International Youth Hostel, Darjeeling
Category: Low Budget
Out of the two youth hostels in Darjeeling (one of which is the
GTA Run Youth Hostel located near the Gurdwara), the International Youth Hostel is undoubtedly more popular in Darjeeling. The reason being the convenience of location and availability of some essential services including food at a very reasonable price.
You can book one or more beds in a dormitory or even a private double room here. If you want to stay real cheap in Darjeeling, this hostel should be one of your first targets, irrespective of whether you are a youth, or a group of individuals or even families.
Why is it called International Youth Hostel?
Darjeeling International Youth Hostel is part of Youth Hostels Association of India (YHAI). And YHAI is a member of Hostelling International (HI) that has the largest network of youth hostels globally. This is why this hostel is known as International Youth Hostel.
The parent body HI is an international non-profit or a charity organization. It presently has more than 2,650 such youth hostels across 60 countries and numerous cities around the world. The objective of HI is to enable the young people all over the world to travel and explore the places while staying at affordable hostels.
Like its parent body, YHAI is also a non-profit organization. And like HI, the YHAI also offers memberships to youths of India. The members can avail member rates or discounted rates in all such hostels under HI all over the world.
Who can stay here?
While this is a Youth Hostel, but everybody including members, individuals, as well as families can book rooms or beds and stay in Darjeeling International Youth Hostel.
One doesn't need to be a member of YHAI or HI, and there is no restriction for non-member individuals or even families to book and stay here. But if you are a member, you can ask for discounted member rates by producing necessary documentation.
However, I know of cases where members were not given discounts at Darjeeling International Hostel. This is possibly because of the heavy seasonal demands. In any case, the rates are so low, even a member may not mind paying the usual rates and grabbing a bed here.
About the Hostel
The International Youth Hostel of Darjeeling was inaugurated on 5th August 2018. It's a large White & Blue building in which the four upper floors are dedicated to guest rooms and dormitories. The reception and the lobby is at the ground floor. The dining room and the kitchen are at the lower floors (basements).
Reception & Lobby
Once you open the door and walk into the reception area at the ground floor, you will notice a reception desk on one side. The lobby area in front is quite large and has sitting areas. This is where you can wait until your room or bed is allotted.
To the right of the front-desk you will see a staircase that leads to the rooms upstairs. While, to your left another stairway goes down to the dining room just below the lobby and then continues further down to the kitchen at the lower basement.
You can either book a double room with attached bathroom and enjoy privacy or book dormitory beds where you share the room and the attached bathroom with others.
Where is the Youth Hostel located?
The International Youth Hostel of Darjeeling is located on Hill Cart Road (NH-110) which is the main arterial road of Darjeeling and full of vehicular traffic. Actually from the Hill Cart Road, a narrow parallel side-lane leads down to the hostel in about 30 meters. But the building towers over Hill Cart Road and you can easily spot it from the main road.
The hostel is located at the lower town and about 250 meters before the Darjeeling Toy Train Station. While approaching Darjeeling town, it will be to your left and opposite the multi-level car parking known as DRC Car Parking. The locality is known as Chota Kakjhora.
The
Mall (Chowrasta) is about 20-minute walk from the Youth Hostel and that includes 1) a slightly uphill walk along the side-lane up to Hill Cart Road, 2) then a fairly easy walk up to Darjeeling Toy Train Station (about 250 meters), 3) then a fairly steep uphill walk along Ladenla Road, and then 4) a not so steep but still an uphill walk along Nehru Road.
The Rooms & Amenities
There are three categories of accommodations in the Youth Hostel. You can book:
One or more beds in a dormitory room, or
A private double room, or
Even a Suite Room.
The dormitory rooms are mostly 3 or 4 bedded ones, there are a few 6-bedded dormitory rooms as well. The hostel building has four floors upstairs... the rooms and dormitories are spread across these four floors. Each floor has 5 rooms of different types.
All floors have common balconies from where you enter the rooms. Only the suites have private balconies. The common balcony of the 4th floor faces the main road (Hill Cart Road) below, while the those of the first three floors face the backside of the building.
Common Balcony
From the balcony of the 3rd floor that faces the backside, you get nice view of the mountains including Kanchenjunga peaks on a clear day. However, the views from the first and second floor balconies are blocked by other buildings.
The backside windows of the 4th floor rooms provide similar views as that of the 3rd floor balcony. The dormitory rooms are mostly in the 1st and 2nd floors.
View from 3rd Floor Balcony on a cloudy day
A few words about cleanliness... when I compare the rooms of this hostel with other low budget accommodations in India, I would say that it's cleaner than many in its category. Some foreign nationals and others who are finicky about cleanliness, should look for other accommodations, preferably in a higher category.
I have heard some of them saying carpets covered with dust, bathrooms unclean, some complaining about no hot water and no showers, and so on. Some also complain about beds not made everyday... they won't be, that's how a youth hostel runs, it's not a hotel.
Private Double Rooms
You can book a standard double room for a private stay. The double rooms can accommodate two persons. There is a wall-to-wall red carpet in the room. Two single beds are joined together to optimize on the space.
Each double room has a cupboard (which is usually stacked with extra pillows and blankets), an LCD TV (which may not be in working condition), a small table with two chairs, a waste bin, etc. The rooms are simple and without any frills. There are power points for charging your phones. There is also a mirror in the room.
Each double room also has a window, and depending on the floor, you can either get backside view (4th floor) or the main road view (1st-3rd floors) through the window.
Each room has an attached bathroom with western-style toilet. There is a geyser in the bathrooms which can be used during fixed hours. However, if you need hot water beyond the stipulated hours, you can make a request and they usually switch it on.
The bathrooms have marbled floor, a wash basin with a wall mirror, and taps for hot and cold water (no shower), buckets and mugs.
Most rooms show signs of aging... you will see paints peeling off from the walls or there are damped patches. This is a common problem in Darjeeling particularly with low budget accommodations. If you overlook this, the rooms, in general, are good value for money.
The Suite Rooms
The Youth Hostel also has a few Suite Rooms on different floors that are available for booking. These are more expensive compared to the Double Rooms. These rooms are good for families who do not mind paying extra for some more comfort.
These rooms have private balconies. They have a separate sofa sitting and center table. One difference from the standard double room is, here the bed provided is a double bed and not two single beds pushed together. There is also a bedside table.
There is also a small extra room adjoining the main bedroom. These Suite Rooms can sleep a maximum of up to 4 persons. The attached bathroom is similar to that of a standard Double Room and has western toilet, geyser, taps (no showers), buckets and mugs, other than a wash basin and a mirror.
The Dormitory Rooms
There are mainly 3 to 6 bedded dormitory rooms in the hostel. These rooms are mostly available in the lower floors which have practically no views either from the balcony or through the windows. This is understandable, because people book beds here only to sleep at nights while exercising the cheapest possible option for a stay.
The Dormitory rooms are similar to Double Rooms and have attached bathrooms with western style toilets, geysers, taps, wash basins, mirrors, etc. The dormitories too have similar amenities as the double rooms, except, they don't have in-room TVs. However, the size of the cupboard is unlikely to be enough for all in the room to store their stuffs.
You can book a bed in the dormitory room and will need to share the room with other boarders. If you are with your family, you can book all beds in the dormitory and get privacy similar to that of the double rooms. I have also seen a family of four occupying a 3-bedded dormitory, so the hostel can also make such adjustments.
Staff Service & Dining
The number of staffs at the Youth Hostel are limited but they are friendly. The reception desk is manned by a South Indian person who can speak Hindi and English. There is also a Nepali lady who can speak Bengali other than Nepali and English.
There is no room service at the youth hostel as such. The main cook is from North India, a man of few words, but actually quite friendly. If you can manage him, he can get the morning and evening tea in your room, provided there is not much rush.
You will need to go down to the Dining Room at the basement for all your meals. The dining room is quite spacious and has several wooden tables and plastic chairs. There are also wash basins there.
The hostel serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as tea as per order. You will need to order all meals in advance because they prepare the meals accordingly.
Dining Room
Vegetarian Thali (Veg Platter) comprises of rice/roti, daal, sabji, etc. You can also get Chicken Thali which additionally has chicken curry. In breakfast, you can get bread with eggs, or puri sabji. The food preparations are okay, nothing great. The cook being a North Indian, you can expect some north Indian touches in the dishes. It is mainly for the reasonable price and convenience that boarders have their meals here.
A staircase from the dining room leads down to the fairly large kitchen at a level below. What struck me here was a geyser fitted on the wall which is used for hot water supply at the kitchen. Unless you are carrying your own drinking water, you can refill your bottle with hot or cold water at the kitchen (there are separate taps). However, I am not sure how well the water is filtered here, if at all.
If you are in a large group that has booked the entire hostel, you can get the entire kitchen to yourselves and cook your own food, or bring along a cook to prepare your food. They supply ovens and gas cylinders at additional cost.
Other Facilities
Although this is a low budget accommodation, the hostel does offer some additional services that could be very useful for some tourists. But keep in mind, unlike a hotel, the main door of the hostel is usually closed at 9:30pm. So if you are coming back late, you need to let them know in advance so that they can make necessary arrangements.
Wifi Connectivity
There are WiFi routers fixed on the outside wall of each floor. So, you can get WiFi connectivity at this youth hostel, even from your rooms.
Parking Facility
Although Darjeeling International Youth Hostel does not have a car parking of its own, there is a large multi-level paid car parking right opposite the youth hostel and on Hill Cart Road... it is known as DRC Car Parking which is managed by GTA.
You can park your car at the DRC Car Parking overnight or for several nights. There is an hourly fee. However, for 24-hours parking, you can get a lump sum rate. Go through
Darjeeling Car Parking to get more information including rates.
For motor-bikes, there is a provision of parking 2 to 3 two-wheelers at the reception area of the youth hostel. I saw a couple of two-wheelers parked there next to the staircase.
Local Tours & Transfers
The Ladenla Road and Nehru Road are lined with
shops of all types as well as many
budget & upscale restaurants, several of which are quite well-known. So, if you don't mind walking a little, then almost everything of Darjeeling Town is within your reach.
When you come out of the hostel building and walk up the short approach lane to Hill Cart Road, you can get buses and taxis right there. And if you want to
ride the toy train, the station is within easy walking distance, as well.
Darjeeling Station and Hill Cart Road
Indicative Costs
(Fare updated: August 2024)
During the high seasons (April - June, September - October, December - January), Dormitory bed: Rs.400/-, Double Bed Room: Rs.1500/-, Suite Room: Rs.2200/-
During the off seasons (i.e. the other months), Dormitory bed: Rs.400/-, Double Bed Room: Rs.975/-, Suite Room: Rs.1600/-.
Note that GST is charged extra.
A vegetarian Thali costs Rs. 150/- per person. A Chicken Thali costs Rs. 220/- per person.
How to Book
You can book dormitory beds, double rooms or suite rooms online through the website of Youth Hostels Association of India (YHAI) Website. This website takes booking in all International Hostels across India that are under YHAI. So, you need to first choose the hostel and then mention the dates. Here is the
YHAI Booking Link.
You can also call up the International Youth Hostel and book directly, or send them an email. They will send you the booking information and payment options.
Phone: (+91) 354 2252001
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