Darjeeling Hotel

[qualtrough]

Planning a trip to Darjeeling early September, and would appreciate it if anyone has any hotel recommendations they care to share. Looking for a mid-range place up to USD 60, not too far out from restaurants and the like.

[lonewolf99]

Its a been a long time......many many years in fact since I was in Darj as the old Brits called it but the only place to stay used to be the Windemere......the later Sir Peter Ustinov stayed there when he did a travelogue based on Mark Twains travels around the globe.

I have no idea if the old colonial place still has the charm or even still exists - but sitting sipping Darjeeling Tea ( not my favourite - Assam is better) - looking at the Hymalayas through the thin clear mountain air at 7,500 feet is hard to beat.....The Everest museum is worth a visit but the Zoo was poor. The main square of the town ( Chow Rastra - means crossroadss ) is directly below the hotel gardens and there is a Buddhist temple at the top of the hill behind the hotel - that had monkeys running about - and thousands of prayer flags fluttering in the breeze.

If you do go there - hopefully they still have the little bungalows you can stay in and they will light a fire for you in the hearth on cold nights....

the trip up to Darj is a hairy experience on the winding mountain road it is fraught with danger ... many a vehicle has plunged over the edge....I am not sure if the old "Toy Train" narrow guage railway still runs - but it used to be a "thing to do before you died" trip..... it used to run from Siliguri -

The nearest airport used to be Bagdograh ( I got a 15 day pass on arrival in my passport to go up to Darj) if you travel by rail it used to be a paperwork nightmare getting a pass in Calcutta that took 4 days of faffing about. So better to go by air.

sorry if my info is out of date.....

[taxout]

I'd certainly concur that if you're heading to Darjeeling, then splurging on the Windamere will provide a lifetime of memories.

Like the last poster, my stay there was many years ago, but I've never forgotten it.

http://www.windamerehotel.com/

[harrry]

Many many years ago I spent a month in Darjeeling....almost as nice as Thailand. It will be to long ago to advise you about hotels but if it is still there the Youth Hostel is worth spending a night as it was the only place to see Everest as dawn broke.

A friend of mine broke his leg falling off a ladder to get a better view and has lived a lifetime telling people he broke it climbing to get a view of Everest.

[Carib]

Try this, and like this site there are several more;

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g304557-Darjeeling_West_Bengal-Hotels.html

[Ricardo]

if it is still there the Youth Hostel is worth spending a night as it was the only place to see Everest as dawn broke.

There is indeed, dorm-beds from 80 rupees/night, although it may not be in the same location, after all these years, yhaindia.org for more information.

[goatfarmer]

Dekeling Hotel will meet your needs. (Windemere is too expensive.)

Pay the extra for a room with mountain view. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g304557-d408872-Reviews-Dekeling_Hotel-Darjeeling_West_Bengal.html

Do the Sandakphu trek and spend a night in Rimbik.

Avoid the toy train unless you're prepared for many hours of sitting in cramped conditions.

[harrry]

if it is still there the Youth Hostel is worth spending a night as it was the only place to see Everest as dawn broke.

There is indeed, dorm-beds from 80 rupees/night, although it may not be in the same location, after all these years, yhaindia.org for more information.

The one I meant is next to a Seik Temple. \

Ahhh the memories flood back. Hard to think the little girl in the cheap local resturaunt who played with my daughter and who voraciously read all of my daughter's books from her correspondence course is now in her 40s.....time flies...would be nice if we could make it stand still.

Just one tip..if you go on the Toy train be sure to take earplugs. It whistles several times every time it crosses the road which it does about 200 times in the trip up.

[notime]

Many many years ago I spent a month in Darjeeling....almost as nice as Thailand. It will be to long ago to advise you about hotels but if it is still there the Youth Hostel is worth spending a night as it was the only place to see Everest as dawn broke.

A friend of mine broke his leg falling off a ladder to get a better view and has lived a lifetime telling people he broke it climbing to get a view of Everest.

Your memory may be playing up a bit. I've also traveled to Darjeeling years ago (1978) on the narrow-gauge railway, stayed in the youth hostel and was blessed by the incredible early morning view of the snow covered mountain hoovering somewhere in the sky way above all the other mountains. But from what I remember it wasn't Everest. It's Kanchenjunga massive, the queen of the mountains and although 2nd or 3rd to Everest in height actually much more spectacular from the Southern side. You can believe me on that as I was lucky to see Everest from the base camp 10 years later.

[qualtrough]

Thanks to all you took the time to reply. I would love to stay at the Windamere, but it is a bit pricey. Thinking of Sinclairs possibly instead, or the Planter's Club? I will be sure to bring ear plugs when we ride the train, I have heard the horn is deafening. I have looked at Tripadvisors, but was/am still hoping for any personal recommendations.

[harrry]

Many many years ago I spent a month in Darjeeling....almost as nice as Thailand. It will be to long ago to advise you about hotels but if it is still there the Youth Hostel is worth spending a night as it was the only place to see Everest as dawn broke.

A friend of mine broke his leg falling off a ladder to get a better view and has lived a lifetime telling people he broke it climbing to get a view of Everest.

Your memory may be playing up a bit. I've also traveled to Darjeeling years ago (1978) on the narrow-gauge railway, stayed in the youth hostel and was blessed by the incredible early morning view of the snow covered mountain hoovering somewhere in the sky way above all the other mountains. But from what I remember it wasn't Everest. It's Kanchenjunga massive, the queen of the mountains and although 2nd or 3rd to Everest in height actually much more spectacular from the Southern side. You can believe me on that as I was lucky to see Everest from the base camp 10 years later.

Most of the hotels see katchanjunga....very large and seems close. THe youth hostel a little out of town hadd the only view of Everest in the distance very distinct but far. As I said a sight worth seeing.

http://www.viconyteas.com/directory/tea-encyclopedia/darjeeling-tea.html has a photo of both similar to that seen from the top floor of the hostel even though it was not out as far as Tiger Hill.

[notime]

Yes, you are right Harry. It looks like I overlooked the Everest seen lower than Kanchenjunga and kind of a part of the massive. Maybe we have to go there again to confirm that view heh? :-)