Summit Hotels & Resorts has signed a 24-key property in Samthar, an emerging mountain destination in West Bengal, as the hospitality company continues to deepen its presence across lesser-explored destinations in the Eastern Himalayas
Scheduled to open in October-November 2026, Summit Samthar – The Offbeat Collection will become part of the company’s recently introduced Offbeat portfolio, which focuses on destinations beyond established tourist circuits.
Located approximately 30 km from Siliguri, Samthar is surrounded by forests, tea gardens and Himalayan landscapes. Unlike the region’s more established hill stations, the destination remains relatively underexplored, with potential for nature-led and slow travel, hiking and birdwatching.
The upcoming property will have 24 Kanchenjunga-facing rooms, all with private balconies, along with an in-house restaurant, a private lawn, a tea garden, a children’s play area, common sitting spaces and extensive outdoor areas.
“Samthar represents exactly the kind of destinations we believe has considerable potential for the next phase of leisure travel in the region. Our experience in the Eastern Himalayas has shown us that when hospitality reaches lesser-known destinations, its impact goes beyond the hotel itself. It creates local employment, generates demand for transport and other services, and allows us to source produce and everyday requirements from local shops and suppliers.
We have seen this around properties such as Summit Bougainvillaea Tea Resort in Tindharia, Summit Tashi Ghang Heritage Resort in Pelling and Summit Enigma Resort & Spa in Lamahata. Our aim in Samthar is to become part of the local economy while introducing more travellers to the destinations without taking away the character that makes it worth discovering,” said Sumit Mitruka, Founder & CEO, Summit Hotels & Resorts.
The signing also builds on Summit’s strategy of expanding beyond established tourism centres into smaller destinations across the Eastern Himalayas. The company has identified destinations development as a key part of its Offbeat Collection, with hospitality investment expected to support local employment, tourism services and longer visitor stays in these markets.
For Samthar, Summit expects the new property to help introduce the destinations to a wider leisure audience while encouraging travellers to extend their North Bengal itineraries into lesser-known parts of the region. The development comes as Summit Hotels & Resorts broadens its portfolio through three distinct propositions, Offbeat, Signature and Mandir, spanning emerging destinations, premium destinations hospitality and spiritual tourism, respectively.
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