Hotel Silver Oak (Kalimpong, India)

There can be only one word to describe this Heritage Elgin Group hotel: idyllic. It recalls the way of life of an era not so long ago, shaped by tranquillity and leisure. The hotel is an oasis amidst today's hectic and maddening lifestyle. When the sky is clear, the imposing peaks of the Kanchenjunga mountains can be spotted past the rolling blue-green hills. The bracing mountain air adds to the flavours of the Darjeeling tea, which guests may sample while sitting in one of the quaint gazebos that dot the sloping gardens. Facilities on offer at the hotel include a café, a bar, a restaurant, a conference room, a currency exchange facility, and a hotel safe. Room and laundry services are offered, and there is parking available for those arriving by car.