Today’s Kalimpong Sub-Division was then known as “Daamsaang”

‘Ree Syee Saom’



Mr Ashley Eden, a British India Government Agent at the Bhutanese Court, on 7 May 1864 wrote to the British India Government from Darjeeling expressing his strong views concerning the adoption of measures to secure the frontier from the Bhutanese aggression.  One of his choices was - ‘ The temporary occupation of the country, to be followed by the withdrawal of the occupying force after destroying the forts and letting the people see and feel our power to reach them at any future time.’

Today’s Kalimpong Sub-Division was then known as “Daamsaang”, a Lepcha word and name meaning ‘fortified’.  A series of Lepcha forts in ruin can still be found around the Kalimpong Sub-Division.  “Daamsaang Fort” was constructed by the Lepcha King, Pano Gaeboo Achyok.  He was assasinated by the Bhutanese at Daalim Fort and his kingdom, “Daamsaang Lyaang” was taken away by the Bhutanese.

The name, “Kalimpong” is derived from three Lepcha syllables; ‘Kaa’ in Lepcha means ours, ‘len’ means to assemble and finally ‘pung’ means a hillock or knoll.  It means a hillock where the Lepchas assemble.  This particular hillock or knoll can be seen today at Durpin Golf Course just below the Circuit House;  a flat site with three pine trees standing.  The oldest Lepcha monastery built in 1691 existed in this very hillock where the Lepchas of Bom, Daanggrao, Sungleepung, Chhyobo, Purbaong, Tasyey Ngaaso, Tasyeyding, Tanek etc.  used to assemble.  In the name of development, the Lepchas living in an around the monastery and today’s Kalimpong town were evicted and their monastery shifted to ‘Kafyer’ meaning arrow roots in Lepcha, now errorneously called ‘Kafer’, situated on the opposite side of Kalimpong town in 1903.  Kafyer was infested with leeches and Himalayan black bears;  owing to the lack of Lepcha followers of the monastery and thin population at Kafyer, it was once again shifted to the present day site of the monastery at Bom,Kalimpong next to the Lepcha Museum in 1921 by the then Lepcha leader, Aathing Sando Tshering Tamsang. This Lepcha monastery, one of the oldest, is aptly known as ‘Kaalenpung Rong Gomboo’ meaning the Kalimpong Lepcha Monastery in Lepcha.


Captain Perkins bombarded this Daamsaang Fort from ‘Ree Syee Saom’, a commanding position on the opposite and southern side of Daamsaang Fort, and destroyed it.  ‘Ree’ in Lepcha means terrace, ‘Syee’ means to see or view and ‘Saom’ means to take a rest for a little while.  It literally means a terrace like place from where one can see, view, the Daamsaang Fort, Himalayas, Ree Naok Valley in Sikkim, borders of Sikkim and Bhutan and the Tibetan Passes, Nathula and Jelepla, gateways to Tibet and take rest for a little while.  In short, a view point.  The Lepchas have given such appropriate and beautiful names of places but today this name in particular is corruptly pronounced as ‘Rishisum’.

During the British Raj, Dak Bunglows were built and well kept at the intervals of 11 to 15 miles distances fo their visiting officials and guests to rest and recuperate.  One of the most impressive Dak Bunglows in the Darjeeling Hills was built right here at Ree Syee Saom; unfortunately it was destroyed by fire during the ‘Agitation’ in 1988.  The remaining ruined stone walls collapsed on 18 September 2011 owing to the huge earthquake.

On 10 December 1864, the Daamsaang Fort was surrendred by the Bhutanese to Colonel Haughton.  It was then occupied by a detachment of fifty men of the 17th Native Infantry under the command of  Lieutenant Dawes.

Thus the ‘Daamsaang Fort’, as opined by Mr Ashley Eden in his strong recomendations to the British India Government, was the first fort to be destroyed and Daamsaang Lyaang , today’s Kalimpong Sub-Division effectively came under the rule of British India Government in December 1864.

The temporary occupation of Bhutan as envisaged by Mr. Ashley Eden in his strong recommendation to the Government of British India on 7 May 1864 did not manterialized.


 Lyangsong Tamsang