Lepcha Museum, Kalimpong - Timings, Entry Fee, History & Artifacts
#13 of 19 Places to Visit in Kalimpong
Distance (From Kalimpong Bus Station): 1 Kms
Trip Duration (Including Travel): 30 Mins
Place Location: On H.L. Dixit Road
Transportation Options: Cab / Walk/Trek
Travel Tips: None
At a distance of 1 km from Kalimpong Bus Station, Lepcha Museum is a museum located at Big Dhara area of Kalimpong in West Bengal. It is the only Lepcha museum in India and also one of the prime attractions in Kalimpong.
Founded by Shri Sonam Lepcha, Lepcha Museum is one of the best places to learn about the culture of Lepcha community. Historically, Lepcha community is indigenous to this region and presently, they reside mainly in Kalimpong, Darjeeling, Sikkim, Nepal and Bhutan. The museum consists of a personal collection of Sonam Lepcha that he has found over his life time. The museum is an effort to preserve and illustrate their culture and tradition.
The museum displays various articles of worship, original Lepcha musical instruments, handicraft items and manuscripts. For those who have interest in studying heritage and old collections, Lepcha Museum is one of the essential places to visit in Kalimpong. If visitors are lucky, one can meet the 90 year old Sonam Lepcha who runs the Lepcha School and the museum alone. He is a wonderful musician himself and plays various wind instruments. The Lepcha-style gompa just below the museum is worth a look.
Timings: 10.30 AM - 4.30 PM from Monday to Friday, 10 AM - 12 PM on Saturdays, Closed on Sundays