Facilities
The hotel has two wings : The Windamere and Little
Windamere
The Windamere wing appeals to guests who like
tradition, who would be comfortable in a bygone
age, and who want a reminder of how people got
on with their lives in old Darjeeling. There are
no TVs and telephones in the main house called
Ada Villa; and only telephones, by request, in
the Annexe. Guests, who choose this wing, prefer
to avoid the distractions of modern life for the
duration of their stay.
The Little Windamere wing appeals to people who
need to remain in touch with modern life, even
while they indulge their love of the past and
old things. The residential houses in this wing,
Annandale House, and Observatory House, are provided
with TVs and telephones. The bathrooms have fittings
which were once the property of the Loreto Convent
Girls School. These were donated to Windamere
Hotel when the Convent closed down its boarding
school after 130 memorable years. The Convent
is the oldest European school in Darjeeling District,
having been founded in 1846. It counts among its
many famous former pupils, Vivien Leigh, the actress
of "Gone With The Wind" fame.
The hotel sponsors The DHR Club, which is located
on its grounds. The club aims to foster fellowship
among people who like rail travel, by providing
a congenial meeting place for them in Darjeeling.
The club's facilities are open to people of good
standing, with valid membership cards of recognized
railway societies from anywhere in the world.
Members in good standing of mountaineering institutes,
explorers clubs and geographical and botanical
societies, may also be admitted to the DHR Club.
The club has a library of travel related reference
books, and provides facilities for viewing video
films and slides. It is housed in The Snuggery,
a 19th century stone cottage, and one of the oldest
buildings in Darjeeling. A residential facility
of eight double rooms with or without meals, is
available to club members, at moderate rates.
