Windamere Hotel - A Colonial Heritage

The Windamere is nothing short of a romantic fairy tale, which transports you into a bygone era.|Classic, charming and elegant is how I'd describe it|Don't expect proficiency in timings, room|Service etc. Come to the Windamere if you want a Darjeeling style relaxed and luxurious getaway. Yes it is a bit expensive but you're paying for more than just a room - you're paying for history.|If not staying there, definitely visit for a meal or even afternoon tea on the lawn and if it's cold, in the music room, where they will light a fire for you. There's a beautiful garden which i love for yoga and meditation.|Each guest room in the heritage wing is named after one of the royals who stayed there and is unique in its own way. |Go up to the terrace and look through the telescope for a stunning view. The other side overlooks the mall/chowk. |We met Amit who was so warm and hospitable and gave us a lot of insights to the property and its heritage. |The dining room is quaint - you would definitely want to have a sit down meal here too.

The hotel is a rip off . 18000 for a night and the hotel does not deserve to charge more than 1000 a night . Absolute mess of a hotel and they are fooling people calling it a heritage property . It is an old, beaten down , not maintained mess of a house that was once used by the British and tourists . The locks don't work , they have geysers that have the hot water run out in a few mins. I hated Darjeeling cos of the property . It is a glorious mess ! Don't waste your time and money

A colonial heritage property which transports you back in time. The property has charming lawns and a sundeck which provides an outstanding view of the Himalayan ranges and Mt Khanchenjunga. The location of hotel is excellent it practically overlooks the Mall Road. A special thanks to Mr Amit the manager of the property

I recently had the pleasure of staying at the Windamere Hotel in Darjeeling, and I cannot express enough how impressed I was with their exceptional service. My elderly mother, who has mobility challenges, was treated with the utmost care and respect throughout our stay. From the moment we arrived, the staff went above and beyond to ensure her comfort. They promptly provided a wheelchair for her use, which was a great relief. But what truly stood out was the dedication of two of their butlers. They not only assisted with the wheelchair but also took it upon themselves to push her up and down the steep hill to visit the Mahakali Temple. This level of service and compassion is rare and deeply appreciated. The hotel's manager and the entire management team deserve special recognition. They honored our original booking deposit from May 2020, which we had to abandon due to the Covid pandemic. This gesture allowed my mother to visit Darjeeling after 55 years, for which I am incredibly thankful. The F&B/Restaurant supervisor and the housekeeping staff were equally commendable, ensuring that every aspect of our stay was comfortable and enjoyable. Additionally, the staff's prompt attention and service when my father experienced a sudden headspin and fall were truly remarkable. Their quick response and care made a significant difference in a stressful situation. The Windamere Hotel's commitment to making our stay enjoyable and stress-free was evident in every interaction. The staff's kindness, professionalism, and willingness to go the extra mile made our visit to Darjeeling truly memorable. I highly recommend this hotel to anyone, especially those traveling with elderly or mobility-challenged family members. Thank you, Windamere Hotel, for your outstanding hospitality!

The best old colonial hotel ever! Yes it needs a bit of TLC but everything about it elicits charm! From the staff that go the extra mile, the fires in the bedrooms and the hot water bottles to the delicious food (far too much of it) what more can anyone ever want? Delightful...

Upon entry we noticed 2 hairs on towels and bed linens. An hour later at lunch we noticed another on the napkin. TV remote didn't work. Within 2 hours of being here we experienced load shedding. As others have noted there is a difference between quaint and un-kept up. Having stayed in numerous properties far older than this which can find a way to both have modern amenities without ruining character, I can only assume this is due to how tight-fisted the management is.||On to the service: there was a large party staying who initially were having dinner outside but due to weather decided to move inside. This meant ALL public areas were off limit. That meant the only dining option was room service. My sister and I wanted to get a drink and go to lounge. We were told to sit in reception. Unthinkable being asked this in a western or actual 4 star hotel. At this point you expect comped drinks or a discount. What are we paying for?

We spent 12 nights at this wonderful hotel. It took a bit of adjustment as we were not expecting anything quite like this. Some of the hotel is almost 200 years old. But that adjustment took less than one day and then we did not want to leave. The staff of this hotel are phenomenal. Their service level is outstanding and we have loved every minute of our stay. We LOVED our room. # 19 Miss Pierce is the name of our room. Great internet, high ceilings, masses of space with a living room/office space, bedroom and very modern plumbing and lighting. The food was superb, all the way. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Sugar-free desserts made for us were excellent. The candlelit dining room is so lovely and we so enjoyed the old music from the 40's and 50's. A huge thank you to the chef whose name I do not know but oh wow, he is a great chef! Jamuna in the spa is very good at her job and we both loved her. We had lots of massages and I had a facial. She did an excellent job. Shuvhana (Sales Manager) greeted us on arrival and is lovely. Abinay (Operations Manager) is always visible, willing to listen and most helpful at all times. Amit (General Manager) is very good and watches over everything. Housekeeping: They are all excellent and work so hard. Our room was always so well looked after and always cleaned early so we did not have to wait. Lakhan, Rajiv and Dupen were fabulous. Many thanks to them for all they do. Ajay (Housekeeping manager) is very good at his job and is very nice always and listens to guests' concerns. Renu (Asst Housekeeping manager) was often seen checking up on everything. Front desk staff rank up there with the very best in the world. They are very knowledgeable and always go out of their way to be helpful and caring. They are very personable and good with guests. NEVER impatient, always listening with a nice sense of humour. Komal is a very special asset to your hotel. She is really fabulous. So is Shaw who greeted us on our first night and was very patient with all our questions. Pradhuman is a very nice man with such a warm, welcoming smile. Ashish has been very helpful always. Our wonderful breakfast (and some other meals) waiter, Palson always remembered what we liked to have. His service was always very good and he is a very nice young man. Pranesh is doing a great job and always willing to take advice and learn. He is very good. Saroja and Anita are lovely ladies who are always friendly and good at their job. Saroj has been our main evening waiter and he is FANTASTIC. He looked after us so well at dinner and provided magic at every meal. He is as good as it gets and we will never forget him. Anup, Food and Beverage captain, was awesome. Always there quietly supervising and checking to see that our needs were met. We liked him so much. Shiva (Food and Beverage manager) was very good also and most helpful at all times. Thank you to both these gentleman who are very good at their jobs. Anmol (Bar) was always ready with a big smile and a warm welcome. Security: I don't know their names but they are terrific. SO nice and so kind. One night, we thought we had broken the key in the lock and we called to them for help. One man came running so quickly, thinking we were in trouble. I felt very safe having them nearby. The town is charming. Fun to shop and visit with the people. Glenary's Bakery is NOT to be missed. Do sample teas at Golden Tips. Do visit the Zoo. It is fantastic, See a Royal Bengal Tiger and a Siberia tiger. Also, red pandas and snow leopards and regular leopards. They are in captivity but in their natural habitat. They breed the animals and release them back to the wild.

We had a great stay in this very special hotel, overlooking the Darjeeling Mall, the heart of the town. The property is carefully maintained to retain its colonial feel. The staffs are courteous and the chef makes wonderful food. Overall, a wonderful experience.