View source for Bindu, Kalimpong

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                    = Bindu
| native_name             = 
| native_name_lang        = 
| other_name              = 
| nickname                = 
| settlement_type         = Village
| image_skyline           = 
| image_alt               = 
| image_caption           = 
| pushpin_map             = India West Bengal#India
| pushpin_label_position  = right
| pushpin_map_alt         = 
| pushpin_map_caption     = Location in West Bengal, India
| coordinates             = {{coord|27|05|53|N|88|52|18|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type        = Country
| subdivision_name        = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1       = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1       = [[West Bengal]]
| subdivision_type2       = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2       = [[Kalimpong district|Kalimpong]]
| established_title       = <!-- Established -->
| established_date        = 
| founder                 = 
| named_for               = 
| government_type         = 
| governing_body          = 
| unit_pref               = Metric
| area_footnotes          = 
| area_rank               = 
| area_total_km2          = 
| elevation_footnotes     = 
| elevation_m             = 
| population_total        = 
| population_as_of        = 
| population_rank         = 
| population_density_km2  = auto
| population_demonym      = 
| population_footnotes    = 
| demographics_type1      = Languages
| demographics1_title1    = Official
| demographics1_info1     = [[Nepali language|Nepali]], [[English language|English]] 
| timezone1               = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1             = +5:30
| postal_code_type        = <!-- [[Postal Index Number|PIN]] -->
| postal_code             = 
| registration_plate      = WB 
| website                 = {{URL|kalimpongdistrict.in/}}
| iso_code                = [[ISO 3166-2:IN|IN-WB]]
| footnotes               = 
}}

'''Bindu''' is a village in the [[Gorubathan (community development block)|Gorubathan]] [[Community development blocks in India|CD block]] in the [[Kalimpong subdivision]] of the [[Kalimpong district]] in [[West Bengal]], [[India]]. Bindu lies in the Indo-Bhutan border, India's second oldest dam is situated at Bindu on [[Jaldhaka River|River Jaldhaka]]. It is located 121&nbsp;km from Kalimpong Town, 103&nbsp;km  from Siliguri City and 85&nbsp;km from Jalpaiguri city. It takes around 4hrs from Siliguri to reach Bindu. Roadway is the only option to reach Bindu. The roads are good for most part of the journey but during the last 15-20&nbsp;km it's mostly off-road. As of 2023, a road is under construction by the Border Road Organization and is due to connect Bindu and surrounding area with NH17.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}}

==Geography ==
{{OSM Location map
| width=450| height=280| zoom=10 | float=right
| coord={{coord|27|1|0|N|88|40|0|E}} |caption='''Places in the Kalimpong Sadar subdivision in Kalimpong district'''<br/>CT: census town, R: rural/ urban centre, M: municipality, F: facility, NP: national park<br/>Abbreviations used in names – TG for Tea Garden (town/village)<br/>Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly
|mark-coord1={{coord|27|7|4|N|88|35|1|E}}| label-pos1=right|label1= Algarah| numbered1=R| mark-title1= [[Algarah]] (R)|label-color1= #800000 |label-size1=11| mark-size1=12|shape1=l-circle|shape-color1= #C42222|shape-outline1=white|label-offset-x1=2
|mark-coord2={{coord|27|5|33|N|88|28|53|E}}| label-pos2=left|label2=Bhalukhop| numbered2=R| mark-title2= [[Bhalukhop]] (R)
|mark-coord3={{coord|27|8|45|N|88|38|12|E}}| label-pos3=right|label3=Bich Kagay| numbered3=R| mark-title3= [[Bich Kagay]] (R)
|mark-coord4={{coord|27|5|43|N|88|52|8|E}}| label-pos4=left|label4=Bindu| numbered4=R| mark-title4= Bindu, Kalimpong (R)| shape-color4=black| label-size4=13|label-color4=black <!-- make the subject of the article stand out with black colors -->
|mark-coord5={{coord|26|57|18|N|88|41|42|E}}| label-pos5=left|label5=Gorubathan| numbered5=R| mark-title5= [[Gorubathan]] (R)
|mark-coord6={{coord|27|7|55|N|88|34|32|E}}| label-pos6=right|label6=Icche Gaon| numbered6=R| mark-title6= [[Icche Gaon]] (R)
|mark-coord7={{coord|27|2|0|N|88|52|23|E}}| label-pos7=right|label7=Jaldhaka| numbered7=R| mark-title7= [[Jaldhaka]] (R)
|mark-coord8={{coord|27|2|40|N|88|52|26|E}}| label-pos8=right|label8=Jhalong| numbered8=R| mark-title8= [[Jhalong]] (R)
|mark-coord9={{coord|27|0|2|N|88|49|39|E}}| label-pos9=left|label9=Kumai TG| numbered9=R| mark-title9= [[Kumai Tea Garden]] (R)
|mark-coord10={{coord|27|5|10|N|88|39|38|E}}| label-pos10=left|label10=Lava| numbered10=R| mark-title10= [[Lava, West Bengal]] (R)
|mark-coord11={{coord|27|1|14|N|88|33|54|E}}| label-pos11=left|label11=Loleygaon| numbered11=R| mark-title11= [[Loleygaon]] (R)
|mark-coord12={{coord|26|56|59|N|88|42|47|E}}| label-pos12=right|label12=Lower Fagu TG| numbered12=R| mark-title12= [[Lower Fagu Tea Garden]] (R)
|mark-coord13={{coord|26|52|39|N|88|30|7|E}}| label-pos13=right|label13=Mongpong| numbered13=R| mark-title13= [[Mongpong]] (R)
|mark-coord14={{coord|26|56|35|N|88|26|30|E}}| label-pos14=right|label14= Kalijhora| numbered14=R| mark-title14= [[Kalijhora]] (R)
|mark-coord15={{coord|27|9|36|N|88|36|56|E}}| label-pos15=right|label15= Pedong| numbered15=R| mark-title15= [[Pedong]] (R)
|mark-coord16={{coord|27|7|17|N|88|34|0|E}}| label-pos16=left|label16= Ramdhura| numbered16=R| mark-title16= [[Ramdhura]] (R)
|mark-coord17={{coord|26|59|33|N|88|24|49|E}}| label-pos17=bottom|label17= Rambi Bazar| numbered17=R| mark-title17= [[Rambi Bazar]] (R)
|mark-coord18={{coord|27|6|43|N|88|39|40|E}}| label-pos18=right|label18= Rishyap| numbered18=R| mark-title18= [[Rishyap]] (R)
|mark-coord19={{coord|27|2|36|N|88|50|6|E}}| label-pos19=left|label19= Rongo| numbered19=R| mark-title19= [[Rongo, Kalimpong]] (R)
|mark-coord20={{coord|27|3|18|N|88|39|20|E}}| label-pos20=bottom|label20= Samabiyong TG| numbered20=R| mark-title20= [[Samabiyong Tea Garden]] (R)
|mark-coord21={{coord|27|8|44|N|88|34|48|E}}| label-pos21=left|label21= Sillery Gaon| numbered21=R| mark-title21= [[Sillery Gaon]] (R)
|mark-coord22={{coord|27|0|48|N|88|47|16|E}}| label-pos22=left|label22= Suntalekhola| numbered22=R| mark-title22= [[Suntalekhola]] (R)
|mark-coord23={{coord|27|3|36|N|88|25|48|E}}| label-pos23=top|label23= Teesta Bazaar| numbered23=R| mark-title23= [[Teesta Bazaar]] (R)
|mark-coord24={{coord|27|6|35|N|88|49|10|E}}| label-pos24=left|label24= Todey|labela24= Tangta| numbered24=R| mark-title24= [[Todey Tangta]] (R)
|mark-coord25={{coord|26|58|37|N|88|35|26|E}}| label-pos25=left|label25= Nimbong| numbered25=R| mark-title25= [[Nimbong]] (R)
|mark-coord26={{coord|27|6|0|N|88|41|0|E}}| label-pos26=left|label26= Kolakham| numbered26=R| mark-title26= [[Kolakham]] (R)
|mark-coord27={{coord|27|9|46|N|88|34|50|E}}| label-pos27=left|label27= Mansong| numbered27=R| mark-title27= [[Mansong]] (R)
|mark-coord28={{coord|27|3|25|N|88|28|12|E}}| label-pos28=right |label28=Kalimpong| numbered28=M| mark-title28= [[Kalimpong]] (M)| shape-color28=#800000
|mark-coord29={{coord|27|4|32|N|88|29|50|E}}| label-pos29=right|label29=Dungra| numbered29=CT| mark-title29= [[Dungra, Kalimpong]] (CT) |shape-color29= #A40000
|mark-coord30={{coord|27|5|22|N|88|29|50|E}} | label-pos30=top|label30= Dr. Graham's Homes| numbered30=F| mark-title30= [[Dr. Graham's Homes]] (F) |shape-color30=#967117
|mark-coord31={{coord|27|5|30|N|88|45|0|E}}| label-pos31=bottom|label31=Neora Valley |labela31= National Park| numbered31=NP| mark-title31= [[Neora Valley National Park]] (NP)| shape-color31=#228B22
|mark-coord32={{coord|27|1|50|N|88|26|10|E}}|label32= Teesta |labela32=River| label-color32 = #77A1CB| label-angle32=75| label-pos32=top| label-size32=10| mark-size32=0| mark-title32=none
|mark-coord33={{coord|26|58|50|N|88|52|23|E}}|label33= Jaldhaka River| label-color33 = #77A1CB| label-angle33=85| label-pos33=top| label-size33=10| mark-size33=0| mark-title33=none
|mark-coord34={{coord|26|55|42|N|88|27|21|E}}| label34= Teesta Low|labela34= Dam IV| label-color34 = #C42222 | label-angle34=0| label-pos34=right| label-size34=10| mark-size34=12| numbered34=D|mark-title34 =[[Teesta Low Dam - IV Hydropower Plant]]| shape-color34=#C42222
|mark-coord35={{coord|27|0|6|N|88|26|35|E}}| label35= Teesta Low|labela35= Dam III| label-color35 = #C42222 | label-angle35=0| label-pos35=right| label-size35=10| mark-size35=12| numbered35=D|mark-title35 =[[Teesta Low Dam - III Hydropower Plant]]| shape-color35=#C42222
|arc-coordA={{coord|27|7|0|N|88|25|0|E}}|arc-textA= SIKKIM| arc-text-colorA=hard grey| arc-angleA=-50| arc-gapA=3.5| arc-radiusA=0.4
|arc-coordB={{coord|27|10|0|N|88|54|0|E}}|arc-textB= BHUTAN| arc-text-colorB=hard grey| arc-angleB=50| arc-gapB=3.5| arc-radiusB=0.4}}

===Location===
Bindu is located at {{coord|27|05|53|N|88|52|18|E|display=inline}}.

===Area overview===
The map alongside shows the Kalimpong Sadar subdivision of Kalimpong district. Physiographically, this area forms the Kalimpong Range, with the average elevation varying from {{convert|300 to 3000|m}}. This region is characterized by abruptly rising hills and numerous small streams.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/DCHB_A/19/1901_PART_A_DCHB_DARJILING.pdf | title = District Census Handbook, Darjeeling, Series 20, Part XII A, 2011 Census of India| work= Page 13: Physiography| publisher = Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal |accessdate = 6 April 2020}}</ref> It is a predominantly rural area with 77.67% of the population living in rural areas and only 22.23% living in the urban areas. While [[Kalimpong]] is the only municipality, [[Dungra, Kalimpong|Dungra]] is the sole [[census town]] in the entire area.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://wbpspm.gov.in/publications/District%20Statistical%20Hanbook |title = District Statistical Handbook 2013 Darjeeling |work = Table 2.4b |publisher = Department of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of West Bengal |accessdate = 6 April 2020 }}{{Dead link|date=May 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The economy is agro-based and there are 6 tea gardens in the Gorubathan CD block.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://kalimpongdistrict.in/about-kalimpong/ |title = About Kalimpong District |work = Tea Gardens |publisher = District administration |accessdate = 6 April 2020}}</ref> In 2011, Kalimpong subdivision had a literacy rate of 81.85%, comparable with the highest levels of literacy in the districts of the state.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://wbpspm.gov.in/publications/District%20Statistical%20Hanbook |title = District Statistical Handbook 2013 Darjeeling |work = Table 4.5 |publisher = Department of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of West Bengal |accessdate = 6 April 2020 }}{{Dead link|date=May 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/prov_data_products_wb.html |title = Provisional Population Totals Paper 1 of 2011 : West Bengal | work = Statement-4 Ranking of Districts by Literacy Rate in 2001 and 2011 | publisher =Office of the Registrar General and & Census Commissioner, India, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India |accessdate = 2012-06-20 }}</ref> While the first degree college in the subdivision was established at [[Kalimpong]] in 1962<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.collegeadmission.in/KalimpongCollege/Kalimpong_College.shtml |title = Kalimpong College |publisher= College Admission | accessdate = 6 April 2020 }}</ref> the entire subdivision (and now the entire district), other than the head-quarters, had to wait till as late as 2015 (more than half a century) to have their first degree colleges at [[Pedong]] and [[Gorubathan]].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://pedongcollege.in/ |title = Government General Degree College at Pedong |publisher= GGDC | accessdate = 6 April 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.gorubathanggdc.co.in/ |title = Government General Degree College, Gorubathan |publisher= GGDC | accessdate = 6 April 2020 }}</ref>

<small>Note: The map alongside presents some of the notable locations in the subdivision. All places marked in the map are linked in the larger full screen map.</small>

===The place===
Bindu is the last village on the [[India]]n side bordering [[Bhutan]]. It is known for its landscape with [[Jaldhaka River]], hills and forests.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.indyatour.com/india/west_bengal/west_bengal_bindu.php|title=Bindu - The last point of West Bengal to North|website=www.indyatour.com|access-date=2019-04-08}}</ref> There is a conjunction of three streams at Bindu. The three streams are known as Bindu Khola, Dudh Pokhri and [[Jaldhaka River|Jaldhaka]] that originates from the Kupup lake, a small glacial lake in [[Sikkim]].<ref name=":0" /> The combined streams meet at Bindu to form the Jaldhaka river. There is a dam known as ''Bindu Dam'' over the Jaldhaka river which is used for controlling water supply to the Jaldhaka Hydel Project at [[Jhalong]] and acts as a bridge for crossing over to Bhutan. However, one can cross the dam only by foot. Recently steel bridge construction will be done so that light weight vehicle can pass over.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}

==People and economy==
The village population is mainly Indian Gorkha Nepalese along with some tribal Communities. People of this village are largely dependent on orange and cardamom farming. Farming is the main source of income for much of the population of this village and along with orange and Cardamom, Chayote and Dalle Khorsani or Cherry Pepper are also one of the most cultivated crops.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}} Tourism is also growing in the area.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://northbengaltourism.com/offbeat-destinations/dooars/bindu/|title=Bindu Dooars, Tourist interest places in Bindu, Offbeat destinations in Dooars. {{!}} North Bengal Tourism|website=northbengaltourism.com|access-date=2020-02-12}}</ref> Oranges and cardamom of these area are exported to other places within India and abroad.

==References==
{{reflist|3}}

{{Kalimpong District}}

[[Category:Villages in Kalimpong district]]