Kurseong is a scenic hill station (and sub-divisional town) situated in Darjeeling District of West Bengal, India. At an altitude of 1458 meters (4864 ft), Kurseong has a pleasant climate throughout the year and the winters are not as harsh as Darjeelings. The local name of Kurseong is "Kharsang" which in the Lepcha language means "Land of White Orchids". The Chogyal (Monarch) of Sikkim ceded Kurseong to the British Empire in 1835. Later in 1880, this small hamlet became a tourist destination for the colonial authorities and was a preferred place for sanatoriums where the sick would recuperate. Many reputed schools dot the Kurseong landscape.