Observatory Hill, Darjeeling - 734101, West Bengal, India
Home to Scottish tea planters during the 19th century, the Windamere Hotel is one of the best heritage hotels in Darjeeling. Synonymous with colonial heritage, luxury and class, this property is a much-favored choice of discerning travelers, be it for leisure or business. The hotel has well-furnished, well-equipped elegant villas, rooms and suites as accommodation. The views that one can enjoy are wonderful. The dining room is spacious. The chefs prepare lip-smacking dishes of Indian and Continental cuisines. The hotel also has a wellness center, a well-stocked library, and a boutique.
The property was built in the 19th century as boarding house for bachelor English and Scottish tea planters. Before the starting of the World War II, it was converted into a hotel. With its exquisite charm and wonderful ambiance, the hotel is the preferred stay option for discerning travelers from across the globe. The hotel also won an award for outstanding hotels in India during the first National Awards, in the category of Heritage Hotel of India.
This wing is a reminder of the royal lifestyle of the past. It has the following options:
The cottages and suites at Ada Villa are from the colonial times. This part is on the Observatory Hill. 4 out of the 6 colonial suites come with a second bedroom. The names of the suites are after the people who stayed there.
Placed within the main house in the Ada Villa, the beautiful Knebworth features twin/double bed, a furnished living area, bathroom and fireplace. The spacious suite is named after the palatial home of Lord Cobbold in England. The father of Lord Cobbold, The Earl of Lytton, was a former Viceroy of India, during the British Raj. He was also popular as Viscount Knebworth.
Quite capacious like the previous option, Alexandra David Neal also comes with a fireplace and twin/double bed option. This suite is named after the popular French lady who dressed up as a monk. She managed to get an entry into the isolated and prohibited Tibet.
Placed upstairs inside the main house, Prince Peter of Greece & Denmark is a spacious colonial suite with an option of twin/double beds, another single bedroom, bathroom and a fireplace. This room is well- furnished and feature high-quality Indian rugs. The Prince has actually stayed here once.
Begum Aga Khan Suite comes with twin / double bedded, separate sitting area, fireplace, a separate single room and plush bathroom. The rugs here are of good quality too.
Chogyal of Sikkim is an amazing suite that features a huge sitting area, bathroom, twin bed or double beds option, another single bathroom and a fireplace. The furniture is comfortable and the Indian rugs are of high quality. This suite is named after the King of Sikkim.
This suite is gorgeous and comes with twin/double beds option, fireplace, bathroom, a huge sitting area, chaise longue, and a separate single room. At the time when Thailand was known as Siam, the Princess of Thailand had stayed here. The rugs of this room were brought here from Kashmir.
Little Peppers is a gorgeous cottage on The Terrace, offering wonderful views of the surroundings Himalayan peaks. The suite has a capacious sitting room, a king-sized bed, fireplace, dressing room and a bathroom. It is ideal for families as it comes with an adjoining suite. This suites comes with a fireplace, sitting area and twin beds. The linking door, however, is soundproof. If the guests are unrelated, there is going to be no disturbance.
Lying on the Observatory Hill, Tinkerbelle’s Cottage was erected in the late 1880’s. Less than a minute away from the main house, this is an individual bungalow, which comes with a king-sized bed; two bathrooms, and a fire place. The upholstery on the sofas and chairs is new and plush. Luxury Tibetan and Indian rugs adorn the wooden flooring. Two seating areas, a huge verandah, a kitchen, a dining table with chair and a flat screen TV in the living and in bedroom are a part of this gorgeous cottage. The cottage is perfect for families as well as honeymooning couples. Guests of this cottage enjoy all meals, a dedicated maid and butler service. The views are breathtaking.
The Annexe is a set of old Colonial Suites that has dressing areas and lavish Victorian bathrooms. At the end of the corridor, there is a suite called ‘Governor of Bengal’. Annexe has a kitchen, a small dining space and two bedrooms. This suite is ideal for a family.
Located under the hotel’s dining room, Forget-me-Not is a semi-circular shaped suite, which is also known as the honeymoon Suite. It has a bathroom, a double bed, a seating area and television. From the window, guests can admire stunning Himalayan views.
These 2 single colonial rooms are quite huge and come with a small sitting area and plush bathroom.
The Snuggery is another wing of the hotel. It looks like the popular Chowrasta of Darjeeling. It has beautiful shrubberies and flowering gardens:
Hill Charm is a standalone cottage quite popular amid honeymooning couples and guests looking for some privacy. The cottage comes with a wardrobe and a dressing table, a changing room, a double bed, a stylish living area, telephone, television and a plush bathroom. The views are stunning.
Named after Burra Memsahib, Mrs. P.L. Tenduf-la or Mary-la, Mary-la Cottage is a beautiful accommodation that is placed close to the flower beds of this wing of the hotel. It is not too far away from the main house area. The cottage has beautiful furniture, curtains and bedspreads in imported material and high-quality Indian rugs. The equally plush attached bathroom has changing area too.
Annandale House is like a splendid English style house that has rooms upstairs as well as downstairs. All the sections of this portion are named after the teachers of the family, close friends and Girl Guide friends. There warm and wonderful rooms have option of double and twin beds. There are televisions, fireplaces and bathrooms with Victorian tubs.
Observatory House offers plush and Indian colonial accommodation on the ground and first floor. There are fireplaces, seating area, attached bathrooms and televisions.
At the huge dining area, the guests can savor finger-licking dishes of Continental and Indian fares. Some of the delicacies kept alive from the British Raj include authentically prepared porridge for breakfast, cheese & onion pie, and Roly Poly Pudding. Special cup of Darjeeling tea is another specialty. You can also go for freshly ground coffee. Dinners are made special with candle-lit tables and soft music in the background. The Windamere Bar has been there since 1939. It is an ideal place for some interesting conversations, along with a glass of favorite drink.
Darjeeling is perched on the Shiwalik Hills in the state of West Bengal. A picturesque hill station, Darjeeling is famous all over the world for its, colonial setting, aromatic tea and tea estates.
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