India -Darjelling

The train adventure was tremendous – it was a toy train

and at times I ran beside it

It was along time ago but I think it is like 200+ miles of awesome scenery and adventures please go and stay at the Windemere

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We rode the toy train part of the way to Darjeeling (town below)

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from Gorinpani and stayed at the Windermere (below). Hope Cook and the Chogal of Sikkim met here. I met Tsognie Hamilton the granddaughter of the Chogal or the King and she lives in Baltimore –  look that up!!

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Wow the Windermere. It is  a true Jewel of India. It is well known to sophisticated travelers the world over and the Windermere is famous for its unique ambience and charm, and has been the subject of many leading stories in the international media. We were there in 1989 and it was very difficult to get in but that story will come later.  Windermere is situated on historic Observatory Hill where Darjeeling began, and overlooks the Chowrasta, the town’s exclusive promenade. From Observatory Hill, one can glimpse Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal and Sikkim, against a stupendous backdrop of twenty of the highest mountain peaks in the world and is believed to be the focus and repository of life-enhancing cosmic energy. It was a delightful place to stay. It serves afternoon tea, surrounded by books, photos of expedition and previous guests photographs and letters. Our room was large, well appointed with a fire place and veranda. The staff even came to check whether we needed the open fire lit for the slightly chilly evening in our room and placed warm water bottles in our room every night.  The staff is very courteous and friendly-always smiling and the meals are excellent.. There is always a choice of western or local food! The restaurant has a magnificent panoramic vista, and at night for dinner candles light it only, creating an atmospheric, cozy romantic ambience. The town of Darjeeling is  very cool and we would wonder the streets and visited the zoo and the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute.  I bought a movie ticket to watch the Institutes climb of Kunjunjunga for every child in the local school to  see one day it was great fun.  The days were warm and the evening’s cold very agreeable and I would go again for the charm an elegance of a beautiful hotel. Ok on to the Train ride below. So the train is awesome winding around the bends of the Himalayas

and looking at the third highest peak in the world from Tiger Hill.

Nice little train and does get you there but not to fast

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Trying to catch up after getting off at a stop

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wow look at the curves below

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The Windermere, it is  a true Jewel of India (below).

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It is well known to sophisticated travelers the world over and the Windermere is famous for its unique ambience and charm, and has been the subject of many leading stories in the international media. We were there in 1989 and it was very difficult to get in but that story will come later.  Windermere is situated on historic Observatory Hill where Darjeeling began, and overlooks the Chowrasta, the town’s exclusive promenade.

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From Observatory Hill, one can glimpse Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal and Sikkim, against a stupendous backdrop of twenty of the highest mountain peaks in the world and is believed to be the focus and repository of life-enhancing cosmic energy. It was a delightful place to stay. It serves afternoon tea, surrounded by books, photos of expedition and previous guests photographs and letters.

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Our room was large, well appointed with a fire place and veranda. The staff even came to check whether we needed the open fire lit for the slightly chilly evening in our room and placed warm water bottles in our room every night.  The staff is very courteous and friendly-always smiling and the meals are excellent.. There is always a choice of western or local food! The restaurant has a magnificent panoramic vista, and at night for dinner candles light it only, creating an atmospheric, cozy romantic ambience. The town of Darjeeling is  very cool and we would wonder the streets and visited the zoo and the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute.  I bought a movie ticket to watch the Institutes climb of Kunjunjunga for every child in the local school to  see one day it was great fun.  The days were warm and the evening’s cold very agreeable and I would go again for the charm an elegance of a beautiful hotel.

Tea estates below and other shots

 

 

 

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Dudes have to go