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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 1880’s, 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 1800’s 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 Cobbold’s

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 double…as 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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Tinkerbelle’s 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 1800’s, 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 “Mary’s 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 bathrooms…both 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!

Z’ri, our in-house shop The Windamere Bar: serving drinks since 1939

Daisy’s Music Room I.T.A.T.I. – our Windamere Spa

New Year’s 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 1980’s, as we needed more

rooms. It looks right over into The Chowrasta – Darjeeling’s 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 family’s 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 Preferred…looking 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

‘Z’ri 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.