The Elgin Nor-khill – Gangtok, Sikkim, India

House of Jewels - only in your dreams

Room Type: Deluxe Suite
Stay: 1 Night

Such high hopes for this one only to be dashed to shreds on opening the bedroom door. 

The hotel was once the guesthouse of the King of Sikkim and apparently acquired by Mr Oberoi in 1975….no way!

Arrival

Mr Shu again dealt with the check in while we waited in the large reception area with the original lino on the floor, how authentic.

Room

Up the stairs to our room, I opened the door and said no.  I actually think it was worse than Chumbi, to be honest I did not even go inside. 

Strangely Mr Shu reappeared and we were shown a suite on the other side of the corridor, apparently this was the only one available so we had no choice but to take it. 

No view except of the building next door, very shabby and a shoe box for a bathroom. No unpacking and slippers worn at all times, it was not clean.  Bed bugs again as well.

 

Room Facilities

  • Toiletries
  • Tea and Coffee making facilities
  • Bottled water
  • Hangers
  • Safe
  • TV with some international channels
  • Bathrobes & slippers
  • 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

buffet style breakfast in the main restaurant at the Nile Plaza with local delicacies combined with a la carte service and traditional western breakfast fayre with healthy options

 

A decent plate of chips can be found at the quaint little Dragon Bar which is the best part of the hotel.

The meals are again indian buffet with unknown dishes that all looked the same so rice was on the menu for me, Jon again thought it was okay. 

Breakfast was mediocre.

 

"eggs

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

Service

Friendly in the dining room and bar only, reception staff are on another planet

Amenities

Spa - usual treatments

Salon

The supposedly beautiful gardens have broken furniture and a view of the football stadium.

Restaurants / Bar

The Shangri La Dining Room - multi cuisine and breakfast plus lunch and dinner

The Tea Lounge & Oak Bar - reception area for tea

The Dragon Bar - bar menu and drinks

The Gazebo at the Garden - snacks and drinks

lavish foyer with plenty of seating in the lobby lounge with tea and snacks on hand

Conclusion

We left after one night and hightailed it back to Delhi for a good scrub and decent food.

Again 2 star at best, I have just looked at the hotel website, perhaps they have had a refurb as the bedrooms are nothing like what we stayed in but it does look as if they have built a new block at the back. Be careful…very very careful!

 

The Elgin Nor-khill, Gangtok

2 star at best, in need of the refurbishment. Click the logo to visit their website

 

 

Follow Debbie Allen:
Hi! Welcome to my life... travel is a lifelong hobby, bucket lists get longer... that's the whole joy of them! Originally from the UK I have now lived in Phuket, Thailand since 2008 and run a dream holiday rental agency on the island. In my free time I travel and thought it about time to share experiences, tips, do and dont's along with cherished memories and beautiful photographs - I hope you enjoy taking a digital trip alongside me and that you will emerge the other side with some new destinations in mind...

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