Kurseong subdivision is a subdivision of the Darjeeling district in the state of West Bengal, India. It was handed to the British Empire by the King of Sikkim in 1835.[2] In Lepcha, Kurseong translates to the land of white orchids.[3] It is one of the oldest municipalities in the undivided Indian subcontinent.[3] It is a popular hill-station well-known for its tea gardens, water falls and colonial-era charm.[2][3]
According to the 2011 census, Hindus and Buddhists form the majority of the population, with 60.43% and 25.12% of residents respectively. Christians formed the third largest community with 8.68% of residents being Christian. There is a small Muslim community, forming 4.42% of the population. 1.35% of Kurseong residents belong to other faiths (such as Animism) or are Atheists. As of the municipality's 2025 census, there are a total of 68103 residents in Kurseong. The literacy rate is higher than the national average, with 89.33% of residents being literate.
Gram Panchayats in Kurseong subdivision include rural areas, with several panchayats across the blocks. A few prominent gram panchayats in Kurseong block include Rangbull, Mahanadi and Kurseong town. The town consists of 20 wards, with the local census being taken every 4-5 years.[3]
In recent years, development has brough rapid changes in Kurseong communities. However, landslides often bring life to a halt with a serious risk to human life and property.[6] Several joint projects/ventures related to water management and waste treatment have been launched, some with international cooperation and some with funding from the centre.[7] There are several schools in the subdivision, although many go to bigger nearby cities like Darjeeling. There is one general hospital which serves the needs for Kurseong residents. There are many tourist spots such as a museum dedicated to the neo-fascist freedom fighter Subhas Chandra Bose, ancient Hindu temples, Buddhist Gompas, scenic water falls and multiple colonial-era tea gardens.
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India