Kurseong

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name=Kurseong
type=city
locator_position=left
latd = 26.88|longd=88.28
state_name=West Bengal
district=Darjeeling
altitude=1500
population_as_of = 2001 | population_total = 80377 | population_density =
area_magnitude = 9
area_total=5.05
area_telephone= 0354
postal_code= 734 203
vehicle_code_range= WB-?
footnotes = |

Kurseong ( _hi. कार्सिय़ां) 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.

Tourist Destinations

Kurseong is developing as a quiet hill station. It has all the natural goodness of mountains and nature without the hustle and dirtiness of an old hill station. The tea gardens surrounding Kurseong are the most premium (yes both these superlatives are required to describe) tea gardens in the world. Some of the teas from these gardens are sold in hundreds of Euros per kg. The gardens include Castleton, Makaibarie, Ambotia and Goomtee. The Cochrane is amongst the best places to stay for a hill station. Come for a honeymoon or to just chill out. Eagles Craig provides wonderful view of hills and the plains. You can still there to hit the cool breeze flowing it. The feeling is unforgettable.

Other main attractions you can visit in Kurseong are:Religious Attractions:1. The Ambhotia Shiva Temple. (The way towards Ambhotia Tea Estate and the temple in itself is a lifetime experience of scenic beauty.)2. Giddapahar Durga Mata Mandir.3. Jagdish Mandir on Bank Road (on way to the Eagle's Craige). This is a very old temple (almost 300 years old) of Lord Jagannath. The attraction of this temple is that the temple is still in the old style made of complete wood interiors. The two statues of Lord Jagnnath (similar to the idols of Jagnanath Puri) are really very very attractive and worth seeing. The sight of these statues in itself will tell you the power and blessing of the Almighty Lord Vishnu's incarnation Lord Jagannath (Lord Krishna). The Atka Prasad of this temple is very very popular. The rath yatra of Lord Jagannath has its own glory and attraction. The Yatra co incides with the yatra of Lord Jagannath in Puri.4. St. Pauls Church on Hill Cart Road, Near St. Joshephs School. One more Church is there in P.B.Road.5. Buddisht Gompha in Montivit.6. Buddist Gompha in Dowhill Road.

Natural Beauty attractions:1. Eagle's Crage.2. Kurseong Town Railway Station. (It is a real beauty to see the train arrive and depart from this station, as the train and the vehicle traffic is controlled by the Traffic Police).3. Dear Park - On the DowHill Road end in the Forest Area. It is recommended to trek to the top and walk back using the short cuts through the Jungle. If you opt you can take a Cab to the top and then walk back. You will enjoy the walk and remember your whole life. You can also see the beautiful cottages of the British Raj time.4. The Kholas (Water Falls - Springs) like Hussain Khola etc are also worth visiting.5. The Local Tea Gardens are also very very scenic and beautiful.

The town is away from the crowd of the seasonal tourist. It is very very beautiful and peaceful.7.

Civic Administration

Kurseong Municipality, which is over 125 years old is the main civic administration body for the town of Kurseong. It is located at 13, Dowhill Road. The current Chairman is Mr P C Agarwal while Mr Robin Kumar Pradhan was his predecessor. 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 agetation by GJMM, Mr. P.C. Agarwal has resigned from the post of Chairman (as he was associated with the political party GNLF).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.

Politics

Shanta Chhetri of GNLF won the Kurseong seat thrice in a row defeating Buddhiman(intelligent) Rai ko saag, Independent, in 2006, and Tulsi Bhattarai of CPI(M) in 2001 and 1996. In 1991, Nar Bahadur Chettri, Independent, defeated Dawa Lama of CPI(M). In 1987, Harka Bahadur Rai of CPI(M) defeated A.N.Pradhan of INC. In 1982, H.B.Ra i of CPI(M) defeated Dawa Narbula of INC. In 1977, Dawa Narbula of INC defeated Anand Pathak of CPI(M). [cite web | url = http://www.eci.gov.in/electionanalysis/AE/S25/partycomp24.htm | title = 24 Kurseong Assembly Constituency | accessdate = 2008-02-01 | last = | first = | work = Partywise comparison since 1977 | publisher = Election Commission of India]

Kurseong is part of Darjeeling (Lok Sabha constituency). [cite web | url = http://archive.eci.gov.in/se2001/background/S25/WB_ACPC.pdf | title = General election to the Legislative Assembly, 2001 – List of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies | accessdate = 2007-10-08 | last = | first = | work = West Bengal | publisher = Election Commission of India]

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 Helens Convent, Goethals Memorial School, Dowhill Girls School and Victoria Boys School.

The schools can be classified into 2 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 ie West Bengal Board of Secondary Education [WBBSE] , Calcutta. Some of the schools are also affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education [CBSE] , Delhi

Popular English Medium Schools

WBSE Sait Alphonsus School, St. Joseph School;ICSE/ISC -- [http://www.sthelenskurseong.com St Helens Convent] , [http://www.goethalsmemorialschool.com Goethals Memorial School] , Dowhill Girls School, Victoria Boys' School¹, [http://www.himalischool.org Himali Boarding School] ¹, Glen Hill Public School¹, [http://www.anthonyschoolkurseong.com St Anthony's School,] Cambridge English Boarding School, Little Flower School, Dawn Boarding School, Jnaneshwar Memorial Academy,Bellevue boarding school.Daisies Boarding School,CBSE- Godwin Modern School, [http://www.kurseongtinytots.org Tiny Tots 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.

Popular Nepali Medium Schools

WBBSE --¹,¹, Pushparani Boys High School¹, Scottish Mission Girls School, Rama Krishna Girls School

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 WB 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 tution 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 3rd and 17th 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 ICSE and they have produced many distinguished students settled in all parts of the world, who have excelled in different spheres and continue to excel.

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 [ISC] .

University Colleges

Kurseong has one college "Kurseong College" which is affiliated to the University of North Bengal. It provides undergraduate studies - Bachelor of Arts [General and Honours] , Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Commerce [General] . There is a polytechnic college "Darjeeling Polytechnic" which offers Diploma in Civil Engineering,Computer Science & Engineering, Diploma in Electrical Engineering, Diploma in Mechanical Engineering.

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, book binding etc. 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 Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling. The Toy Train takes a little over 5 hrs from New Jalpaiguri to Kurseong.

Kurseong is also well connected by roads.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census [GR|India] , 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

* [http://www.kurseong.com Kurseong Online @ KURSEONG.COM]
* [http://www.wb.nic.in/westbg/kurseong.html Information on Kurseong at West Bengal Government Website]
* [http://darjeelingnews.net/kurseong.html Information about Kurseong]
* [http://darjeelingnews.net/newsite/component/option,com_expose/Itemid,48/ Photographs of Kurseong]
* [http://darjeelingnews.net/forumdarjeeling/viewforum.php?f=5 Discussion Forum for Kurseong]
* [http://darjeelingnews.net/html_photos/kurseong_map.html Kurseong Map]
* [http://www.cyberbhela.hereweb.com/ Kurseong Discussion Board]
* [http://www.north-bengal.com/places/darjeeling/kurseong.htm Kurseong at north-bengal.com]
* [http://www.sikkiminfo.net/kurseong.htm Sikkiminfo - Kurseong]

References

* [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/28/Karsiyang.html Location]

See also