Booking-
Flights - Delhi to Bagdogra Vistara redemption for 9K miles plus 1900 INR tax per pax plus return infant ticket for 3800 INR.
Hotel - 2 nights covered with Taj Epicure with HSBC Premier Card. My card and wife’s card each. 3rd night on vouchers added to wohoo app. 10K plat charge birthday, 20K citi prestige, 20K plat travel 4L milestone mine and wife’s card both.
Home to Delhi Airport and vice versa - Axis Airport transfer booked, series 5 BMW came and same driver. Good luxury drop experience followed by M&G at the airport. Entry through staff gate, business class counter check in vistara gold, staff security check all done within minutes.
Checked in the Amex Centurion lounge. It was empty when we arrived but gradually filled up. It’s not a very big lounge but decent for the domestic terminal at T3.
Then followed by buggy service to our gate.
Overall a very pleasant experience.
Bagdogra Airport to hotel and back - Booked with Taj for 5040 + GST each way.
Innova crysta is the vehicle they send in. Clean and maintained car with good drivers.
Local sight seeing - Booked with Taj.
Kurseong - 2600 + GST
Darjeeling- 6600 + GST
Total Car hire cost ~ 19K including GST
F&B at hotel for complete stay - 4K
1 complimentary lunch.
Makibari tea ~ 3K
Total cost paid for hotel stay/F&B/car hire after vouchers - 9K, using Atlas Card for 10% miles.
Flights - 18K vistara points plus 3800 Taxes plus 3800 for infant. Taxes paid with Atlas card for 10% miles.
Booked base room all nights which isn’t valley facing. 3rd night Epicure discounted rate booked.
On request they upgraded our to room valley view room and clubbed the three different bookings into one.
Since we got our room a little late, they gave us complimentary lunch for that day at Chia Verandah.
At check in a refreshing tea is served in their lounge. We took it again as we were waiting for our room a bit longer.
View attachment IMG_8850.mov
The property is fairly new only 4 years old opened before Covid.
The hospitality was great and special attention to detail was given to us along with love to our little one.
The room had a small balcony with chairs, overlooking the valley. Waking upto this view we’ll surely miss.
Breakfast spread was decent and they would make for you some dishes not on the menu as well on request.
Staff was courteous and polite along fulfilling all our requests including pack a little snack for the day and milk for the baby.
First day we relaxed in the resort itself.
Every afternoon/evening there is a tea tasting session followed by chanting and lamp lighting by monks followed by a musical program of flute artist for 30 minutes.
View attachment IMG_8917.mov
They also have a kids play area with slides and a game room.
We only ate in the Chia Verandah, all day dining restaurant. Sonargaon restaurant requires prior reservation FYI.
Darjeeling visit would take an entire day which includes a long drive and traffic filled road on some stretches.
Batasia Loop attracts people for spectacular view of Mt. Kanchenjunga & other snow capped Himalayan Peaks and watch the remarkable engineering marvel of Darjeeling Himalayan Railways where almost imperceptibly the railway line negotiates a circle and descends 1000 ft. in altitude.
The famous Darjeeling watch tower, one the views can be taken from keventer’s open terrace.
You can book the tickets for the zoo online a day before and skip long queues. They highlight here are 6 Himalayan Red Pandas in the zoo in Darjeeling. It was the mascot of Darjeeling Tea Festival in the past. They are skilful acrobatic creatures.
View attachment IMG_8722.mov
Places of interest in Darjeeling - Zoo, mountaineering institute, Ghoom monastery, Mall Road, Japanese peace pagoda, Darjeeling Station and Toy train with Batasia Eco Garden and loop, Tiger Hill Observatory, Rangeet Valley Ropeway.
We couldn’t catch glimpse of the mighty Kanchenjunga as it was cloudy.
Eating out at the famous Glenary’s, was a bit of let down for us as it didn’t turn out upto our expectations for the food as well as bakery.
One can continue the walk along the Mall Road on the pebbles street up until an open air theatre.
View attachment IMG_8883.mov
We didn’t take the toy train ride as it was overhyped but saw it up close.
Kurseong is a short day trip which can be done in ~4 hours.
Places of interest- Margaret’s Deck Tea Lounge, Chimney Heritage Park, Eagle’s Crag, Gidda Pahar view point, Dow hill eco park, also Makaibari Factory visit organised by the hotel.
The Makaibari tea factory visit is organised by the hotel, which is very nearby the property. The entire process of making tea is explained out.
Gidda Pahad view point.
View attachment IMG_8838.jpeg
We took a walk in pine woods forest in a light drizzle.
View attachment IMG_8879.mov
Margaret’s deck was our highlight, sipping their first bud white tea and enjoying the view on a rainy day.
View attachment IMG_9357.mov
View attachment IMG_9360.mov
Our Kurseong day trip was shortened by heavy rainfall so we didn’t cover everything on our list but made sure to keep Margaret’s Deck as our last stop where the food, tea and the view all were exceptional. It’s a place not to be missed.
View attachment IMG_8600.mov
We spent the evening in indoor pool which was nice and temperature controlled with a good view outside. The little one surely enjoyed a lot there.
Our last day of the stay in morning we just roamed around the property at different deck levels. Stuffed with good breakfast and prepared to head back.
One ticker- I had given all my Taj Vouchers with pin at the time of check in only, which turned out a savior blessing for as At the time of checkout their systems weren’t functioning properly for voucher redemption. So just paid the remaining ~9k with Atlas at checkout.
A fairly new property with maintained rooms and amenities along exceptional service and food was a good escape with a breath of fresh air from the hustle bustle of Delhi.
Flights - Delhi to Bagdogra Vistara redemption for 9K miles plus 1900 INR tax per pax plus return infant ticket for 3800 INR.
Hotel - 2 nights covered with Taj Epicure with HSBC Premier Card. My card and wife’s card each. 3rd night on vouchers added to wohoo app. 10K plat charge birthday, 20K citi prestige, 20K plat travel 4L milestone mine and wife’s card both.
Home to Delhi Airport and vice versa - Axis Airport transfer booked, series 5 BMW came and same driver. Good luxury drop experience followed by M&G at the airport. Entry through staff gate, business class counter check in vistara gold, staff security check all done within minutes.
Checked in the Amex Centurion lounge. It was empty when we arrived but gradually filled up. It’s not a very big lounge but decent for the domestic terminal at T3.
Then followed by buggy service to our gate.
Overall a very pleasant experience.
Bagdogra Airport to hotel and back - Booked with Taj for 5040 + GST each way.
Innova crysta is the vehicle they send in. Clean and maintained car with good drivers.
Local sight seeing - Booked with Taj.
Kurseong - 2600 + GST
Darjeeling- 6600 + GST
Total Car hire cost ~ 19K including GST
F&B at hotel for complete stay - 4K
1 complimentary lunch.
Makibari tea ~ 3K
Total cost paid for hotel stay/F&B/car hire after vouchers - 9K, using Atlas Card for 10% miles.
Flights - 18K vistara points plus 3800 Taxes plus 3800 for infant. Taxes paid with Atlas card for 10% miles.
Booked base room all nights which isn’t valley facing. 3rd night Epicure discounted rate booked.
On request they upgraded our to room valley view room and clubbed the three different bookings into one.
Since we got our room a little late, they gave us complimentary lunch for that day at Chia Verandah.
At check in a refreshing tea is served in their lounge. We took it again as we were waiting for our room a bit longer.
View attachment IMG_8850.mov
The property is fairly new only 4 years old opened before Covid.
The hospitality was great and special attention to detail was given to us along with love to our little one.
The room had a small balcony with chairs, overlooking the valley. Waking upto this view we’ll surely miss.
Breakfast spread was decent and they would make for you some dishes not on the menu as well on request.
Staff was courteous and polite along fulfilling all our requests including pack a little snack for the day and milk for the baby.
First day we relaxed in the resort itself.
Every afternoon/evening there is a tea tasting session followed by chanting and lamp lighting by monks followed by a musical program of flute artist for 30 minutes.
View attachment IMG_8917.mov
They also have a kids play area with slides and a game room.
We only ate in the Chia Verandah, all day dining restaurant. Sonargaon restaurant requires prior reservation FYI.
Darjeeling visit would take an entire day which includes a long drive and traffic filled road on some stretches.
Batasia Loop attracts people for spectacular view of Mt. Kanchenjunga & other snow capped Himalayan Peaks and watch the remarkable engineering marvel of Darjeeling Himalayan Railways where almost imperceptibly the railway line negotiates a circle and descends 1000 ft. in altitude.
The famous Darjeeling watch tower, one the views can be taken from keventer’s open terrace.
You can book the tickets for the zoo online a day before and skip long queues. They highlight here are 6 Himalayan Red Pandas in the zoo in Darjeeling. It was the mascot of Darjeeling Tea Festival in the past. They are skilful acrobatic creatures.
View attachment IMG_8722.mov
Places of interest in Darjeeling - Zoo, mountaineering institute, Ghoom monastery, Mall Road, Japanese peace pagoda, Darjeeling Station and Toy train with Batasia Eco Garden and loop, Tiger Hill Observatory, Rangeet Valley Ropeway.
We couldn’t catch glimpse of the mighty Kanchenjunga as it was cloudy.
Eating out at the famous Glenary’s, was a bit of let down for us as it didn’t turn out upto our expectations for the food as well as bakery.
One can continue the walk along the Mall Road on the pebbles street up until an open air theatre.
View attachment IMG_8883.mov
We didn’t take the toy train ride as it was overhyped but saw it up close.
Kurseong is a short day trip which can be done in ~4 hours.
Places of interest- Margaret’s Deck Tea Lounge, Chimney Heritage Park, Eagle’s Crag, Gidda Pahar view point, Dow hill eco park, also Makaibari Factory visit organised by the hotel.
The Makaibari tea factory visit is organised by the hotel, which is very nearby the property. The entire process of making tea is explained out.
Gidda Pahad view point.
View attachment IMG_8838.jpeg
We took a walk in pine woods forest in a light drizzle.
View attachment IMG_8879.mov
Margaret’s deck was our highlight, sipping their first bud white tea and enjoying the view on a rainy day.
View attachment IMG_9357.mov
View attachment IMG_9360.mov
Our Kurseong day trip was shortened by heavy rainfall so we didn’t cover everything on our list but made sure to keep Margaret’s Deck as our last stop where the food, tea and the view all were exceptional. It’s a place not to be missed.
View attachment IMG_8600.mov
We spent the evening in indoor pool which was nice and temperature controlled with a good view outside. The little one surely enjoyed a lot there.
Our last day of the stay in morning we just roamed around the property at different deck levels. Stuffed with good breakfast and prepared to head back.
One ticker- I had given all my Taj Vouchers with pin at the time of check in only, which turned out a savior blessing for as At the time of checkout their systems weren’t functioning properly for voucher redemption. So just paid the remaining ~9k with Atlas at checkout.
A fairly new property with maintained rooms and amenities along exceptional service and food was a good escape with a breath of fresh air from the hustle bustle of Delhi.
