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Sunday 8 December 2013

Darjeeling Part 2: Elgin Darjeeling A Choice Hotel


After 100km and 4 hours of nauseous journey from Bagdogra, I finally arrived at my hotel in Darjeeling. The Elgin Hotel is more than 125 years old. Built in 1887, it was once upon a time the summer residence of the Maharaja of Cooch Behar. This property has been refurbished into a luxury boutique hotel with 25 rooms.
Like all other properties in Darjeeling, Elgin Hotel is built on a mountain slope.
The hotel staff are polite and the manager, friendly and approachable.
A small glass of cherry brandy and a silk scarf draped around the neck is the way we were welcomed into the hotel.
We stayed in room No 58 on the 4th floor. This 5-floored hotel does not have a lift.
The room is well appointed and very cozy. There is a real fireplace but it was not lit.
Instead a portable electric heater is used to keep the room warm. In addition to that, hot water bags were placed on our beds every night. The room is equipped with a 26 inch LCD TV and a safety box. WIFI or internet access is not available in the room though.
The portable electric heater.
The bathroom is fitted with a bath-tub, water heater and a hair dryer.
The toiletries provided.
There are coffee and tea making facilities. Complimentary mineral water, butter cookies and sachets of coffee & tea were replenished everyday.
Room No 58 does not have any nice view as all we could see was the roof. We moved to stay in Room No 53 the next day.
I peeped into a few rooms and seemingly all rooms are individually furnished and decorated. Room No.53 is smaller but it is brighter and commands a breathtaking view of Darjeeling town and the mountains.
View from Room No 53.
There are a few elegantly appointed lounges with Burmese teak flooring on the ground floor of the hotel. The decor are Victorian-style with a grand excess of ornaments and pictures hung on the walls but overall the setting did evoke a "wow" from us.
This is the Tea Lounge, a place you can order your choice of Darjeeling tea and pastries to go with it.
This is Timber Bar - an equally cozy place to hangout in the hotel.
A staff is seen heating up the heater in the lobby lounge the traditional way.
The bright red post box outside the hotel building.
Another lounge in the garden.
The hotel keeps two very fat and lovable dogs.
The stairway
The brightly lit hallway.
The outdoor gazebo
Night view of Darjeeling town from the hotel garden
The computer and internet lounge. Only 1 old computer is provided for hotel patrons. Internet reception is often sluggish.
Another lovely lounge.
The Orchid Dining Room- where we have breakfast and dinner everyday.
The diligent waiters who were always at our service.
Hotel Garden
Meals served during dinner
Breakfast was continental.
Room No 58 (top) and Room No 53 (bottom)
In the dining room.
Spa service and pricing
In-house room menu and pricing. 
Elgin darjeeling is also very near to Darjeeling Mall, a main commercial centre in Darjeeling. It's only a 10 minutes walk to the mall where a bazaar, shops, restaurants are available.
To me, this is a choice hotel to lodge in if you are in Darjeeling.


Related Post:
Darjeeling Travel Part 1: The Nauseous Journey From Bagdogra To Darjeeling

2 comments :

Home Stead Bangalore said...

The hotel was amazing to see and looks great one.Thanks for sharing.
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Unknown said...

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