History of Darjeeling Hills
The history of Darjeeling and the surrounding hills is full of fascinating stories that bring the region to life. Beyond the familiar accounts of how the hill station developed, there are intriguing episodes involving travellers, explorers, traders, writers and the people who shaped life in these mountains. This collection is not intended to be an academic history or a comprehensive chronology of events. Instead, it explores interesting pieces of the past that help us understand the places we visit today. Through old buildings, unusual encounters, forgotten connections and stories of everyday life, we hope to reveal a more personal side of the Eastern Himalayas.
In Kalimpong stands a hotel with a remarkable connection to the history of Tibet and the Eastern Himalayas. Once the family home of David Macdonald, a British trade official who spent many years on the Tibetan frontier and knew the 13th Dalai Lama, the Himalayan Hotel became a meeting place for traders, explorers, mountaineers, writers and travellers. Its story includes the Dalai Lama’s flight from Tibet, the early days of Himalayan exploration and the life of a man whose experiences connected several cultures and countries. Discover how an old family home in Kalimpong became part of a much larger story of travel, diplomacy and encounters across the mountains.