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SEE FOR YOURSELF

Visiting the school

Thinking of visiting Hannah Memorial Academy?

This area of North East India is a fabulous holiday destination, and visitors are very, very welcome to visit Hannah Memorial Academy. 

Information to help with your trip

The school is situated in a tea plantation about an hour’s drive from the beautiful and bustling town of Darjeeling, off the main road connecting Darjeeling with Bagdogra Airport.  It is a spectacular drive, both on the main road and on the road down to the school, passing small towns, scattered homes, with dramatic vistas across mountains and valleys (and if you are feeling energetic, it’s a wonderful downhill walk from the main road for a second visit, once you know the way, passing local hamlets, with spectacular views across valleys and tea plantations, often meeting friendly locals.)

When to go? 

It is crucial to pick your dates carefully – and here is why…

Firstly, the weather – most of the annual rainfall occurs between the beginning of May and the end of September. At this time, it’s hot and humid and rain can be very, very heavy and continuous, not only disrupting travel due to landslides, but also bringing heavy cloud coverage and misty weather which completely blocks out the beautiful and amazing views of the Himalayas that are seen from all over town in the dry season, from November to April.

Secondly, Term dates in Darjeeling and NE India are very different to those in the UK! If you come in school holidays, all you will see is the buildings … and if you come in the rainy season, you won’t see the wonderful mountain scenery, so here are our visitor guidelines:

  • Spring Term starts around the 2nd week in February, with short holidays either side of Easter.
  • Summer Term then continues until August when there is a one week break (variable dates).
  • Autumn Term starts in late August and continues until the end of December. During this Autumn Term there are two short breaks:  Divali (celebrated all over India) and a regional festival – Dussera.  Dates vary each year, so it’s vital to check before making your plans to visit India – whilst they are fun and interesting times to visit, it is the most expensive, hotels and transport get booked out, and all schools in this area close for both, including HMA. Then comes Christmas and the start of the longest holiday, with all schools – including HMA- closed until mid to end February. Ask us for exact dates!

Our advice: Darjeeling is an interesting and bustling town all year round, with hotels at all levels, great restaurants, museums (the Himalayan Mountaineering Museum is outstanding) and things to do and see, as well as being a gateway town to Sikkim and Nepal.  It’s a great place to visit any time of year, but it is at its best between November and April.

Remember: If you want to visit HMA, it needs to be in term time, so do contact us as early as possible and we will check dates and advise you. Also, if you would like to stay a night or more in the lovely new Homestay there, adjacent to the school, we can book you in. It is a detached cottage, next to the school playground.  It is newly built and equipped, spotlessly clean and more than equal to a simple hotel room but with charm and character sleeps 2, with a large shower room with toilet. It is adjacent to Jason’s parents’ house, with interesting village walks and lovely home cooked meals.

Here you can sit in the sun for breakfast end enjoy the sights and sounds of happy children in the playground and classrooms, and they will be delighted to practice their English with you, and you are welcome to observe class activities as well as join in playtime fun!  Both staff and pupils really enjoy visitors, and we can put you in touch with previous visitors if you want to know more, just ask!  We can also give you lots of info and advice on our favourite hotels in Darjeeling, and all the wonderful things to do using Darjeeling as a base.

Finally, most visitors arrive at Bagdogra Airport and we can arrange for Jason to pick you up and return you at the end of your stay.  Visitors say this 2 hour drive up to Darjeeling with him is the most wonderful start possible to their visit to Darjeeling and Hannah Memorial Academy, and he is one of the most experienced and careful professional drivers in the area, with a comfortable large Toyota so you can really enjoy the magnificent and wonderful views on this spectacular drive. Especially when you know that Jason was chosen to drive Joanna Lumley around the area in it during the filming of her TV series about the region!

Top things to do in Darjeeling and the surrounding area

From spectacular mountain views to rich colonial heritage and historic temples and monasteries, Darjeeling has something for everyone. Below are just some of our recommendations for things you could do in addition to a visit to the Hannah Memorial Academy.

Take in the stunning mountain scenery with an early morning visit to Tiger Hill

Set your alarm for an early morning (3am) start to watch dawn break over a spectacular stretch of the Himalayas. From the viewing platform at Tiger Hill you can see the sun rise over India’s highest five-peak mountain range, Kanchenjunga. On a clear day you can even see the tip of Everest. It’s well worth the early start! The best months for mountain views are September to November when the skies are generally the clearest.

See where the world famous Darjeeling tea comes from with a tour of a tea-estate

Darjeeling is famous world over for its tea but visiting a tea plantation offers a unique insight into what happens before it makes its way to our supermarkets. Tours of the emerald-green tea plantations are plentiful and usually include a look at the factory and the tea picking process, ending with a tasting session of freshly made tea. Tea plantations remain the lifeblood of many communities and villages in the region and are also an important part of the area’s history.

Explore Darjeeling with a ride on one of the world’s highest railways – The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway 

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, otherwise known affectionately as the ‘Toy Train,’ is one of the few hill railways still operating in India and was made a Unesco World Heritage site in 1999. As the train makes its way along the main road and past local shop-fronts, it offers a great way to explore the town and surrounding area. A recommended journey is the Darjeeling-Ghum loop, which includes a stop at the Gorkha war memorial and the town of Ghum where you can find out more about the history of the railway at the small railway museum.

Visit some of the regions impressive religious temples and monasteries

Darjeeling and its surrounding towns are home to an array of fascinationg religious sites and buildings. Observatory Hill is sacred to both Buddhists and Hindus and is well worth a visit for the panoramic views over Darjeeling and the Mahakal Temple. You can also follow in the footsteps of the Dalai Lama by visiting some of his most frequented Buddhist monasteries such as the Ghum Monastery.

Step back in time to Darjeeling’s colonial past with a spot of afternoon tea at the Windamere Hotel

Once described by a famous colonial travel writer as one of the “three jewels of the Raj” the Windamere Hotel is probably one of Darjeeling’s most atmospheric hotels. Situated on Observatory Hill, the Windamere Hotel has retained much of its colonial charm and offers an experience that can simply be described as – like stepping back in time. Worth a visit for afternoon tea (4-6pm) on the lawn or a candle lit dinner in the quaint dining room.

Learn about Darjeeling’s explorers at the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and Museum

Founded in 1954, this prestigious mountaineering institute has provided training and support for some of India’s leading mountaineers. Within its complex is the Mountaineering Museum, which offers fascinating details of Everest expeditions (past and present) and the connection with Darjeeling. A tremendous museum, which can be combined with a visit to the nearby Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park.

For more suggestions on places to visit in Darjeeling in the surrounding area, you can visit:

 Alternatively, please use our contact page to get in touch via email and we will be happy to offer our personal advice and recommendations.

Support us now

Hannah’s school has united people of every age, from two continents, who want to help create a memorial for Hannah and benefit a whole community in one of the poorest areas of India – please join us in supporting Hannah’s school.

Donate

Jason’s story

How the school was started

The Hannah Memorial Academy is the vision of Jason Lepcha who was inspired to build a school in memory of Hannah Foster.
The school, in the Dhooteriah Tea Garden, is a lasting legacy to Hannah Foster, a 17-year old Hampshire girl who was murdered in the West End District of Southampton in March 2003 by Maninder Pal Singh Kohli.

Just over a year after Hannah’s tragic death, Jason Lepcha, a local taxi driver with a good understanding of English, was hired as a driver in Darjeeling by the chief murder suspect. He subsequently responded to a national appeal for information that led to the arrest of Mr. Kohli in Darjeeling in July 2004. In return for providing the police with the vital information, Jason received a reward of £4569 from the Hampshire Police.

Jason is an educated man from a modest background but he always had a dream to provide free education for the children in the Dhooteriah Tea Garden, one of the country’s poorest regions. Instead of spending the reward on himself, Jason used the money and help from the local villagers to secure a plot of land suitable to build a school on.
In 2005 Jason’s vision became a reality, with the opening of an English school in the Dhooteriah Tea Garden. The school is situated in the village of Santi Gram, 21 km from Darjeeling town, in the foothills of the Himalayas.

Today, Jason and his wife Isabella manage and administer the school under an Indian trust, with the support of 7 local Trustees. Most importantly, the school is named after Hannah and serves as living memory to her while helping the regions children to get a good start in life.

Jason pupil and pony Jason looking at progress Darjeeling 4650 Jasons pony

Christine and Roger’s story

How the trust was formed.

In November 2006 Christine and Roger had been travelling in Darjeeling, when their driver, Jason told them about his school. One day they visited it and immediately decided they would like to support such a wonderful, practical memorial.

They came home to Hampton and with the full support of Trevor and Hilary Foster, Hannah’s parents, started collecting funds. The school had opened with one building, 5 teachers, a few teaching materials and 22 pupils. Gradually, with a lot of hard work and cajoling, funding has enabled the school to grow to a maximum roll of 125 pupils.

Gradually, Chris and Rog involved their friends, sending books, funds and anything they could muster. Then in August, realising how much more funding is needed to guarantee the continuation of the school, they set up the Hannah Memorial Academy Charitable Trust.

IMG 2348 IMG 0868 Carpentry Building the school IMG 2353

The Charitable Trust

How the trust supports the school.

Purpose

The Trust supports the school through Jason, his family and the staff – who have the skills, knowledge, determination and vision – but not the financial wherewithal.

The Trustees:

  • Christine Browning, BSc (Hons) –  Company Director
  • Roger Maclaverty, LLB – Retired Solicitor, Notary Public
  • Camilla Maclaverty, LLB(Hons), MSc Overseas Development
  • Ben Pattie – Public Relations and Social Media
  • Ram Varma –  ACA Chartered Accountant, Treasurer
  • Helen Wilde – Charity Fund Raiser and former High Sheriff of Bristol

The work of the Trust is fully supported by Hannah’s parents Hilary and Trevor Foster, who are kept informed at all times of what we do and what is happening in Hannah’s school.

How we manage the Trust

The Trustees give all their time for free, charge no personal expenses, and apart from minimal essential costs, every penny raised is used entirely for the benefit of the school and its pupils.

Even our interest bearing Bank Account is free! School Budgets are agreed in advance, all expenditure is recorded and monitored, and our aim is for at least annual visits by one or more trustees.

The school complex Reception Class Working Hard Picture15