Takdah Heritage Colonial Bunglow

Bungalow no. 12, Takdah, Darjeeling Hills, the Home Stay, is a gem admist the pine forest, submerged like in a fairy-tale. The 360° natural beauty feels like you are sitting on the mother nature lap- pampered and loving- The serenity spiced up with the genuine homey hospitality of the hosts (Norbu and Archana) and their assisting staffs will drift you away back to the past, where you would wonder how this Bungalow was secluded and yet lively. Without a second thought, I would recommend this Home Stay for a quiet, retreat and rejuvenating experiences. Try out their local cusine (slowfood) - just yummy, and you are contributing your share to socio- economic community development and reducing carbon footprint. Thank you, Norbu and Archana !!

My wife and I visited Takdah, and stayed in Bungalow no.12 , this month, August '23. What was good. 1. Ambience . As this is peak rainy season in North Bengal, it was raining most of the time. One can just sit and watch the swirling clouds, for hours together. There is the sound of waterfall just beside the bungalow, as a constant soothing background sound. 2. Surroundings. This Bungalow is situated beside a dense pine forest. One can explore the surrounding woods and enjoy the atmosphere. 3. The sound of cicadas. In the evenings, one can hear the sound of cicadas (an insect) in the trees, which rises to the level of a crescendo. For city dwellers like us, it was an eerie, but a very interesting experience, at the same time. 4. The Bungalow itself. The Bungalow was built in 1911, and gives all the vibes of the British era. 5. Tea gardens. There are some lovely tea gardens like the Rungli Rungliot in the near vicinity of this place. What was not good. 1. Upkeep of the bungalow. Not very well maintained. 2. Very limited and basic food menu. 3. Dogs roaming around the property. I hv no ill feelings towards dogs, but these are kept by the owners and not cared well enough. In fact the were smelling a helluva lot. 4 . Overpriced. Considering the facilities on offer, seemed overpriced.

Overhyped & overpriced. The only view is of a pine forest, which turns boring soon. Access roads are in very bad condition and service & hospitality is very poor. The owners (family) are rude, arrogant, verbally abusive & turn physically violent if someone complains about the food & service. Inspite of running a business in West Bengal, the owner verbally abuses all Bengalis, calling them dogs & what not…. We were forced to leave the premises at night after being physically assaulted by the owner. The local cops had to intervene to protect us. The owner clearly stated “if you are looking for good stay & food then stay in a 5-star hotel, don’t come here. If you stay here, just have what is served & don’t complain.” Avoid these so-called English Bungalows in North Bengal. They are nothing short of a SCAM…