Algarah

Algarah अलगडा
Town
Algarah Location in West Bengal, India
Coordinates: 27°04′N 88°28′E / 27.06°N 88.47°E / 27.06; 88.47Coordinates: 27°04′N 88°28′E / 27.06°N 88.47°E / 27.06; 88.47
Country	India
State	West Bengal
District	Darjeeling
Elevation	1,780 m (5,840 ft)
Population (2001)
• Total	3,000
Languages
• Official	Nepali, Bengali, English
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	734 314
Telephone code	03552
Vehicle registration	WB-78, 79

Algarah is a small town located at a distance of 15 km east of Kalimpong in Darjeeling district of West Bengal, India. It lies at an elevation of 1,780 m (5,840 ft) and has a population of about 3,000. Most of the town's residents are ethnic Gorkhas.

History

Algarah is famous for the remains of the ancient Damsang Gadi (Damsang Fort). It is said that the Lepcha king Gyabo Achuk had built this fort in 1690 with the help of spirits who brought the big round smooth stones from the Reshi river. And the remnants of the Fort still do exist if accompanied by a guide they will give you a historical tour all through the Damsang Fort. There has been many stories passed from generation to generation about the King Gaybo Achuk it was believed that he used to possess some kind of supernatural powers, there are stories about some hidden treasures guarded by some kind of supernatural forces and also tunnels build by the Lepcha king Gaybo Achuk. The fort was initially built to fight the Drukpas of Bhutan, there are many myths about dukpas fearing to visit the place as it was believed that the King Gaybo Achuk was killed by the Dukpa King by forgery as it was said that King Gaybo Achuk used to practice some ancient magic, wherein if his body was cut into two half's it would automatically rejoin so The dukpas king came up with the plan and lured him into it, and was said that the dukpas king chopped his head from his body and applied ashes on his half cut neck so it could not be rejoined, finally resulting to the death of the Lepcha king and it is believed that any Dukpas visiting that place will be struck to death due to some supernatural forces. The Fort was later used to ward off the forces of the British East India Company. The fort fell into ruin after the 1864 Anglo-Bhutan War. Every year on 20 December, the Lepchas from all the adjoining regions (Kalimpong, Darjeeling, Sikkim) come to Damsang Fort to celebrate the birthday of king Gaybo Achuk and to attain some auspicious rituals which is followed from generations to generation by the Lepcha tribes.

Economy

The surrounding villages of this small town are Paiyung Busty, Santook Menzong, Tenderbong and Dalapchand. People of these villages depend on agriculture, floriculture, milk production, etc. for their living. Tenderbong Busty is very well known for the production of milk. Potato production is a major income source for the people of these villages.