Himalayas. The district is famous for its beautiful hill stations and Darjeeling tea. Darjeeling is the district headquarters...
of West Bengal
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
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
Siliguri
Siliguri is a city in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is located in the Siliguri Corridor or Chicken's Neck - a very narrow strip of land linking mainland India to its north-eastern states. It is also the transit point for air, road and rail traffic to the neighbouring countries of Nepal,...
and is connected to the city by road and the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, nicknamed the "Toy Train", is a narrow gauge railway from New Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling in West Bengal, run by the Indian Railways....
. The nearest airport is at Bagdogra
Bagdogra
Bagdogra is a small town in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal, India, which is surrounded by tea gardens. Bagdogra is well connected by rail and air to the rest of the country. Bagdogra Airport is the only airport in North Bengal, which is now an International Airport. -References:...
.The nearest major railway station is New Jalpaiguri
New Jalpaiguri
New Jalpaiguri is a major railway station of the city of Siliguri in the Indian state of West Bengal. The station is popularly known by its acronym NJP...
[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
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
by the chogyal
Chogyal
The Chogyal were the monarchs of the former kingdoms of Sikkim and Ladakh, which were ruled by separate branches of the Namgyal family. The Chogyal, or divine ruler, was the absolute potentate of Sikkim from 1642 to 1975, when its monarchy was abrogated and its people voted to make Sikkim India's...
(monarch) of Sikkim
Sikkim
Sikkim is a landlocked Indian state nestled in the Himalayan mountains...
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.
Tourist destinations
Kurseong is developing as a quiet hill station. Tea gardens include Castleton, Makaibarie, Ambotia and Goomtee. These tea gardens also offer 'bed and breakfast' type accommodation in workers quarters, etc. Kurseong was a rest town and medical town during the British days, with a TB Sanatorium and various villas and bungalows.The toy train station is the nucleus of the town. The train tracks run through the length of the town.
Religious sites:
1. The Ambhotia Shiva Temple.
2. Giddapahar Durga Mata Mandir.
3. Jagdish Mandir on Bank Road (on way to the Eagle's Craig). This temple has very old idols (almost 300 years old) of Lord Jagannath.
4. St. Paulseak Church on Hill Cart Road, Near St. Joshephs School.
5. Buddhist Gompa in Montieviot.
6. Buddhist Gompa in Dowhill Road.
7. Juma Mosque in Hat Bazaar.
Natural sites:
1. Eagle's Craig.
2. Deer Park - Now known as DowHill Park, on the DowHill Road.
3. 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.)
Museums:
1. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Museum and N S C Bose Institute of Asiatic Studies, hosted in the house of his elder brother, Sarat Chandra Bose, are situated at the Giddhapahar Area. Netaji was interned in this house by the British Govt. in the late thirties. The house now displays photocopies of the exchange of letters between Netaji and his would be wife, Ms. Emilie, many rare photographs of his Indian National Army (INA), other memorabilia of the Indian Freedom Movement and a few personal belongings of Netaji and the Bose Family.
Other Sites:
1. Chimney: A walk or ride through the forest of Cryptomaria Japonica on the road, now called Aranya Sarani, leads to the vast open meadows at Chimney. The curious name of the place is reminiscent of the days, when there was a Bungalow here on the only road (Old Military Road) leading to Darjeeling. A long, dilapidated chimney, standing all alone, is the only remnant of the bungalow now.
Civic administration
Kurseong Municipality, which is over 125 years old (one of the oldest in the country) is the main civic administration body for the town of Kurseong. It is located at 13, Dowhill Road. The Municipality is divided into 20 wards [from 12 wards] and each has a ward commissioner who is in charge of the individual ward. After agitation by GJMM, Mr. P.C. Agarwal (the last elected Chairman of the Municipal community) has resigned from the post of Chairman (as he was associated with the political party GNLF).Presently Kurseong is facing a political movement from Gorkha JanMukti Morcha for a separate state. Due to this agitation the Municipal Committee is suspended
Kurseong has its own Munsif Megistrate Court and has the Police Station and Town Out Post in P B Road. The S.D.O. (Sub Divisional Officer) is the head of the administration for the Town.
HOSPITAL AND HEALTH CARE IN KURSEONG : KURSEONG has a Sub Divisional Hospital and no private nursing homes or clinics unlike Kalimpong and Darjeeling.
Education
Among the towns of Darjeeling District, Kurseong was nicknamed as "the school town" due to the emergence of many new schools in the town. Like the other hill stations within the District of Darjeeling, Kurseong also has its fair share of renowned schools established during the British Rule in India viz St. Alphonsus High School, St Helens Convent, Goethals Memorial SchoolGoethals Memorial School
Goethals Memorial School is a boarding school run by the Congregation of Christian Brothers in India. It is set amid forest 5 km from Kurseong town, between Siliguri and Darjeeling at an altitude of 5500 feet above sea level. The school was founded in 1907, and is named after Jesuit...
, Dowhill Girls School and Victoria Boys School.
The schools can be classified into two distinct groups. The English Medium and the Nepali Medium. The English medium schools are mostly affiliated to the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education [ICSE], Delhi while the Nepali Medium Schools are affiliated to the State Education Board i.e. West Bengal Board of Secondary Education [WBBSE], Calcutta. Some of the schools are also affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education [CBSE], Delhi.
English Medium Schools
WBSE—Saint Alphonsus School a leading school of the town., St. Joseph SchoolICSE/ISC -- St Helens Convent, Goethals Memorial School
Goethals Memorial School
Goethals Memorial School is a boarding school run by the Congregation of Christian Brothers in India. It is set amid forest 5 km from Kurseong town, between Siliguri and Darjeeling at an altitude of 5500 feet above sea level. The school was founded in 1907, and is named after Jesuit...
, Dowhill Girls School Alumni Association, Victoria Boys' School Alumni Association, Himali Boarding School1, Glenhill Public School1,Daisies Boarding School, St Anthony's School1, Cambridge English Boarding School, Dawn Boarding School,St Augustine's School, Gyaneshwar Memorial Academy, Bellevue Boarding School.
CBSE -- Godwin Modern School, Tiny Tots School was the first English Medium nursery school opened in 1970 as a private school from where the trend of schools started in Kurseong and became the Town of Schools.
Nepali Medium Schools
WBBSE --1, Pushparani Boys High School1, Scottish Mission Girls School, Rama Krishna Girls School1 Schools that provides secondary [year 10] as well as higher secondary education [year 12]
Teachers of Dowhill Girls and Victoria Boys' School are recruited through W.B Public Service Commission. Both boys and girls are in Dow Hill School from KG till class III. Thereafter, it is only for the girls. The other school is for boys and from class IV. Both the schools set in picturesque natural surroundings, have hostel facility. While tuition fees are not needed in Govt. schools, moderate fees' for boarding facilities are charged and the amount is less than half of what is required in other schools of the category. These two schools, established between 3 and 17 August 1879, are among the old schools in the country. Sir Ashley Eden the then Lt. Governor of Bengal, had conceived the idea of establishing the school for the children of those in the lower ranks of Government service. When the school was started, it only used to admit children of European origin, and the environment as well as the ideals of the school were that of a typical British Public School. Since then, the educational facilities were extended to others. They are not a Church School. The ideals of the schools changed with Independence, and at that time the very existence of the schools was in jeopardy. But with the timely interference by the Education Department of the Government of West Bengal, the schools quickly adjusted to the new social atmosphere. Soon was a great influx of students of Indian origin and the number of European students decreased. At present almost all are Indian, barring a few from the neighbouring countries of Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
and Bhutan. Students from states other than West Bengal are also admitted without any restriction thus maintaining the cosmopolitan atmosphere. Though the medium of instruction is English, students are made aware of their rich Indian heritage in the classrooms, sports field and on the stage. They are the only schools under the Government of West Bengal, which are affiliated to I.C.S.E and they have produced many distinguished students settled in all parts of the world, who have excelled in different spheres and continue to excel.
Scottish Mission Girls School ESTABLISHED IN 1909 IS CELEBRATING ITS CENTENARY IN 2010. The building and the century old furniture makes the school a Heritage monument.
On May 16, 2005 Himali Boarding School has been appointed as the first Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) centre in north-east of India. The students have the option of sitting for the globally recognised, A and AS [equivalent to year 12 school board examination] level examinations of CIE or the school's own year 12 school board examination [I.S.C].
University colleges
Kurseong has one college "Kurseong College" which is affiliated to the University of North BengalUniversity of North Bengal
University of North Bengal is a state university situated near Siliguri in Darjeeling district in the Indian state of West Bengal. The university was established in 1962 with a goal to disseminate knowledge to fulfill growing socio-economic and technical manpower needs in the six North Bengal...
. It provides undergraduate studies - Bachelor of Arts [General and Honours], Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Commerce [General] the institute is fast developing and is offering bachelor degrees in various fields of science, commecrce and especially with the introduction of economics honours. The institution is looked after by a General body which comprises the principal of the college, the SDO of kurseong,appointed members for the general body and the most important personnel being the General secretary of the college who is nominated or elected through a free and fair election. There has been plans that have been taken and initiated and recently the college is expanding,utilising and constructing the premises. The college also offers diploma courses on various fields the 2006 batch also completed and received the three years diploma in communicative English,and computer education has been made mandatory now.And kurseong college is one of the most beautiful college in kurseong.
There is a polytechnic college "Darjeeling Polytechnic" which offers Diploma in Civil Engineering, Computer Science & Engineering, Diploma in Electrical Engineering, Diploma in Mechanical Engineering. The polytechnic college of Kurseong was one of the first and the best engineering college in past however the instiution has been facing a lot of discripency and has not been maintained by the authority and the authorities in turn lacks support from higher levels.
From 1889 to 1971 there was even, on St Mary's hill (two km north on the way to Darjeeling), a Theological College training Jesuit seminarians to the priesthood. The St Mary's College was shifted to Delhi where, from 1972 onwards (and under the new name of Vidyajyoti College of Theology
Vidyajyoti College of Theology
Vidyajyoti College of Theology , Delhi, India, is a institute and faculty of theology run by the Jesuits. It was started in 1879 in Asansol, West Bengal, as a modest 'Saint Joseph’s Seminary'. From 1889 to 1971 it developed in the mountains of Kurseong, near Darjeeling, where it was renamed Saint...
) it is still flourishing. The old Theologate's building now hosts the "Eastern Forest Rangers College", which provides training courses to the would be Forest Rangers of India. There is a "West Bengal Forest School" near Deer Park and Victoria Boys School, Dowhill which also provides training for foresters as well. About 6 kilometers north on the way to Darjeeling at Tung, there is an "Industrial Training Institute" [ITI] which offers various vocational course in plumbing, motor mechanics, and book binding.
Also in St Mary's Hills, "Holy Cross Institute" offers higher secondary course in Commerce via the vocational stream.
Transport
Bagdogra Airport, Siliguri, is 60 km away. Taxis/buses are available at the airport for transit to Kurseong. 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 JalpaiguriNew Jalpaiguri
New Jalpaiguri is a major railway station of the city of Siliguri in the Indian state of West Bengal. The station is popularly known by its acronym NJP...
to Darjeeling. The Toy Train takes a little over 5 hours from New Jalpaiguri
New Jalpaiguri
New Jalpaiguri is a major railway station of the city of Siliguri in the Indian state of West Bengal. The station is popularly known by its acronym NJP...
to Kurseong. Kurseong is also well connected by roads. There are three roads from Siliguri to kurseong. The shortest one is called Pankabari road. Taxis are available and it takes 45 minutes to reach Kurseong from Siliguri.
Demographics
India censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, Kurseong had a population of 40,067. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Kurseong has an average literacy rate of 84%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 88%, and female literacy is 80%. In Kurseong, 6% of the population is under 6 years of age.
External links
- Kurseong Social Network
- Kurseong Online @ KURSEONG.COM
- Information on Kurseong at West Bengal Government Website
- Information about Kurseong
- Photographs of Kurseong
- Discussion Forum for Kurseong
- Kurseong Map
- Kurseong Discussion Board
- Kurseong at north-bengal.com
- Sikkiminfo - Kurseong
- Information about Darjeeling