In
the early days of the last century the hotel was the family home of
David Macdonald. After accompanying the Younghusband Mission to Lhasa in
1904 as interpreter, Macdonald was posted to Tibet as a British Trade
Agent, serving in Yatung and Gyantse until his retirement in 1924.
Macdonald assisted the 13th Dalai Lama's escape from Tibet in 1910, and
he was later invited to Lhasa in 1921. Prior to his retirement he served
briefly as Britain's Political Officer in Sikkim, in charge of Britain's
relations with Tibet, Bhutan and Sikkim.
After
he retired, with his large family grown up, Macdonald turned the family
home into a Hotel, and it has remained in the Macdonald family ever
since. It was here that he wrote his books “Land of the Lama” and
“Twenty Years in Tibet”. For many years it was managed by Macdonald's
three eldest daughters, Annie Perry, whose husband also served in Tibet,
Vera Macdonald and Vicky Williams. Today it is managed by Nilam and Tim
Macdonald, David Macdonald's grandson. They have ensured it remains, in
the words of the distinguished travel writer James Cameron, “a
collector's piece among hotels” and that little has changed since,
except perhaps with the addition of two annexes, to cater to the growing
influx of travellers. Cameron wrote, "this is a commonplace name for a
most exceptional place... no one was there an hour in the inescapable
community life of the place". It is a hotel of real charm and character,
with an atmosphere redolent of its close association with Himalayan
history.
The
great names of the region have all been guests here. It has been home to
Everest expeditions from the days of Mallory and Irving in the 1920's.
Hillary and Tenzing were frequent visitors, while it has also played
host to Mme Alexandra David-Neel, Charles Bell, and many of the other
British officials who travelled to Tibet in the first half of the
twentieth century, as well to other Tibetologists such as Prince Peter
of Greece, Rinchen Dolma Taring, authoress of “Daughter of Tibet”, Dr.
Joseph Rock, Heinrich Harrer, author of “Seven Years in Tibet”, Sir
Basil Gould, formerly Political Officer, Sikkim, and James Cameron,
author “Point of Departure”.
Accommodation
16
rooms, most with their own fire-places, attached bathrooms with running
hot and cold water, fitted with showers.
Food
The
cuisine is Indian, European with Tibetan and Local Gorkha dishes on
request.
Services
Car
hire, Local Tours, Safe Deposit, Money Exchange (presently restricted to
US Dollars and Sterling Pounds), Laundry Service, Barbecues in Winter
for large groups.
Other Facilities
Spacious grounds with front lawn and garden, cars drive to the front
door. We also accept payment by Visa, MasterCard and American Express
Credit Cards. There is a TV in the lounge and in the new blocks, but no
TV in the old blocks. There is an in-house generator in case of power
failure. All rooms have Telephones.
Room View
