The first Cottage was built in 1935 by Late Mr. T. Pempahishey originators of Motor Transport Kalimpong (1927). The Ven. Bikchu Sangharakshita lived in it in 1950's and named it ‘The Hermitage’ (Magnolia) and refers to it as his Garden of Eden in his book "Facing Mount Kanchenjunga" – Published & distributed by : Wind Horse Books.  

Ka HOLUMBA HABITATS :-  

Holumba Haven – A garden home stay hospitality consisting of six wooden chalets in 2 acres of natural and botanical Eden having water supply from our private natural spring.
  1. Holumba Haven offers the nature and environment friendly tourists a quiet rest and leisure in quaint & affordable stay in wooden cottages.
  2 Holumba Haven is located inside the premises of an expansive orchid nursery - “Nurseryman’s Haven” (Estd. 1972) as growers & world wide exporters of Himalayan and Indo Burmese orchids species, Himalayan flora & exotic floricultures.
  3. A fourth generation family in Kalimpong, Holumba Haven also offers general or subject wise tourist services – organizing transport anywhere, trekking, group tours(flora & fauna) cultural entertainment, river rafting, cycling, etc. in and around Kalimpong, Darjeeling, Sikkim & Bhutan. The writer was practically the originator of Summit Tours, the pioneer of tour operators in Darjeeling, Sikkim & Bhutan.

Nurseryman’s Haven - a 100 % export oriented unit established in 1972 -specialized as Growers & Exporters of Indo Burmese Orchid Species; Himalayan & Exotic Foliage & Flowering Bulbs , Plants  & Seeds .

Kalimpong Flower Bulbs & Plants – Grower & Whole sellers of Agro –hot & floricultural products. Procuring & marketing agents of Exotic & Himalayan species & hybrid plants for gardening & commercial re-sale of Indoor, Foliage & Flowering Plants; Ferns, Palms, Bulbs, Cacti, Succulents, Bromeliads, Orchids & Seeds.

Exotic Tours - The Article - Orchid Eaters of "Shangri-la" by Karma T. Pempahishey in the American Orchid Society Bulletin (August 1974) and subsequent article – A Preview of the 9th World Orchid Conference – And Beyond by Richard Peterson (editor - American Orchid Society Bulletin) of his visit to Kalimpong as personnel guest of Karma T. Pempahishey and family gives a vivid description of orchid viewing in its habitat in and around Kalimpong.

Exotic tours has had the pleasure of promoting guided orchid tour into Kalimpong and adjoining regions for the first time when the members of the 9th World Orchid Conference led by Leona Bee (the Orchid Queen - specializing in Orchid Adventures from the USA) – visited us.

Ever since we have hosted many personalized guided tours to orchid enthusiast from around the world.