Elgin Mount Pandim, Sikkim

Location

The hotel is a world away from India's booming cities, tucked into a narrow sliver of mountainous country between Nepal and Bhutan in view of the Singalila range of the Himalayas. In the opposite direction lies Mount Kanchenjunga, one of the highest in the world, and further to the north is the magical land of Tibet. A journey southwards through the winding glens will take you to the tea capital Darjeeling, while Bangladesh beckons further along the road.

Accommodation

A room with a view is guaranteed: each of the 30 bedrooms look over the snowcapped Sinigalila Mountains, whose dazzling peaks catch the day's last light in majestic fashion. Despite their finery, rooms are designed with cosy warmth in mind, as nights and winters can be chilly at this altitude. Each room is unique, though all feature rich royal carpets and expensive upholstery lending class to the comfort.

Dining

There are three excellent food and drink options to choose from at the Elgin. The most elaborate and formal venue is the Magnolia Dining Room, where you can feast on European and Asian haute cuisine in an opulent setting. Lighter, more relaxed meals can be had on the lawn or in the gazebo, and chillier evenings can be whiled away beside the roaring fire of the Tea Lounge and Bar, with a warming drink or steaming cup of chai.

Facilities

The Elgin’s vast gardens and woodland are beautiful and full of birdlife. Green-tailed sunbirds, flycatchers, babblers, Laughing thrushes and other rare breeds are easily spotted here. There is a luxurious spa with a range of holistic treatments, and right next door is the three-hundred-year-old Pemayangtse monastery on a hilltop surrounded by temperate oak forest.