Walk down the main Mall Road in Darjeeling and ask anybody for the Plants' home, and you will be immediately pointed to a small path covered in flowers and coniferous trees. Almost hidden out of view, is a little cottage right out of the pages of a fairytale, and its occupants are Austin and Shala Plant - an architect and teacher respectively.
Local celebrities, the Plants have lived in this house for over 35 years. Not just that, Mr. Plant designed their home himself, and the pride in his eyes when he talks about it is unmistakable.
As you enter the living room in the Plants' home, you are greeted by sunshine pouring in through the wide windows, and lilting music coming from an old radio. Mr. Plant is a jazz enthusiast, and is almost always tuned into an American radio station. The room is complete with a wood chimney, a must for every house in Darjeeling.
The Plants are local celebrities in this part of Darjeeling, and have stayed in this home for around 35 years. They individually have very interesting pasts as well.
Mr. Plant's family were refugees who moved from Burma to Darjeeling when he was 4, when the bombings during World War II became too frequent and dangerous to live in. Mrs. Plant's great-grandfather was the Sultan of Afghanistan who relocated to India. Her full name is Shala Sultan, but she dismisses the title and says, “it’s just a title, everyone has one anyway”!
The Plants' home is a treasure trove of memories. This cozy dining area, flanked by a wall of curios and bookshelf on the right, and a piano on the left, is the place where you will see most of their antiques and souvenirs.
The Plants have lived a full, peaceful life in this beautiful home. Both their children are married and settled elsewhere, and after retirement both Mr. and Mrs. Plant have dedicated their lives to the services of their beloved Darejeeling city. Even though the design of their house is heavily inspired by colonial architectural styles, they are proud to proclaim that they are residents of Darjeeling through and through!