I had done a lot of research about the various hotels in Darjeeling, and it did not take a lot of effort to zero in on this one. I read a lot of good reviews about this hotel(some on Trip Advisor, some on MS;-), and was pretty much convinced.
Visited Darjeeling in October’08, and from the moment I stepped into the room, I was sure that I had made the right choice. The room had all wooden ceiling and flooring(even the passageways), the bed was quite comfortable and the bathroom, although a bit cramped, was adequate. The view from the room itself wasn’t that great, but each floor(the hotel has 3 in all) has it;s own viewing gallery which is basically a big balcony at the end of the passageway. Let me tell you, the view form that balcony is to die for. You can see a major part of Darjeeling city and jaw dropping view of the majestic Mt. Kanchenjunga from the comfort of your hotel. You can just stare at this view for hours without tiring.
The service at the hotel was fantastic; very quick, efficient, and the entire hotel staff was always smiling. Even the staff at 5 or 7 stars hotels don’t smile at you all the time.! The bed and bath linen was clean and changed everyday and all the basic amenities were provided(soaps, shampoos, shower caps, etc.)
The food was ok, nothing to write home about. They try hard to be creative but you wind up having the regular fare of Indian dishes. At least it’s not repulsive.
Prior booking is required, and if you are planning to travel between September and March, it’s best if you book early as this is considered as high season. You can get all their contact info on their website:
https://sinclairshotels.com/darjeeling/index.php3
I had traveled alone, but the hotel is just as great for Families and large groups of friends. The hotel can organize site seeing trips for you as per you request and convenience. Trips from/to the Airport/Railway St. can be arranged.
I only had just one gripe from the hotel; they have no internet services. Although there is an internet cafe very near to the hotel, it would have been nicer to have it within the hotel itself.
One other thing, the road leading to the hotel is a steep climb, so if you are planning to traverse it on foot, you better be prepared for the exercise:-)
All in all, a great hotel to stay in, with excellent staff / service, comfortable rooms & fabulous views; and you will not have to break the bank in order to stay there.