Dragon 青竜

Nestled in the heart of Darjeeling, The Elgin Hotel is a storied heritage property that dates back to 1887. Originally built as the summer residence of the Maharaja of Cooch Behar, the hotel exudes colonial charm with its Burma teak furniture, oak paneling, and crackling fireplaces. Over the decades, it transitioned from a royal retreat to a luxury hotel, leased to British families and eventually acquired by Kuldip Chand Oberoi in 1965. Today, it stands as a meticulously restored manor house, offering guests a blend of Victorian elegance and modern comfort at 6,000 feet above sea level. The Elgin’s historical significance lies not only in its architecture and royal lineage but also in its role as a cultural hub during the British Raj. Darjeeling itself was a strategic hill station, and The Elgin became a favored destination for dignitaries, writers, and adventurers. Its guest list includes the Crown Prince of Sikkim, Dominique Lapierre, and Ma...

Nestled in the serene hills of Sonada in Darjeeling, West Bengal, Samdrub Darjay Choling Monastery stands as the international seat of the Shangpa Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. It was founded in 1966 by His Eminence Dorje Chang Kabje Kalu Rinpoche, a revered master known for his deep spiritual realization and tireless efforts to spread the Dharma across the globe. Originally established on the site of a former Geluk monastery, it became Kalu Rinpoche’s primary residence and a hub for spiritual retreat and practice. The monastery belongs to the Shangpa Kagyu school, a unique and historically rich lineage within Vajrayana Buddhism. Unlike other institutionalized schools, the Shangpa tradition is known for its intimate master-to-disciple transmission and its origins with two enlightened female masters, Niguma and Sukhasiddhi, in 10th-century India. The teachings were passed to the Tibetan yogi Khyungpo Naljor, who established the lineage that would later ...