Deolo Hill Walk, Kalimpong

The Deolo Hill walk is a short uphill route from Kalimpong town in the Darjeeling Himalaya of West Bengal to Deolo Hill, one of the highest points around Kalimpong at about 1,700 m. Kalimpong is about 50 km from Darjeeling and 70 km from Siliguri, and the walk starts in the town centre area, with the hill reached on foot over about 3 km. Walkers can also take a taxi or shared jeep from town for part or all of the climb. No permit is required for the walk, and the road is public. The route takes roughly one to one and a half hours one way and gains a few hundred metres, which places it in the easy class and makes it suitable for first-time hikers. The surface is mostly paved lane and road with some steep sections, so footwear with grip is useful. Exposure is low, and shade comes from roadside trees and houses, although the upper section is more open. Landmarks include the residential lanes above Kalimpong, the viewpoint area on Deolo Hill and the hilltop where visitors can see the Teesta Valley below and, on clear mornings, Kangchenjunga on the horizon. The summit area has a few small shops and eateries where visitors can buy tea and snacks, but there is no refuge hut, so a water bottle is sensible. Mornings offer the best chance of clear views, because cloud commonly builds over the valley by midday. The viewpoint is the natural turn-around point, and the descent back to town takes about an hour. Evening walks are possible but a torch is advised once the light fades, as street lighting is limited on some stretches. The walk can be combined with other Kalimpong sights such as its monasteries and flower nurseries.