Perched at 1,250 meters on a ridge between the Teesta and Relli rivers, Kalimpong is West Bengal's best-kept secret. While its famous neighbor Darjeeling draws the crowds, this tranquil hill town offers something more precious: authenticity. Here, Buddhist prayer flags flutter over colonial-era cottages, Tibetan monasteries share space with Gothic churches, and the mighty Kanchenjunga watches over terraced hillsides bursting with orchids and cacti.