This quaint, rambling relic of the Raj is one of Darjeeling’s most atmospheric digs. The charming Ada Villa, with the tea rooms and bar, was once a boarding house for British tea planters, and the well-tended grounds are spacious with lots of pleasant seating areas. The comfortable rooms, fireplaces and hot-water bottles provide just the right measure of comfort and mothballed charm.
The Windamere is a particularly great place to spend Christmas and New Year, when an international crowd checks in to enjoy entertainment by British TV and stage artists and other festive fun.