DukeRaj Homestay

This was my first time staying in a homestay and it turned out to be a truly memorable experience. From the moment I reached New Jalpaiguri Railway Station, Mrs. Lhakyi was in constant touch, guiding me on where to get down in Darjeeling and making sure I reached the right location without any confusion. That level of care, even before arrival, really stood out. When I arrived, I was warmly welcomed by her, along with the sweetest companion, “Sete,” their friendly white dog, who instantly made me feel at home. I was offered a hot cup of tea and we had a lovely conversation about my journey and their life in Darjeeling. It felt less like checking into a stay and more like visiting someone’s home. The room was exactly as shown in the pictures - warm, cozy, quiet and most importantly, very clean. Thoughtful notes were placed around to guide guests and although the bathroom is outside, it is private, which was perfectly convenient. The space also had a comfortable convertible sofa, adding to the overall comfort. During my stay, I also met Mrs. Urmila, who helps with the household and later Ms. Depanita, who manages the homestay’s social presence and shared helpful insights about the local culture and places to explore. The home-cooked food was absolutely amazing — simple, fresh and comforting. Small gestures, including a token of gratitude at the end of my stay, made the experience even more special. I spent two nights here and genuinely felt at ease throughout. For any solo traveler, this kind of homestay offers an experience you won’t get in hotels — warm, personal, and authentic. The location is also convenient, with many key spots nearby. I ended up covering around 41km on foot during my stay, so getting around is quite manageable. Thank you all for making my stay so memorable. I came to Darjeeling after 22 years and I’m taking back so many wonderful memories. I’ll definitely visit again soon. Best wishes for the future ❤️

Honestly, nothing. I only wish I had stayed longer.

Lucky is such a lovely woman and fun to be around. She really welcomes you into her home and the family. She even brought me tea and a hot water bottle when I was sick and helped me get medicine also. I had a wonderful evening eating delicious homemade momos followed by hanging out and karaoke - her and her daughter both sing beautifully. And there is also plenty of your own space if you want to spend time alone. Was quite cold when I was there but she provides an electric bed heater and a hot water bottle if you want one so sleep is cosy. And bed is really comfy with soft pillows and as many blankets as you'd like. Not quite exactly where it says it is on googlemaps so I advise calling when you arrive rather than searching yourself, but location is good and she's happy to come and meet on main road.

Only one thing that the bathroom is across the hall from the main rooms - whole apartment is yours and bathroom not shared, but hallway is potentially visible by other guests so just makes showering a bit more tricky. Pedantic and not really a problem actually, but did just throw me a bit when I first arrived as was different to what I was expecting so thought maybe worth mentioning

It was spacious, clean, private and a great location. As a solo female traveler it felt very safe. Lhaki was the star attraction of this place though - she made me feel incredibly welcome, showed me around town, hosted an awesome karaoke night and served a wonderful breakfast. I had never done a homestay before and was a bit nervous about it but she absolutely converted me! It was the cheapest and also best place I have stayed :)

It was a bit cold at night at times, but I did go during their winter!

Staff behaviour

Location