Windamere Hotel one of the Colonial Hotels in Queen of Hills Darjeeling

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ABOUT OUR HOUSES Some helpful notes on your
choice of room/suite/cottage. which one to
choose? Please note in India, a double bed is
like the king-sized variety in the West. We
also offer twin beds and extra sleeping
arrangements for children. Our houses consist
of house buildings containing full cottages,
suites and rooms. Please see below for
details. Also, please note that our property is
situated on what is a holy hill later named by
the British Raj as Observatory Hill. The very
name gives the clue to what can be seen from this
vantage point. Windamere is located amongst
The Himalayas and from certain viewpoints, Mt.
Kanchenjunga can also be seen. From the hotel,
the latter range is only a 1 minute walk away,
if the range is not visible from the suite window.
ADA VILLA (originally built in 1841 and then
converted into a Boarding House in the late
1880s, for bachelor tea planters and other
British Raj professionals. All of the suites and
cottages are from the old Colonial days of the
British Raj period, which stretched from the
1800s up to Indian Independence in 1947). This
house is part of the Windamere accommodation on
Observatory Hill. All suite names relate to the
actual person who stayed there. Four of the six
Colonial Suites offer a second bedroom. COLONIAL
TEA PLANTER SUITES Knebworth situated within the
main house of Ada Villa, this beautiful suite has
a full sitting area, twin or double beds,
fireplace and Victorian bathroom. The main Ada
Villa house suites are quite large. This room was
named after Lord Cobbolds stately home in
England. His father, The Earl of Lytton, was a
former Viceroy of India, during the Raj period
and was also known as Viscount Knebworth. They
all stayed with us
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Alexandra David Neal a similar suite to
Knebworth, again this room is quite large with
a fireplace. It was named after the famous
French lady who dressed up as a monk and managed
to get into what was at that time a reclusive and
forbidden country called Tibet. Today, French
groups come to honour her. Twin or double beds.
Showing the Victorian tub, complete with claw
feet.
THE COLONIAL ROYAL SUITES Prince Peter of Greece
Denmark situated upstairs in the main house,
this is a full colonial suite (twin/double beds),
with a second single bedroom and bathroom
fireplace. Beautifully furnished, with high class
Indian rugs. The Prince actually stayed here (he
was related to the present Duke of Edinburgh).
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Begum Aga Khan Would have been the wife of a
Nawab or Nizam. Twin/double bedded, fireplace,
sitting area, separate single room and bathroom
- same standard of rugs
Chogyal of Sikkim named after our famous guest,
the King of Sikkim (he was formally introduced to
his second wife at Windamere). A gorgeous room,
with twin or double beds, large sitting area,
second single room, bathroom and fireplace
again, beautifully furnished with high class
Indian rugs
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Princess of Siam when Thailand was known as
Siam, the Princess stayed here. The present
Princess of Thailand has also stayed in this
suite, as has the present Thai Ambassador to
India. A twin or double bedded suite, with a
large sitting area, a separate single room,
fireplace, chaise longue and bathroom. Beautiful
Indian rugs from Kashmir restored antique
furniture
extra bedroom/lounge area
The Little Peppers Cottage (below) this
delightful cottage is set right on The Patio,
with a great view of the Himalayan Mountains. It
has an adjoining suite, through an attached door
(very good for families). Little Peppers has its
own sitting room and separate king-sized bed,
fireplace, dressing room and bathroom. The suite
next door also has a fireplace, sitting area and
single bed (can be double bed extra charge).
Both sides have Victorian bathrooms. This cottage
is very popular!
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Main bedroom, showing adjoining door
Adjoined suite (single or doubleas above)
Forget-me-Not is a very interesting suite! It is
semi-circular in shape and situated under our
dining room. It is also known as a Honeymoon
Suite, with its double bed, lovely sitting area,
television and bathroom. The view from the window
looks out across the Himalayan Mountains.
Couples find this room to be very cosy and
private. There is no fireplace in this suite (due
to a lack of a chimney), but we do have a very
cosy living fire in the room. Again, very
popular famous Bollywood stars have stayed
here!
Has its own small patio, bamboo chairs table
a covered gazebo all surrounded by flowers
shrubbery
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Tinkerbelles Cottage is just up Observatory
Hill (we are the only property on this hill, with
the Pundits and Lamas giving blessing at the
temple above us). Built in the late 1800s, this
lovely cottage offers top of the line
accommodation and is situated less than one
minute from the main house. It is a standalone
bungalow, with a king-sized bed 2 x bathrooms a
roaring fire and newly upholstered easy chairs
and sofas. Luxury Tibetan and Indian area rugs
grace the polished wood floors. The property
comes with a large veranda, offering two seating
areas flat screen TV (also in the bedroom and
living area) dining table and chairs and a
kitchen. It is set in its own grounds, with a
sit-out area just outside the main door and
sweeping lawns (with a play area for children).
Extra beds can be included in both the living
room and also the verandah. This accommodation
is quickly sought after by honeymoon couples and
families who require more privacy. All meals
(Breakfast, Luncheon, Afternoon Tea and Dinner)
are included in the tariff. Also, we offer butler
service (if meals are to be taken in the
bungalow) and a dedicated maid. The mountain
views are spectacular from this vantage point.
Kanchenjunga is just a minute away.
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The Annexe (oka Marys Annexe) is a lovely set
of old Colonial Suites some with dressing
conversation areas, and all with Victorian
bathrooms. This design is right out of the old
British Raj days. Guests would usually stay for
the whole summer season in those days. We offer
both twin and double bedded suites, all with coal
fires. Looks out to the wonderful mountain
vistas.
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The Tenduf-La Suites These suites are from the
old Raj days. We have Faith Hope Charity.
Faith is an old Colonial suite, with a Victorian
tub bathroom a sitting area. Can be twin or
double. It was named after Thomas Merton, a
Trappist monk, who stayed with us on his journey
to Thailand. He was a very famous writer of
spiritual inspirational books. Hope was named
after Hope Cooke, the American socialite, who
stayed with us for months. She formally met HH
The Chogyal of Sikkim (king) at Windamere. They
eventually married and Hope Cooke became the
Queen of Sikkim. Charity has finally re-opened
its connecting door and is now the bedroom part
of Hope Charity. It is double only. Needless
to say, if we have Faith Hope, it follows that
Charity has to come next. We re-named this
building The Tenduf-La Suites after our beloved
MD, Sherab Tenduf-La, passed away in 2015, in
honour of his name and work, but most of all
because of our loving devotion to him and his
family FAITH
HOPE CHARITY
This suite has 2 x bathroomsboth with Victorian
tubs. Large screen TV in sitting room
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Two Single Colonial Rooms with a small sitting
area and Victorian bathroom. Only accommodates
one person.
Only Me guests find this little suite
extremely cosy. Situated next to our Garden
Enclosed, with an extra garden style entrance
A Room Called Alice (close to the Front Office)
Other Colonial Ada Villa pictures, for your
interest.
Looking up to our back patio at Ada Villa
Christmas at Ada Villa entertainment
Ada Villa patio, with old post box
Ada Villa Sunny Bank rooftop
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Ada Villa Our Dining Room
and menu!
Zri, our in-house shop
The Windamere Bar serving drinks since 1939
Daisys Music Room
I.T.A.T.I. our Windamere Spa
New Years Eve in The Windamere Dining Room
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THE SNUGGERY The Snuggery is our other area of
Windamere Hotel. The only building that is out of
the Colonial days is our DHR Club (Darjeeling
Himalayan Railway Club). It also was right out of
the 1841 days. Everything else was built from the
late 1980s, as we needed more rooms. It looks
right over into The Chowrasta Darjeelings main
public square. All Houses are set amongst
gorgeous shrubs, trees flowers.
The DHR Club meaning Darjeeling Himalayan
Railway a two-roomed bungalow, much used by
Toy Train enthusiasts and other adventurers.
The Lowell Thomas Reading Room has a fire,
wonderful books and three very comfortable
seating areas. A lovely place to have a quiet
read! Mr. Lowell Thomas was the famous journalist
and broadcaster who found T.E. Lawrence (during
WW1) and re-named him Lawrence of Arabia. He
was a firm friend of the Windamere family. The
Heinrich Harrer room is another room for similar
enthusiasts and is often used as a meeting room.
Mr. Harrer was the real Seven Years in Tibet
personage (you may recall that Brad Pitt played
his part in the film?) He is also a friend of the
Windamere family. The DHR Club is often used for
private and personal dinner parties. The club has
two bathrooms and 2 x roaring fires. Our MD saved
the steam DHR from extinction and made it into a
Unesco World Heritage Site
The Lowell Thomas Reading Room Our world-famous
DHR Club, in The Snuggery Hill Charm Cottage we
are delighted to offer this very comfortable and
spacy accommodation. Set within The Snuggery
area of Windamere, this cottage is standalone.
It is often requested by honeymoon couples and
guests who seek a cottage environment. It
offers a double bed a living fire a change
room, complete with dressing table and wardrobe
a beautifully designed bathroom and a
delightfully comfortable conversation area (with
cosy armchairs). The accommodation offers a TV
and telephone. It is complete with double-glazed
windows and a vestibule layout. Extra beds can
be accommodated here.
Can be double or twin. Has Victorian bathroom
Living fire cosy sitting area
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Mary-la Cottage is named after our beloved Burra
Memsahib, Mrs. P.L. Tenduf-la (also known from
the days of the British Raj as Mary-la). This
cottage is a firm favourite with our guests, as
it is situated by the flower beds in The
Snuggery, and not too far from the main house
activities. It is beautifully furnished with high
grade Indian rugs and imported materials for the
bedspread curtains. The bathroom has been
thoroughly upgraded and leads out into a cosy
change area. The cottage has a living fire,
which greatly enhances the ambience of
accommodation.
Can be double or twin Private entrance Has a
change area Victorian bathroom Annandale
House a beautiful English style house, with
Preferred accommodation, both upstairs and
downstairs. All sections of the house are named
after the familys teachers, Girl Guide friends
and other close family friends. All rooms are
warmly furnished, with double and twin beds. All
have fireplaces and televisions bathrooms with
Victorian tubs
Preferred double room, with seating area
Preferred twin room with seating area
Preferredlooking in
All rooms have a Victorian tub bathroom
Annandale House (Preferred rooms) faces the square
Upstairs entrance / Annandale House (Preferred)
lawn entrance
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Observatory House superior accommodation, with
Indian colonial rooms, both on the ground level
and upstairs. They all have full conversational
sitting areas, fireplaces, televisions and
bathrooms (Victorian tubs)
Observatory House Superior Accommodation/balcony
and lawn Looking down from the balcony to the
mountain side
Superior double can take extra beds
Superior twin can take extra bed
Superior sitting area
Zri at Windamere near our Front Office this
is our famous Windamere Shop exclusive Pasmina
shawls and stoles jewellery, many more Gifts
for Everybody. All top quality items at
wholesale prices.