Windamere Hotel
An air of aristocracy surrounds this colonial hotel, converted from the boarding house accommodation of English and Scottish tea planters to one of the most popular hotels in Darjeeling. The hotel sits above the historic Observatory Hill where Darjeeling began, overlooking the Chowrasta promenade. From the hill you can spot Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal and Sikkim. Some of the 41 rooms are housed in the Ada Villa part of the property (the old Boarding House), which gives you a taste of how elegant life was back in old Darjeeling. From a prince of Greece & Denmark to the Princess of Siam, the former kingdom of Thailand; Royal Suites are named after the illustrious guests who stayed there.
You can relax and rejuvenate at the fantastic Itati spa and enjoy evening entertainment by the Windamere's own company of artistes, who perform The Songs and Dances of the Hills under the stars, as well as traditional ghazals in the hotel's intimate Bearpark Parlour. Windamere also offers a viewing of its MD's documentary, 'Other Times, Other Places – the Himalayas', which is more of a social for half an hour where you can meet other guests and chat over a glass of wine or beer. Traditional tea and coffee are complemented by Victorian feasts in the lovely dining room. Between 4-6 pm, you can also indulge in authentic afternoon tea treats - expect scones, cake, finger sandwiches and other goodies.