Kanchenjunga, Mornings Only
On a clear morning Kanchenjunga is visible from the resort itself, and rarely stays past mid-morning. A short window, and it decides what time you get up.
A Heritage Retreat
A Summerhouse,Kept in Service
The resort stands above the tea gardens and under Kanchenjunga, with Observatory Hill and Darjeeling's promenade both minutes' walk away. Nawabgunge House, a residence of 1875 renovated in 1929, was the summerhouse of the Maharaja of Nazargunj before MAYFAIR raised the resort of 1997 on and around it. The cottages stand around a stepped courtyard. Magnolia runs the day, an Asian buffet through breakfast, lunch and dinner, and the bar carries the evening: Douglas Bar, buttoned leather and a timber counter under the roof beams, named for the Darjeeling painter Goray Douglas, whose original sketches hang the length of both walls.
On a clear morning Kanchenjunga lifts out of the cloud, and the whole resort seems to hold still for it. Later the day slows on deep verandahs, among wicker and chintz set against the hills, with afternoon sun warming the bar. When the mist rolls in, a fire crackles beside teak and leather, potted flowers are everywhere, and The Mall can wait.On a clear morning Kanchenjunga lifts out of the cloud. Later the day slows among wicker and chintz, and when the mist rolls in, a fire crackles beside teak and leather.
Highlights
Nawabgunge House, a residence of 1875 and once a maharaja's summerhouse, still stands at the centre of the resort built around it. Heritage you can stay in, a short walk from the Mall.
Verandahs Over the Valley
Balcony seating sits out over the valley, and the verandahs run back into glazed rooms. A house arranged for the Darjeeling afternoon: long, cool, and watched from indoors.
First Flush in the Library
The tea boutique stocks the gardens around the town, and the wood-panelled library is where what you buy gets drunk properly, on the mist days.
Accommodations
rooms named for the hill itself
Hardwood floors underfoot and long, cool afternoons watched from indoors.
Suite
50 sq m
The property's largest rooms, with a sitting room. Built for the Darjeeling afternoon, which is long, cool and best spent indoors with the windows full of weather.
View Details
The Queen of the Hills
Darjeeling keeps its old title, the Queen of the Hills, earned at first light when Kangchenjunga clears the cloud above the town. The British built it as a hill station, and its toy train, a line running since the 1880s, still climbs to it through the tea gardens that carry the town's name.
The hills are clearest in spring and autumn, March to May and October to November, when the skies open and the snows show.
Endless Experiences
Day trips and short drives from Darjeeling, with the travel time to each.
Observatory Hill View Point
One of Darjeeling’s most scenic viewpoints, Observatory Hill offers sweeping views across the surrounding valleys and, on clear days, towards the snow-covered peaks of Kanchenjunga.
Shri Mahakal Temple
A revered hilltop temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, Shri Mahakal Temple is an important spiritual landmark in Darjeeling.
Shrubbery Nightingale Park
A beautifully landscaped park set on the slopes of Richmond Hill, Shrubbery Nightingale Park is known for its peaceful gardens, open spaces and views of the surrounding mountains.
Happy Valley Tea Estate
One of Darjeeling’s historic tea estates, Happy Valley offers an opportunity to experience the landscape and traditions behind Darjeeling tea.
Good to Know
Wellness
Tranquillity at its best
Cuisine
Unique dining experiences
In-house Bar
Memorable occasions
Lactarium
An oasis for nurturing motherhood
Doctor-on-call
24-hour medical assistance
Complimentary Wi-Fi
High-speed throughout the estate
The resort opened in 1997, but it was built on and around Nawabgunge House, a residence of 1875, renovated in 1929, and once the summerhouse of the Maharaja of Nazargunj. The old house is still at its heart.