kalimpong forever (2)

Of Flower Nurseries and Nurserymen

Which came before? The chicken or the egg? What existed earlier? The
nursery business or Kalimpong itself? Well, Kalimpong and its flower
nurseries are almost synonymous.
Unknown to many, Kalimpong harbours some of the finest and oldest
nurseries in India and despite the competition from more
technologically savvy business houses which have jumped into the horticulture
bandwagon , the flower nurseries of Kalimpong continue to, well…
blossom. And with the best nurseries are also some of the most knowledgeable
and experienced floriculturists in the country; men of international
stature in this field.
The seeds of floriculture were sown here in the pre-independance
days by the Pradhan clan, a sect of the Gurkha community. The rest of
the country at that time perhaps didn't even know the difference between
a cauliflower and a cactus, let alone the distinction between a
dendrobium and a paphiopedilum. The octogenarian Mr DS Pradhan of Universal
Nursery was the first to start exporting plants abroad, way back in the
fifties. Since then, the flower nurseries of Kalimpong have never
looked back and the business has continued to expand and well, bloom almost
as the exclusive prevail of the Pradhan community. Today, there are
over 40 flower nurseries in Kalimpong and in some way or the other the
nursery business touches the lives of one in every 5 persons in this
town. Thus with fierce pride the nurserymen claim they have succeeded with
little or no help or subsidy from the government.
To name a few, there is the famous LK Pradhan nursery which
specializes in cactii and has one of the largest and best collection of
cactii in the country or breathtakingly beautiful Shantikunj nursery. To
venture into a veritable treasure trove of knowledge in floriculture
meet the very erudite Mr. UC Pradhan of 11th mile, Kalimpong or the
suave Mr. GM Pradhan of GM Pradhan Nursery.
Going to Bangkok for your orchid collection or to Bangalore for
your garden layout? Think and think again….
”Come to Kalimpong !!” holler the nurserymen of Kalimpong, “Hey!
We’re still the best”

In the world if you please…

Did you hear that India?