INTRODUCTION:

Kalimpong is a district in the Indian State of West Bengal. Tourism plays a significant role to Kalimpong’s economy. During the summer and spring seasons most of the tourists are seen and many of the town’s residents are employed directly or indirectly with tourism. Earlier, the town was an important trade post between India and Tibet, which boosted its economy after the reopening of the Nathu La Pass in April 2006. Ginger is a major crop grown in Kalimpong. Kalimpong and Sikkim together contribute fifteen percent of the ginger produced in India. Vasts of cultivated lands are found in this district but only ten percent is used for tea production. Kalimpong is famous for its flower export industry, especially for its wide varieties of indigenous orchids and gladioli. Education sector is also a significant contributor to the districts economy. The schools, colleges and other educational institutions provide education to the locals which has spread so far that it attracts various numbers of students from the plains along with the neighboring state of Sikkim and countries such as Bangladesh, Bhutan, Thailand and Nepal. One of the major sources of economy also comes from sale of various traditional arts and crafts in this district. Other sources of income are agriculture, sericulture, seismology and fisheries which provides wide employment oppurtunities to many of its residents. Kalimpong is also well known for its cheese, noodles and lollipops. A wide range of traditional handicrafts, wood carvings, embroidered items, bags and items are exported to other foreign countries with tapestry work, copper ware, scrolls, Tibetan jewellery and artifacts.

 

HERE ARE SOME BUSINESS IDEAS-KALIMPONG

 

1. Agriculture Farming

More than eighty percent peoples of this district are dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. The major crops produced are paddy, millet, maize, pulses, oilseed and potato. The different cash crops are ginger, cardamom, betel nut and oranges. With all these crops and cash crops, agriculture farming is possible in this district.

 

2. Woodcrafts Shop

Forest resources are available in Kalimpong. The timber found in the forests are used in making furnitures, doors, windows, desks, dressing tables, dining tables, coffee tables, beds, floorings, coat racks, wooden brackets, drum sticks, wooden toys, speaker cabinets, brush handles, book cases, wooden jewelleries, kitchen cabinets, fencing, ladders, etc. With all these wooden items woodcrafts shop is a good business idea.

 

3. Flower Shop

Kalimpong is famous for its flower export industry. Flowers are used in making tea, in various crafted items, for medicinal use, for dyes, air purifiers, beauty products, etc. Mainly orchids and gladiola are found in this district. The varieties of orchids are cattleya orchids, brassavola orchids, cymbidium orchids, epidendrum orchids, catasetum orchids, etc. Setting up flower shop is another business idea.

 

4. Fish Farming

Many rivers are flowing through this district such as relli river, teesta river, jaldhaka river, lachen river, river rangeet, rangpo chu, etc. From these rivers various types of fishes are available. Fish is one of the best non-veg foods which are admired and appreciated by almost everyone. Besides its delicious taste, fish is rich in nutrients like high quality protein, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D and B2, calcium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, etc., which are extremely essential for the human body. Fish farming is possible in this district.

 

5. Horticulture Farming

Horticulture is the science and art of cultivating fruits, vegetables, flowers and ornamental plants. It mainly deals with gardening of plants. Some of the crops such as apples, pears, pumpkins, melons, apricots, figs, cherries, grapes and berries are needed maximum care. Manual harvesting is done by hand or by using harvest clippers. Horticulture deals with cultivation only, except animal farming and is a good business idea.

 

6. Fast Food Restaurants

Kalimpong is also unique in making some of its local cuisines. A popular snack in this district is momo, steamed dumplings made of pork, beef or vegetable cooked in a wrapping of flour and served with watery soup. Wai Wai is a packaged Nepalese noodles which are eaten either dry or in soup form. A kind of hard cheese made from yak’s milk, known as churpee, is sometimes chewed. A form of noodle called thukpa is also popular in kalimpong. Fast food restaurant is a good business idea.

 

7. Television Channel  Service Provider

Most of the television channels have access to Kalimpong. Cable channels provide services to many homes in the town and its outskirts while DTH connections have become mandatory throughout the district. Other than Indian channels, some of the Nepalese channels such as Kalimpong television KTV, Dainandini DD, Haal Khabar, Jan Sarokar, Himalayan Peoples channel, and Kalimpong times are broadcast in Kalimpong.  Channel service provider is a better business idea.

 

8. Internet Café

Internet café provides the use of computers with high bandwidth internet access on the payment of a fee. It is a place to use computers to access the internet, play games, create documents, chat with friends with voice call and video call, webmail, instant messaging, and other computer related tasks. Setting up internet cafes is a sound business idea.

 

9. Dairy Farming   

Dairy Farming is a process of long production of milk. Milk can be extracted from different animals like cows, goats, buffaloes, etc. The various products which are made from milk are butter, ghee, cheese, ice creams, milk cakes, pastries, condensed milk, dried milk, skim milk, butter milk, sweets, etc. With all these milk producing animals, dairy farming is possible in this district.

 

10. Poultry Farming

It is a process of animal husbandry by raising domesticated birds such as chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese to produce meat and eggs for food. In this district, mainly chickens are raised for the production of meat and eggs. Meat and eggs are used in preparation of various delicious food items and dishes which are of high demand in the local market. Poultry farming is another business idea.

 

11. Xerox Center

Xerox machine is used for making duplicate copies of important documents, also known as photocopy. It also facilitates scanning, faxing, printing and colour Xerox. In emergency situations, scanning is the best option in sending important documents to someone through email and whatsapp. Establishing Xerox centre is a good business idea.

 

12. Vehicle Repairing Service Station

Everybody needs vehicles for transport. There are varieties of vehicles like bicycles, bikes, cars, buses, minivans, etc. But if repairing and servicing is not provided to these vehicles, they can start malfunctioning and can suddenly stopped working. These repairing stations will give different colour to vehicles, repair damaged parts, replacing old parts with new ones, provide warranty repairs, etc. Vehicle service station will be a good business idea.

 

13. Tourist Agency

Tourism plays a significant role to Kalimpong’s economy. There are many tourist attractions which are also visited by foreign tourists. Some of these tourist attractions are deolo hill, dr. graham’s home, pine view nursery, durpin dara hill, kalimpong science centre, Delo Park, hanuman temple, mangal dham, 7^th mile view point, thongsha gumpha, crookety house, etc. Establishing tourist agency is a sound business idea.

 

14. Online Medical Courier Service

In this covid pandemic situation, lots of peoples are dying regularly and the hospitals, nursing homes and other medical facilities are failing to provide necessary equipments and medicines to the corona patients in times of need. If essential medical tools are supplied to these medical facilities through online medical courier service, then many lives might be saved and is a good business idea.

 

15. Online Training Courses

Kalimpong is famous for its education. Besides local students, students from other countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan, Thailand and Nepal also come here for the profound education system. Other than educational facilities, online training courses can also be provided to these students like web designing, graphics designing, financial accounting, virtual assistant, social media marketing, online reselling, freelance writing, etc. Online training can be a good business idea.