The Chumbi Mountain Retreat – Pelling, India

After a few hours on another rollercoaster ride from Darjeeling we arrived in Pelling and the Chumbi Mountain Retreat. Louise had stayed here a few years back and her description made it sound amazing so looking forward to our stay.

Arrival

We spent some time outside and then waiting in the reception area while our guide sorted out whatever the problem was. The reception area was huge and furnished with tacky cheap furniture so started to get slightly worried but it did look like there would amazing views from the rooms and terraces when the clouds cleared.

Room

Eventually take up the stairs to the top floor and our attic room..dear god it was dire and the bathroom was unmentionable. As for an amazing view...only available if we went back downstairs.

Off to meet the most obnoxious manager on the planet who wanted to charge us a fortune to move to something better. Email sent to agents and eventually given a suite which frankly was not much better but at least had a view and I did not have to close my eyes when using the bathroom. The bed sheets were old, stained, along with the carpet and we got bed bugs.

Room Facilities

Basic Tea and Coffee making facilities
Bottled water
Hangers - possibly but just opened the suitcase.
TV with a channel
Free Wifi

lavish marble en suite bathroom the Umaid Bhawan Palace – Jodhpur, India with bath, shower wc and twin basins — Fit for the Maharaja himself

A view of the beautifully manicured royal gardens with the pool at the end with a vine covered walkway to the left and sundial in the foreground at Umaid Bhawan Palace – Jodhpur, India — Balcony view overlooking the gardens with the pool at the end

Dining

We went down to the restaurant for dinner and promptly went back to the room and ordered room service, my western meal was not too bad but I was starving by this time but Jon’s local choice was appalling as was the service.

Breakfast the next day was an extremely interesting experience, I think they eventually managed to provide a coffee.

8 restaurant is a splendid chinese restaurant located within the nile plaza itself — 8 Restaurant - Superb Chinese Menu

Service

Not in the dictionary.

Amenities

Spa - expensive

Restaurants / Bar

Golden Bamboo - multi cuisine and breakfast

Dyenkhang - speciality sikkim cuisine

Base Camp - bar and coffee shop

Conclusion

Do not take any notice of the reviews most are made by local tourists, the photos on the website are not of anything we saw.

The delightful manager made an appearance on check out wanting us to pay for the upgrade again, we just left with Mr Shu.

Chumbi Mountain Retreat, Pelling

The hotel from hell. Click the logo to visit their website

The Chumbi Mountain Retreat – Pelling, India

Beat a Hasty Retreat