Bellevue Hotel Darjeeling - Lore of a Tibetan Family

The ties of the Pulger family with Darjeeling date back to the very inception of the place as a Hill Station by the British East India Company, in mid 19th century. Being leaders of Sikkimese Lepcha origin, earlier generation's heads of the clan excelled in political and diplomatic services to both, the Buddhist Kingdom of Sikkim as well as the Company, whose appreciation they skillfully converted into considerable real estate.

Following generations were involved in trans-Himalayan trade between Darjeeling and Lhasa by means of arduous muleteering, which also gave rise to regular intermarriage with the nobility of Lhasa. Upon the close-down of the trade routes across Nathu La and Jelep La due the Chinese occupation of Tibet, the Pulgers went local focussing on the hospitality sector.

Lawang Pulger (1926 - 2007), founder and former director of the Bellevue Hotel, was a grandson of Raja Tenduk Pulger, an eminent Lepcha noble during the British Raj. Trading between Darjeeling and Lhasa in his younger days he, later, worked for His Holiness the Dalai Lama for many years in what were the hardest times in Tibetan history. To mention a few of his appointments, he was a co-founder of "Tibetan Freedom Press" (the first Tibetan newspaper in exile), of the Tibetan Refugee Self Help Centre in Darjeeling and of the Central School for Tibetans (CST) in Darjeeling and in Kalimpong.

For many years, he served as a Tibetan representative to the Buddhagaya Temple Management Committee. He was awarded the President's Home Guard and Civil Defence Medal for Distinguished Service in 1984.

The Staff of the Bellevue Hotel mirrors the different cultures present in Darjeeling making this place's ambiance so unique. Tibetans, Sikkimese and Nepalese join hands to provide a pleasant stay at the Bellevue. Well rooted in their respective communities, they represent a wealth of insider's informations on any aspect of Darjeeling and the surrounding area they gladly share with travellers and guests.

The employees are carefully chosen and, usually loyal to the hotel for many years, make part of the family as well. They consider employment at the Bellevue Hotel a distinction, accordingly doing their utmost to serve our guests to complete satisfaction. The care of our staff exceeds the services standard to the Indian hotel business in general.