Away from the hustle-bustle of popular tourist destinations in Darjeeling, West Bengal, Takdah’s British Heritage Bungalow No. 12 is all about experiencing beauty of the hills in its purest form, while rewinding time into the colonial past.
When these British bungalows came up in Takdah
Takdah is located at an altitude of 5,100 ft in Rangli Rangliot, CD block in the Darjeeling Sadar subdivision, Darjeeling district. Takdah (formally known as Tukdah) was a military cantonment during the British colonial period, in the early 1900s. Back in the time, many senior British officers constructed bungalows and houses there. These were built in traditional British architectural style — complete with slanted roofs, fireplaces and front gardens.
The long corridors of the bungalow
Takdah was also the home ground for the British and Gorkha Army during World War I. In post-independent India, these bungalows in Takdah were auctioned and some bungalows were bought by the wealthy locals, while the rest of them were converted into hospitals, schools, churches, Government offices etc.
British Heritage Bungalow No. 12
The British Heritage Bungalow No. 12 is one among the heritage bungalows in the vicinity that belonged to the Royal British Army. Out of the 32 British bungalows in Takdah today, 15 have been transformed into homestays and run by a community who promote rural heritage tourism in the hills. About 28km away from the town of Darjeeling, the Heritage Bungalow No. 12 is nestled on a hillock with pine forests surrounding it.
The pine forest surrounding the bungalow
The bungalow is now run by Norbu Lama, who has been promoting heritage tourism in the area for the past 17-18 years.
The British Heritage Bungalow No. 12 has six rooms — one suite, one super deluxe, three deluxe and one standard room. Some of the rooms come with a balcony and fireplace. Each room has a panoramic view of the misty pine forest.
What makes the Heritage Bungalows No. 12 stand out
A staycation for 2-3 days at this bungalow is a must for people who like to relax in the lap of nature. The mornings here begin with an outdoor breakfast, where you can order a lavish spread and sip on some Darjeeling tea. The breakfast menu options are simple and one can choose between the good old Indian puri-sabzi or an English breakfast to sync with the ambience.
The breakfast served at the bungalow
You can spend the entire morning trekking through the pine forest, catching glimpses of little streams flowing nearby. The staff have some incredible stories of leopards to narrate that make the trek even more adventurous. Engaging in a conversation with one of the staff members, we got to know that leopards are spotted often in this part of the state. She said, “We light fire and the corridor lights of the bungalow are also on almost all night. So far, leopards have taken one of our dogs, a German Shepherd that left the vicinity chasing something.”
The view of the bungalow from the pine forest is beautiful and the smell of the moist pine trees is enchanting too.
The nights are quiet and cold. A bonfire is set up in the garden by the staff, where you can also have a barbecue on request. Under the starry night sky, the quietness of the place is something our urban souls crave for.
The beauty of the heritage bungalow cannot be expressed in words. Thus, this bungalow has been a popular choice for shooting films. Recently, the film Abar Bochhor Koori Pore, starring Abir Chatterjee, Rudranil Ghosh, Arpita Chatterjee and Tanushree Chakraborty, was shot here.
A popular haunt for Tollywood film stars, Saswata Chatterjee, Paoli Dam, Rajatava Dutta and Soham Chakraborty were there for a vacation recently.
Accommodation and food
The fireplace is lit on request
The rooms are provided with all amenities, such as room heaters, fireplace, heating mattress, geyser, bathtubs etc. The suite has a separate living area with two single beds and a room accommodating one queen-size bed. The fireplace is lit on prior request by the guests.
The food is cooked by the bungalow staff with great care. One can enjoy varieties of vegetables and meat procured from the local farm. They offer a food package of Rs.800 per head a day that includes breakfast, lunch and dinner. The lunch includes rice, vegetable curry made with squash, spinach, dal, egg/chicken, papad and potato fries. For dinner, the menu comprises rice/roti, sabji, chicken etc.
Guests not wishing to opt for the food package can also order a la carte. The chilli pork and chicken drumsticks on offer are worth a mention.
The only problem at the bungalow is poor network. The Wi-Fi of the bungalow is all you have to depend on, no matter which service provider you opt for. However, if you want to turn on the zen mode, then this is the place for you!
Pet-friendly place
Pet parents can inform the management about their four-legged companion before booking
The Heritage Bungalow No. 12 is pet-friendly. The vicinity has two mountain strays and one labrador that are very friendly. You can also find a few feline friends around. Pet parents can inform the management about their four-legged companion before booking. Arrangements will be made accordingly.
Friendly staff
The staff here is very friendly and are always on their toes to serve the guests. They patiently listen to all your requests and try to fulfil them with efficiency.
Local attractions
There are plenty of activities to indulge in at Takdah. One can visit the monasteries, tea gardens or go rafting in the Teesta river.
The Dechhen Pema Tshoiling Monastery Gumpha is situated right beside the Mata Durga Caves. The monastery and the adjoining caves were looked after by a revered monk named Rev. Lama Karma Gyaltchen (Bal Me Me) till 2007. Local people consider this place to be holy and offer prayers.
The famous tea estates here are Runglee Rungliot tea garden, Takdah Tea Estate, Peshok Tea Garden, Gielle and Namring. One can also visit the Orchid Garden located at a stone’s throw distance from the bungalow.
A glimpse from the Triveni camp
If you are an adventurous traveller, the Triveni camp is a must visit for you. It takes about 40 minutes to an hour from Takdah to reach this confluence of Teesta and Rangeet. Enjoy white water rafting or boating. A lot of travellers choose Triveni for camping too.
Tinchuley and Lamahatta Eco Park are also nearby.
Travel details:
- It takes approximately 2 hours 45 minutes (69km) to reach Takdah from Bagdogra airport. Or if you reach New Jalpaiguri station, then you can reach Takdah in about 2 hours 25 minutes. You can hire a car from both the railway station or the airport.
- Room tariff starts at Rs 3,000 for standard rooms. Deluxe rooms are Rs 4,000, Super Deluxe Rs 5,000 and suites Rs 7,000
- The best time to visit are winter, spring and summer.