If you want to experience the splendour of Darjeeling in its best form, then the Glenburn Tea Estate and Boutique Hotel atop the mountains will come to your rescue. The gorgeous colonial architectured bungalows overlooking the sweeping lawn and the mighty hills seem to float above the clouds, literally! The secluded paradise has two bungalows and each of them comprises four suits with pretty patios, lavish balconies and terraces. Inside each room, the guests will find fresh flowers, a fruit basket, cold and hot water facilities, complimentary Darjeeling Green Tea toiletries and hair dryers. The rooms do not have televisions, to help the guests completely detach from the hubbub of the diurnal routines amid absolute tranquility.
A Lavish Stay In The Lap Of The Himalayas
The hosts at the Glenburn Tea Estate, Bertie and Audrey pamper the guests to render them the homely feel. Interns and other staff at the place are profoundly hospitable and cater to the requests of the visitors at every point of time. One of the two bungalows of the boutique hotel, the Burra Bungalow has a living room with a fireplace and a library and a grandiose dining room that holds candle-lit sit down dinners. The Burra Bungalow has four suites. The Water Lily Bungalow, with four other suites, is linked to the Burra Bungalow via a stone staircase. The Water Lily Bungalow also has a massage and a steam room.
The Marvellous Suites With The View Of The Mountains
The Kanchenjunga Suite features pastel blue and whites and from its balcony, the third largest mountain of the world, the Kanchenjunga is visible. If you want to immerse in the old Calcutta vibes dating back to the time of the East India Company, you must pick the Planters’ Suite. The Spanish mahogany beds, the oriental figures, the antique prints and everything inside the room will render you a royalty feel. From its private Verandah, the Simbong Valley and the hills of Sikkim can be seen.
The Rose room has got a unique shape with rose motifs on the tables, the drapery, the bedsheets and the almirahs. The Butterfly Room will be the eye-catcher of those who adore the colour pink. It overlooks the eastern Sikkimese hills. To enjoy the magnificence of the snow-clad mountains and the Rangeet River nourishing the tea estate, one must sojourn in The Rangeet Suite. Other luxury suites of the resort are Camellia Suite, Rung Dung Suite and Singalila Suite.
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The Glenburn Experience- A 15 Minute Film On Glenburn’s History And The Special Teas
During the stay at Glenburn Tea Estate, the guests will have the opportunity to witness a short film on Glenburn’s history, that showcases the process of growing, manufacturing and tasting tea.
The signature Glunburn tea comes in four variants- Glunburn Darjeeling Moonshine Tea, Glunburn Darjeeling Green Tea, Glunburn Darjeeling Four Seasons Blend Tea and Masala Chai. They are sold at pocket-friendly prices, ranging from ₹10 to ₹35. The resort also has a CD collection of soulful classical music.
The Glenburn Library- A Bookworm’s Retreat
The library lurking in the middle of the hills houses books on Darjeeling, Sikkim and Bhutan as well as books relating to nature, butterflies, local birds, wildlife and more. Apart from these, the library has cooking books and old magazines on travel, sports and fashion.
The Gourmand Menu
The hoteliers allow the guests to choose their personalised menu, and they prepare the dishes from fresh salad leaves and herbs straight out of their gardens. Think scrumptious South-East Asian delicacies, Tibetan Momos, Burmese Khow Suey or European delights like Chocolate Brownies, they serve everything here.
The Glenburn tea variants, herbal teas and South Indian filter coffee are must-tries to tone down the chill of the high altitude. Want freshly made ice-creams? They make that too.
Outdoor Activities- Camping And Hiking
Walking downhill, one can enjoy camping around the hotel at The Glenburn Campsite. You can also ask them to set up barbeques across the river. They also offer hiking experiences like River Rung Dung hike, hike to Ramitaay Daara, hiking through the suspension bridge to Manjitar, Sikkim and loads more. The resort also offers full-day tours to Darjeeling and Kalimpong in complementary air-conditioned cars.
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Glenburn is also home to unique birds and butterfly species. Speaking about birds, one can spot Red Junglefowl, Yellow-Rumped Honeyguide, Eurasian Wigeon, Grey-Capped Pygmy Woodpecker and Indian Peafowl out there. Among butterflies, Rod breast basking, Glassy Blue Bottle, Crimson Rose, Common Blue Bottle and Great Mormon are common at the tea estate. If the magnificence of the tea estate is already intriguing you, visit their website right away to plan your stay in the future. Meanwhile, here are 10 snowy hill stations to visit in North India: