Tibetan Refugee Self Help Center, Darjeeling

Tibetan refugees in Darjeeling set up a massive complex of Tibetan Refugee Self Help Center on 2nd October 1959. This complex was built when Tibetan refugees escaped from Tibet and followed Dalai Lama. The aim of constructing this help center is to make all refugees self-independent to help them to rehabilitate in a foreign country, which they want to do happily. Four acres of land has been adopted from the state government to build the center. It is located on a hilltop and can be easily spotted by car from Lebong Cart Road. To construct the help center, refugees started raising funds through charity shows, donations, subscriptions, exhibitions, etc. Later on, they began accepting funds from national and international organizations too.

Management

Tibetan Refugee Self Help Center has the best management team to take of all things. They have established a committee with ten members. This committee has the responsibility of developing and managing the center. The name of the first president is Ms. Gaylo Thondup. Committee has several prominent members, and Tenzing Norgay is one of them. He is the bravest and enthusiastic person and climbed Everest in May 1953 with Edmund Hillary.

How does Tibetan refugees earn a life?

To help self-rehabilitation of the underprivileged Tibetan Community, a small center was initiated with only four workers. Now, the center has grown and able to accommodate more than 650 Tibetan refugees. Also, there is a training center for new workers to learn skills of creating handmade crafted items like carved wooden crafts, woollen shawls, coats, leather jackets, etc. This is also an earning source for the center. These handmade items have massive demand in the world, also in India. They export these items in more than 30 countries around the globe. Visitors can buy these items from outlets located on the premises.

You can see several numerous handicraft sections around the periphery once you entered the center from the main gate. These are single-story sections of red-colored tin shacks in which the first section is Leatherworks and Tailoring and next are knitting and painting sections, wood carving sections, Carpentry sections, Apron sections, etc.

Admire these Handcrafts

There is a retail outlet on one side of the complex where you can see handcrafted items for sale. Things like carpets, gloves, ladies' jackets, hand-painted scenery are high on demand. Also, wooden aprons, types of curios, bags, cars, pouches, small models of Buddha, hand-painted pictures, and cloth pieces are available in the outlet.

These all handmade things are unique and best in quality. So, you won’t get any chances of bargaining here. There is a small counter at every outlet which is handled by Tibetan women. All transactions are followed at this counter only.

Must Not Miss: Photographic & Computer Training Center

There is one Photographic Exhibition Hall opposite to the outlet where you can see several photographs of Tibetan refugees, pictures of aid distribution like blankets, new images of Tailoring & Leather section, children receiving donated clothes, etc.
 
There is one particular photograph of the former prime minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi, with his wife Soniya Gandhi when they visited Tibetan Refugee Self Help Center. Also, on the specific wall, you can see pictures of Royal Greek Visitors, the Queen, and the Princess of 1966. There are some pictures of delicious food prepared by Tibetan people on their holy days.

Along with Photographic center, there is a dark grey coloured building where kids are taking care of when their parents went for work. To be pro at technology, there is one computer training center too. All individuals who want to learn computers and new technology attend regular classes.

Health Facilities

The central unit is known as the factory complex and named ‘Hill Side’ center. To handle several operations, they have one head office at Gandhi Road, Darjeeling town.  The center also cares about refuges health. For that, they have 20 bedded hospitals, which is a part of their welfare program. Here they provide many facilities like C-ray, pathologic clinic, dental clinic, etc.

All these units are developed to make Tibetan refugees stand on their own feet. This Tibetan Refugee Self Help Center plays a vital role in rehabilitation of Tibetan refugees in the foreign country.

Location: Havelock Villa, 119/B, Gandhi Road, Darjeeling, West Bengal, 734101

Visiting Days	Monday to Saturday (Closed on Sunday)
Visiting Time	9 am to 4:30 pm
Entry Fees	No Entry fee

How to reach Tibetan Refugee Self Help Center?

1. Bagdogra is the nearest airport that connects all major cities in India to Darjeeling by air. This airport has regular flights to major cities across India like Kolkata, Chennai, Guwahati, Banglore, Delhi, etc. Few international flights are also available for limited countries like Bangkok in Thailand, and Thimpu in Bhutan via air. Tibetan Refugee Self Help Center is almost 49 miles away from the airport. You can cover this distance by booking a cab.

From	To	Mode of Transport	Distance (Miles)	Duration	Fare (INR)
Bagdogra	Tibetan Refugee Self Help Center, Darjeeling	Taxi	48.5	1h 16m	3,200 - 3,900
		Drive	48.5	1h 16m	550 - 850
		Town car	48.5	1h 16m	2,200 - 3,100

2. New Jalpaiguri Railway Station, is the nearest railway station having connectivity to all major cities in country. From there you can reach Tibetan Refugee Self Help Center using following options.

From	To	Mode of Transport	Duration (Hours)	Distance (Miles)	Fare (INR)	Total no. of trains per week
New Jalpaiguri	Darjeeling	Train	7.5	-	90 - 100	1 (Wednesday)
	Tibetan Refugee Self Help Center	Taxi	1.15	51.6	3,300 - 4,000	-
		Drive	1.15	51.6	600 - 900

Thousands of tourists visit this center every year. To be one of them, book your tickets right away and fly for India.

More Spots to Visit in Darjeeling:

Ghum Monastery    Himalayan Mountaineering Institute    Tiger Hill