Artist’s Impression

Harsha Khanchandani on Kalimpong, India.

“In January, I ventured to Kalimpong in the Himalayan foothills of West Bengal, the closest hill destination to my hometown of Kolkata,” says artist Harsha Khanchandani, a devoted color enthusiast. “It was my first trip following an extended period of lockdowns, and it felt like an escape from long-imposed isolation and monotony. Every moment was a memorable one.” Among the most memorable parts of her trip was a stay at the Mayfair Himalayan Spa Resort, a storied, century-old hotel that dates back to Kalimpong’s days as a colonial hill station. The watercolor above depicts the property’s oldest building, built in 1900 as the family home of British trade agent David MacDonald. “Over the years, this dream-like pink cottage has hosted famous personalities like Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Edmund Hillary, Shirley MacLaine, and Richard Gere,” Khanchandani says. “Staying there made me feel like a celebrity myself. It was a vacation to cherish.”