Tea Tourism trend started during the British rule. At present tourists from all over the world visit India every year to witness quality tea cultivation. In India Tea is the most popular beverage. The combined efforts of Government and Indian tea-estate owners have made Indian tea tourism a global name. Tea Tourism or Home Stay in Tea estate or Tea Gardens in Dooars, Darjeeling, Nepal, Sikkim, Assam, etc is fast-growing segments. It varies from the most luxurious ones to the basic ones. The cost may help in guessing the range. It is nearly INR 13000 to INR 1000 per tourists i.e. one room with all food ranges from Indian Rupees Twenty Six Thousand to Two Thousand for Two guests in double sharing stay. A tourist staying in the tea estate gets the opportunity to stay historic bungalow which invariably being built before 1950. They are renovated and is being promoted by various organization or individuals. It offers best of service and luxurious stay. It is not only a stay but a lifetime experience. The friendly people attached to the Tea estate generally offer the best of ideas and options. At present Homestay in North East India is improving by leaps and bound due to its awareness and with the number of tourist growing with time. Pristine nature, cool breeze, lush green grasses, lofty hills, blue mountains covered with mist & snow, forests teeming with wildlife and the colourful people make the stay memorable. Tea tour is truly a lifetime experience. One can participate from Plucking to Packaging including the manufacturing of Tea.
Two leaves and a bud .… Yeah, that’s what teas are made up off. Enjoy the sheer pleasure of Tea Tourism. Tea & tourism festival is held annually in Dooars and other parts of the district in the state of West Bengal. Visit Tea Factory and enjoy the pleasure of watching tea being made …… With acres of rolling tea bush and forest ……… Rivers and valley ………. Himalayan sunrise …………….. Wildlife with diversified flora and Fauna ………… Homestay with tea planters ………… Tea Tourism ……………. experience and learn the fascinating process of tea making ………………… Dreamway to Destinations offers tea tourism …………… Tour of lifetime ……………
Darjeeling tea plantations dated back to the mid-1800s as part of a British development of the area. The tea growers from this area developed distinctive hybrids of tea and fermenting techniques, with many blends considered among the world’s finest. Now there are nearly 100 gardens in the Darjeeling district, each producing its own distinct tea and flavour - Given below are the brief descriptions about some of those gardens which have Tea Tourism facilities - There are few Tea estate in Dooars they are Zurran Tea in Dooars, Phaskowa Tea Estate in Dooars, Cochrane Palace in Kurseong, Phaskowa Tea Estate in Dooars. Ambootia Tea Estate in Kurseong, Temi Tea Estate in Namchi (Sikkim), Kanyam Tea Estate in East Nepal, Glenburn Tea Estate in Darjeeling, Ghoomtee in Ghoom, Makaibari Tea Garden, Kurseong, Sourinee Tea Estate, Sylee Tea Estate & Fagu Tea Estate in Dooars, Tukvar (Puttabong) Tea Estate in Darjeeling, Zurrantee in Dooars (Chalsa), Selim Hills near Kurseong, Runglee Rungliot in Kurseong Subdivision.
Dooars is best for Tea Tourism. The Flora and the fauna of the region is diversified. The region is covered with forest and Tea Estate only and in between these virgin forests are the settlements of small tribes like Katamb, Mech, Rava, Oraon, Munda, Kora along with the smallest surviving tribe, the Toto. Besides the experience of wildlife sanctuaries and national parks, you can experience a visit to Gorumara National Park, Jaldapara National Park, Raja Bhatkhawa Museum of Nature Integration, Sub-Himalayan treks, or simply lie back and relax at the bungalow and let your soul soak in nature's splendour. Manas National park is also the extended part of Dooars which stretches up to the Brahmaputra
Nepal, Darjeeling, Assam, Arunachal, Sikkim, Tripura also have Tea Tourism but Assam & Darjeeling flourishes in this trade.
Tea Manufacturing in brief – Tea Plants are known as Camellia sinensis. Process stepwise are Plucking: The green leaf is harvested on a regular basis and the plucking of the soft two leaves and the bud is generally undertaken by well-trained staff. This is a process worth watching. Guests can join the workers to watch. Withering: Leafs is spread on troughs and kept for 08 to 12 hours. Controlled air is circulated between the leaves, initially to remove any surface moisture and thereafter to concentrate and bring the leaf to the soft and rubbery condition. Rolling: Mechanical process with chemical changes takes place. The leaf is passed through few sets of rollers to get it twisted and the leaf cell walls ruptured in Rotor vane machines. This leaf breakdown and fermentation start as soon as rolling is completed. Fermentation: Fermentation is basically oxidization of the enzymes that bring out the flavour, strength and the colour of the liquors and infusions. The process is run with Air and moisture. The leaf colour changes from greenish to a coppery brown. Drying: Removing of moisture and the arresting of fermentation. The leaf passes through driers, which have perforated sheets. Air is passed at a mild temperature and moisture removed through the perforated Conveyor. Grading: Initially series of grading and cleaning machines to remove the stalk and fibre cools it down. On Cooling its graded / sifted according to size and shape, as the trade demands. It is stored in airtight bins of boxes. The tea particles are kept as per the required grades of tea. Packing & Dispatching: Teas are hygroscopic and absorb moisture. Teas are packed in plywood tea chests of multi-walled aluminium craft paper lined pager sacks and dispatched to the auctions or packed into tea packs of various forms for distribution. Most popular brands of Tea are Black Tea, Green Tea, Oolong Tea and Orthodox Tea.
Two leaves and a bud….......yeah that’s what teas are made up off ............Enjoy the sheer pleasure of Tea Tourism.............. Tea & tourism festival is held annually in Dooars in the state of West Bengal........... Visit to Tea Factory and cwatch the produce………Join in a tea tasting session…………With acres of rolling tea bush and forest………………Rivers and valley…………….Himalayan sunrise……………..Wildlife with diversified flora and Fauna…………Home stay with tea planters…………Tea Tourism…………….experience and learn the fascinating process of tea making……………………..Dreamway to Destinations offers tea tourism…………………….. Tour for Tea .........................Tea of life time
We are in the verge of developing a new tea tourism site near Darjeeling and is looking forward to some real time activities. Visit to Tea Factory to watch the production, joining the tea tasting session even going round the tea estate along with the locals and the factory with one of the process executive to brief you about the process. Evening will be spent in jungle safari or to a nearby Lake for boating.
All the Darjeeling estates are heritage gardens, more than 100 years old.They export to most of the major tea consuming countries in Europe as well as UK, Japan, USA and the Middle East. Currently they are the world's largest producers of organic Assam and Darjeeling teas. Bed tea, cooked English or Indian breakfast, Lunch (packed lunch if on excursion), Traditional Afternoon cream tea, 4-course dinner, House wines, Beer, juices and soft drinks, Tea & coffee, Laundry, Tea garden & factory tour, Bungalow amenities are available with booking. Common features of all the rooms are Clean and crisp bed linen, baskets of fresh fruit and vases of fresh flowers from the garden, hot water bottles to keep you warm through the night, private bathrooms with old-fashioned bath tubs (fitted with hand showers), running hot and cold water, furnished rooms with antique furniture, etc are for guest to enjoy. Activities that guest can enjoy at a Chiabari are Tea Tour with a factory visit and tea-tasting session, Hiking tour of the estate, day excursion to the nearby villages, Riverside camping, day excursion to Darjeeling town, plant your own tea bush. A few other services that are available are staff on call round-the-clock, complimentary laundry service, selection of board games, library with a collection of books relating to local birds, wildlife and history, as well as light fiction and magazines, 4-wheel drive vehicle available at guest disposal to partake in any of the activities offered on the estate, full-time guide-cum-naturalist for all outdoor activities, E-mail facilities, mobile phones operate on the local network
Cochrane Palace – Situated on hilltop in the Himalayas at an altitude nearly that of Darjeeling. It is 50 kilometres from Bagdogra Airport (IXB) / New Jalpaiguri Railway station (NJP) and over an hour and half drive. Darjeeling is also an hour drive from Kurseong. With spectacular views this luxurious resort was converted from a colonial residence with huge rooms, unique designs and modern comforts. Surrounded by tea estates with a library and a play room this is an Ideal location for leisure holidays. Tours to places like Darjeeling, Ghoom Monastery and with ride option in Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is nice. Early morning visit to Tiger Hills is also a great drive at around 0300 hours and the first ray of sun touching the Mount Kanchenjungha is refreshing. One can actually visit
Phaskowa Tea Estate - Phaskowa Tea Estate is situated near forests and one may witness a herd of elephants strolling. Lucky ones can come across a glimpse of the Leopard. One can have a safari arranged to Buxa Tiger Reserve, Jainti caves or visit Jaldapara wildlife or Gorumara reserve for viewing One Horned Asian Rhino. One can visit princely state of Cooch Behar for visit to the Royal Palace or visit the neighboring country of Bhutan and the entry is through the quaint town of Phuentsholling with its beautiful monasteries. This is also paradise for birdwatcher with the chirping and whistling of unknown birds can be heard at Rashikbill Bird Sanctuary. Rivers & streams, gushing and gurgling and diversified flora and the fauna are all reasons to visit these nice destinations. Virgin forests are also the settlements of small tribes like Toto, Mech, Rava, Oraon, Munda, etc.
Ambootia Tea Estate – This tea estate is one of the most beautiful tea estates with century old plantation. One can stay at Cochrane Palace with acres of tea bushes that appear like lush green carpet along the slopes covered with misty valley. We wish guest with a pleasant and memorable tour and will enhance your concept regarding tea. One will fall in love with tea. It is home to many of the Indian birds and a delight for people who like to get up in the morning to the sound of chirping birds. Tour Ambootia tea factory bio-organic tea estate. One can go shopping at the Tibetan carpet weaving workshop or trip to Darjeeling by the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway - a UNESCO World heritage project even go river rafting on the Teesta. The Tea estate is spread in lower Kurseong and is one of the best garden of the area.
Glenburn Tea Estate – Glenburn tea estate offer tourists an exclusive boutique hotel. Guests can stay at Burra Bungalow, or the Glenburn Lodge on the banks of the River Rangit. It is high-end and overseas visitors are the biggest draws. Situated in the Glenburn Valley this tea estate is about 50 minutes drive from Darjeeling with amenities like four suites, each with a private sit out and 2 bedrooms in the simple Glenburn Lodge down by the River Rungeet. Mesmerizing view of the hills and the river will certainly please the visitors. One can go rafting from here or visit Kalimpong or even drive to Gangtok. Ideally located and is having approach road from all the major tourist destinations of the region.
Makaibari Tea Garden – This tea estate is of a different class. Visitors here have the choice to stay at the heritage Stone Lodge or they can stay in any of the 20-25 houses of tea-garden workers close to nature and the community. In Makaibari, all activities are managed by locals. Rivers & streams, gushing and gurgling and diversified flora and the fauna are all reasons to visit these nice destinations. The revenues from tourists go to the villagers. Options range from visiting the tea-factory, horse-riding and bird-watching. It is home to many of the Indian birds and a delight for people who like to get up in the morning to the sound of chirping birds. In addition, they can also get a feel of a restored Darjeeling Himalayan Railway engine. All these tea - estates are on motor able roads linking all the major tourist destinations of the region. Tea tourism or home stay both the options are available here.
Singtom Resort - A beautiful Tea Tourism site. Singtom Resort is one of the finest Tea Bunglow for Tea Tourism. It is steeped in the history of Darjeeling. The resort is ideally situated inside Singtom and Steinthal Tea Estates. Singtom is Darjeeling’s third oldest tea estate, while Steinthal, planted in 1852, is Darjeeling’s oldest tea estate. Located at an altitude of nearly 4500 feet makes the location cold throughout the year. The Tea Resort opened its doors for the guest in the year 2012. An heritage property raised in 1862 as the bungalow of the director of Singtom and Steinthal Tea Estates, the resort had to undergo renovation to reach state-of-the-art standards. Spread over several acres of land, Singtom Resort is a lovely property with nice hospitality and tries its level best to pampar its guests with its culninary offer. Age-old fireplaces, the Buddha-centric decor, the wooden flooring, the smell of the world’s best teas, the breathtaking views of surrounding tea estates makes this place a paradise for tourist. Himalayan peaks / range can be viewed from Singtom Resort. It is perfect for relaxed family holiday or a spiritual experience.Four rooms are named as Victoria’s Peak, Steinthal Suite, Singtom Suite and Himalayan Suite.Spacious room with cozy atmosphere, attached bath with modern sanitary amenities and the 150-year old wooden flooring adds to the colonial ambience of the rooms. The atmosphere is mesmerising. A drink, food served near the old fire places make it warm enough to just chill out.Be at home in Singtam Resort and enjoy Darjeeling stay.
Sourenee Tea Estate - Set in the quaint Mirik Valley of Darjeeling, Sourenee Tea Estate is a sight to behold. Cradled in the lap of the Himalayas at an elevation of 5000 feet offering a picturesque setting. The place itself is company of solitude amongst nature’s pristine surrounds. It is nearly 50 kilometres from Bagdogra Airport (IXB) / New Jalpaiguri Railway Station (NJP) and is 01 hour’s drive. The journey to the garden is a comfortable one amidst breathtaking scenic beauty. After all the Sourenee Experience is all about ... a tryst with luxury amongst nature’s splendour - One of the finest location for Tea Tourism and is perhaps the most luxurious retreat of the region - Safety, Security and service are the top most priority and the motto is customer's delight. Activities includes factory visit with tea tasting session and informative interaction with the Leaf pluckers. Trip to Mirik Lake and Town and Jorepokhori. Sightseeing of Buddhist Monastery, Swiss Cottages, Observation point, Pashupati Market in Nepal border, Mirik lake, etc. One can also enjoy a day trip to Darjeeling. Sightseeing of the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute & Museum, Zoological Park, Unesco World Heritage Toy Train ride. Expert guide at extra cost. A 02 night 03 days or 03 nights 04 days even 04 Nights 05 days tour stay is recommended. It is newly operational hence the setup will really mesmerize any traveler / tourist.
Tukvar (Puttabong) Tea Estate – This tea estate is beautiful and the stay is nice and warm. Puttabong (Tukvar) Tea Estate was first planted in 1852. This estate has plantation mainly of Clonal and Chinese bushes. This huge garden stretches over an area of about 22 kilometres ranging from 1500 feet to 6500 feet in altitude. Rivers & streams, gushing and gurgling and diversified flora and the fauna are all reasons to visit these nice destinations. The products are named Puttabong Supreme, Puttabong Clonal Queen. We provide accommodation ensuring proximity to tea gardens while at the same time giving you much required privacy and quiet time that you may need whilst on holiday. Ideally located and is having approach road from all the major tourist destinations of the region. The property is a haven for Indian bird and a delight for people who like to get up in the morning to the sound of chirping birds.
Zurrantee in Dooars - Latest addition to the many tea tourism destinations in north east India. This is a heritage resort and is nearly two hour drive from Siliguri. The luxury resort is on one of the finest and newly promoted house. Though the house is over 100 year old British Bungalow and has been renovated to host the guest. Discover miles of tea gardens rolling down with the majestic mountains in the backdrop. It has recently opened itself up as a heritage tea tourism destination. They provide accommodation ensuring privacy and quiet time that you may need whilst on holiday. Ideally located and is having approach road from all the major tourist destinations of the region. This property is a haven for Indian bird and a delight for people who like to get up in the morning to the sound of chirping birds. In short it can be termed as nature’s paradise. Places like Suntaleykhola and Bindu are nearby. Drive to Gorumara reserve is also an option offered to tourist. The food is good and the people warm.
Chiabari (Tumsong) - It is located up in the Eastern Himalayas, a place called Tumsong, nestled next to the Kanchenjunga, the third highest mountain peak in the world, it is about more than a brand of tea or a holiday in a hill town, it's an experience best savoured when the tea and holiday come together in a Tea Retreat. This unique region, located at the northern tip of the state of West Bengal in India, is famous throughout the world for the teas produced in the 80 odd gardens surrounding the area. Nearly 5000 feet and the landscape is magical. Fresh air, the crisp breeze, the soft, misting rain all come together in a wonderland where the tea grows with a finer flavour than anywhere else in the world. It is 100% bio-organic in their cultivation methods.Tumsong is open to the public, started out as a tea garden back in 1867. The estate is situated around a temple called Tamsa Devi, a local deity. The temple stands on a steep slope that rises sharply from 2700 feet to 5500 feet and offers fantastic views of the majestic Kanchenjunga and the Golden Valley of Darjeeling. The tea plants here grow very slowly and flavour the entire estate with their aroma. The locals believe that the goddess Tamsa presides over this serene landscape and in fact the locals refer it as Garden of Happy Hearts.Other tea house are on the cards are Pussimbing – entirely bio-organic and an herbalist's delight, Lingia – a heritage garden and one of the oldest in the region, Chamong – of our trademark tea fame & Marybong – the highest tea garden in the area are close to Ghoom
Tea Tourism Academic Courses are arranged with the minimum six (06) guests. College group of 7 or 14 is best for the tour. Larger group can be accomodated but with annexure resort or hotels. Tea Classes and attending session of Tea Tasting, watching Tea Manufacturing are included in the classes that will be organised in the tour. A basic outline is given on the attachment Tea Tourism Academic Program