Audley in Calcutta & The East
From the colonial charm of Darjeeling to the spectacular temples of Orissa and the vibrant hubbub of Calcutta, this is one of India’s most enticing regions.
Hill Country
It’s no secret that India suffers from a monsoon season when a rolling front of heavy rain crosses the vastness of the country before being stopped by the near impenetrable barrier of the Himalayas.
For millennia life in India has been conducted to the rhythm of this annual deluge with planting, harvest and even weddings following this pre determined pattern and the era of British rule was no exception. First the East India Company and then the Raj decamped every year from Calcutta to the cooler clines of Darjeeling to seek respite from the searing heat and downpours that made the plains inhabitable.
Darjeeling was however more than a climatic bolthole and beneath the thin veil of formality a spicy lifestyle thrived. Numerous indiscretions are reputed to have occurred and the town fast became a hotbed of intrigue and gossip. Away from the merry go round of parties and gin and tonics the mountain trails were regularly explored for day walks or longer strolls.
Today visitors can enjoy the faded glory of this hill station at the Chowrasta, the centre of Victorian Darjeeling, or simply sit back, relax and marvel at the Himalayas over the lip of a cup of finest Darjeeling tea.