The place initially provided emergency relief to Tibetan refugees who had come through a hazardous trek over the Himalayas into India. The Hill-side had a special significance for Tibetans, because the Thirteenth Dalai Lama had spent his exile in India from 1910 to 1912 following the Chinese invasion of Tibet at that time. "It was within this view that a ten member committee was formed in Darjeeling to organise a rehabilitation centre to be known at the TIBETAN REFUGEE SELF HELP CENTRE.
The location initially offered emergency aid to Tibetan refugees who had trekked perilously over the Himalayas into India. The hillside held special importance for Tibetans, as the Thirteenth Dalai Lama had lived in exile in India from 1910 to 1912 after the Chinese invasion of Tibet at that time. "It was within this perspective that a ten-member committee was established in Darjeeling to set up a rehabilitation center named the TIBETAN REFUGEE SELF HELP CENTRE."