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It is "One of the three Jewels of the Raj", said a celebrated travel writer of The Windamere Hotel. Established in the 19th century as a cozy boarding house for bachelor English and Scottish tea planters, it was converted into a hotel just before the outbreak of the Second World War. Well known to sophisticated travellers the world over, the Windamere is famous for its unique ambience and charm, and has been the subject of many leading stories in the international media.
Accomodation:
The hotel has two wings:
The Windamere and Little Windamere
The Windamere wing:
appeals to guests who like tradition, who would be comfortable in a bygone age, and who want a reminder of how people got on with their lives in old Darjeeling. There are no TVs and telephones in the main house called Ada Villa; and only telephones, by request, in the Annexe. Guests, who choose this wing, prefer to avoid the distractions of modern life for the duration of their stay.
The Little Windamere wing:
appeals to people who need to remain in touch with modern life, even while they indulge their love of the past and old things. The residential houses in this wing, Annandale House, and Observatory House, are provided with TVs and telephones. The bathrooms have fittings which were once the property of the Loreto Convent Girls School. These were donated to Windamere Hotel when the Convent closed down its boarding school after 130 memorable years. The Convent is the oldest European school in Darjeeling District, having been founded in 1846. It counts among its many famous former pupils, Vivien Leigh, the actress of "Gone With The Wind" fame.
Dining:
The dining options at the Windamere hotel include a restaurant and a bar providing an ideal combination of palatable food and wine assortments. The gourmets can enjoy their stay at the hotel in every way.
Conference and Banquet Facilities:
The Windamere Conference Centre is an attractive location for meeting of up to 40 people. The Centre offers board room and conference facilities, in elegant surroundings. The Business Centre is well equipped with modem projection equipment, and computers for E-mail and Internet access. Windamere hotel has its own company of artistes, who perform "The Songs & Dances of the Hills", in an outdoor setting; and "Gazals", in the intimate setting of the hotel's Bearpark Parlour. "Christmas Week at Windamere" from December 18th to January 1st" every year, is celebrated at the hotel, as a tradition since 1939.
Recreation and Health:
The hotel sponsors The DHR Club , which is located on its grounds. The club aims to foster fellowship among people who like rail travel, by providing a congenial meeting place for them in Darjeeling. The club's facilities are open to people of good standing, with valid membership cards of recognized railway societies from anywhere in the world. Members in good standing of mountaineering institutes, explorers clubs and geographical and botanical societies, may also be admitted to the DHR Club.
For recreation of the mind The club offers a beautifully designed library of travel related reference books, and provides facilities for viewing video films and slides. It is housed in The Snuggery, a 19th century stone cottage, and one of the oldest buildings in Darjeeling. A residential facility of eight double rooms with or without meals, is available to club members, at moderate rates.
Hotel Services:
- Baby Care
- Bar
- Cable TV
- Car Parking
- Doctor On Call
- Fire Safeguards
- Laundry Facilities
- Money Changer
- Power Back-Up
- Restaurant
- Room Service
- Safe Deposit
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