Hotel Apsara

It’s cold here most mornings, so we spend a lot of time making sure the tea is hot. We’ve been at 61 Ladenla Road for a while now. Most people know the spot because it’s right in the middle of things. My family helps out with the rooms and the cleaning. It’s not a fancy place, just somewhere to stay when you’re visiting Darjeeling. Sometimes the fog gets so thick you can't see the building from the street. We try to keep things simple. The stairs are a bit old and they creak a little, but that's just how these old buildings are. People come here to see the mountains, then they come back to sleep. We don't have those big fancy lobbies you see in movies. Just a desk and some chairs where we sit and talk. If you need more blankets, you just have to ask. The water takes a minute to get warm in the pipes during winter. It's a quiet life up here mostly. We see a lot of travelers passing through to the market. I’ve lived in this area my whole life. My nephew helps with the bags when he’s not at school. We don't change much around here because the old ways work fine for us. If you’re looking for a place that feels like a real home in the hills, this is where we are. Just look for the sign on the road.