Tea Tourism – Emerging power in Indian Tourism

Tea tourism is a new type of tourism centered on tea plantations that is closely related to nature tourism. This new type of tourism concept not only helps the tourists get all the necessary information about tea but also allows them to experience the process of tea processing in the factory and learn about the lifestyle of the tea workers and their traditions.
Tea tourism offers the opportunity to stay in a heritage bungalow, homestay, or luxury guesthouse located within a green tea garden or estate. Apart from this, it provides tourists with opportunities for sightseeing, shopping, and other types of entertainment.
So, Tea tourism provides employment opportunities to locals, improves their standard of living, and creates an opportunity to showcase ethnic culture and heritage.

Currently, the combined efforts of the government and Indian tea-estate owners are working to bring Indian tea tourism to the world. So, tea tourism has emerged as a new force in global tourism, and its popularity is increasing day by day. Especially in north Bengal and Sikkim, there is great potential for tea tourism.

Tea Tourism – Why popular among tourists?

• Apart from the tea plucking process in the tea garden and the production process in the factory, you can also participate in the tea tasting session, which will be a memorable experience of a lifetime.
• Enjoy walks and short trekking routes amidst the natural beauty of the tea gardens that will refresh you.
• There is an opportunity to stay overnight in tea bungalows (some of heritage bungalows), homestays, or luxury cottages within the tea gardens. Tea workers can attend various cultural programs and festivals. You can also visit the tea garden villages (known as Basti) of tea plantation workers and learn about their simple lifestyle.
• The tea gardens of this region are known as popular tourist destinations for their unique beauty, hence the influx of tourists throughout the year.
• For those who love tea, there is an opportunity to taste and buy a variety of fresh teas.

Tea Tourism – North Bengal & Sikkim

The economy of this region depends on tourism as well as the tea industry. The natural location of the tea gardens and their beauty attract tourists immensely. Hence, the central and state governments are realizing that there is a huge scope for expansion of tea tourism in the region. That is why the concerned government departments have taken various developmental measures for its expansion. This will benefit the locals immensely.

Darjeeling is often called the “Champagne of Teas,” and it is the source of one of the most popular aromatic tea varieties in the world.

Tea Tourism – Tea Plantation Area of North Bengal & Sikkim

Tea Tourism – Attractions 

• Guided Tea Factory Tour
• Participate Tea Tasting Event
• Tea Garden Tour
• Trekking & Hiking
• Yoga and Meditation
• Picnic with outdoor activities like fishing, river rafting. Cycling
• Himalayan sunrises and sunsets
• Folk dances with a bonfire and barbecue
• Enjoy the dense green forest with diverse flora and fauna.
• Birdwatching
• Golf
• Visit the villages of the tea garden and interact with the tea Garden workers.
• Stay at heritage bungalows or homestays which are in the tea garden/estate.

Tea Tourism – Some of Famous & Popular Destinations (North Bengal & Sikkim)

◊ Temi Tea garden, South Sikkim, India

Established in the year 1969 By the Government of Sikkim.
This is the only tea garden in Sikkim and is considered one of the best tea gardens in the world as it produces high-quality tea. This tea garden is mainly known for its black tea. The best time to visit an organic tea garden is from October to December, and an annual popular tea festival is organized here.
                Stay & Food

• • Temi Dak Bungalow (A wooden Heritage Bungalow of British Era)
  • Cherry Resort (cherryresort.com)
  • Sarika Homestay (+91 87686 21857)

◊ Makaibari Tea Estate, Kurseong 

Known as India’s first organic tea producer and the world’s first tea factory established in 1859. Makaibari Tea Garden is playing a leading role in tea tourism.
http://www.makaibari.com

     Stay & Food

• • Heritage Stone Lodge with luxury facilities
  • Homestays of Makaibari : If you wish, you can stay in the 20–25 houses of tea-garden workers, which are managed by an independent self-help group at Makaibari Tea Gardens.
  • The Makaibari Guesthouse

◊ Chamong(Chamu) Tea Garden, Jorebunglow,Darjeeling

Established by British Planters in 1871.
The name of the tea garden is derived from a chirping bird called “Chamoo” in Lepcha.
                Stay & Food

• • Chamong Chaibari Mountain Retreat
    https://chamongresorts.com/chamong-chiabari-resort

◊ Glenburn Tea Estate (Tourism Division), Rangli Rangliot-Darjeeling

https://www.glenburnteaestate.com
Established in 1859 by a Scottish tea company in 1859.
                Stay & Food

• • The Burra Bungalow
  • The Water Lily Bungalow

◊ Singtom Tea Estate,P.O. Box Singmari, Darjeeling

https://www.singtomteaestate.com
One of the oldest tea estates in Darjeeling, established by a German priest, Joachim Stoelke (locally known as Father Steinthal) in 1854.
                Stay & Food

• • Tea Victorian Architecture Style Bungalow
    This heritage property was built in 1862 and world’s oldest tea estate-resort.

◊ Goomtee Tea Estate, Kurseong

https://kanoriatea.com/goomtee-tea-estate/
Established in 1899 by a German planter J.A. Wernicke.
               Stay & Food

• • Goomtee Tea Retreat (earlier it was known as Bara Bungalow)
    This heritage bungalow was built in 1900.

◊ Zurrantee(Juranti) tea estate, Chalsa – Dooars

www.zurrantee.com
You can visit Murti River, Gorumara National Park, Chalsa and Neora Valley National Park from Zurrantee.
                Stay & Food

• • Zurrantee heritage Tea Bungalow
    This colonial heritage bungalow was built in the year 1890 and is considered one of the oldest and most well-maintained bungalows of the region. Also offers excellent food to the tourists.

◊ Margaret’s Deck Tea Lounge (Goodricke Tea Pot), Tung -Kurseong

Located in the Margaret’s Hope Tea Estate which was established in 1864.
https://www.goodricke.com

In 1927, the tea estate was renamed from “Bara Ringtong” to “Margaret’s Hope” in memory of Lady Margaret, daughter of Mr. Cruikshank, the manager of the tea estate at the time.
There is a sad story behind this name.
Lady Margaret was very attracted to the beauty of the tea garden. She promised to return here when she went to England, but it never happened because she died of a tropical disease on the way back from England to the tea estate, and his hopes remained unfulfilled.

◊ Tumsong Tea Garden, Darjeeling

Established in 1867 by a German planter J.A. Wernicke.
Locals consider this tea garden the “Garden of Happy Hearts“.
                Stay & Food

• • Tumsong Tea Retreat (A 150-year-old Burra Sahib’s Bungalow)
    https://chamongresorts.com

◊ Phaskowa Tea Estate,Dooars

Established in 1897 by the British Duncan brothers.
This tea estate stretches from the Buxa Tiger Reserve to river Rydak. The estate has forests, which are a paradise for bird watchers and the natural habitat of Asiatic elephants. From here, you can easily visit the Royal palace of Cooch Behar, Rasikbeel Bird Sanctury, Jaldapara, Gorumara Reserve (famous for one-horned Asian Rhino) or the neighboring country of Bhutan.

                Stay & Food

• • Phaskowa Tea Estate Bungalow
    Located on a hilltop, the bungalow is a luxury accommodation for tourists. The food served here is varied and made with locally grown, fresh vegetables.

Tea Tourism – Festivals

TEMI TEA AUTUMN FESTIVAL
(Also known as Cherry Tea Festival)

The objective of this festival is to showcase cherry blossom and promote the famous organic tea of Temi to tourists. Every year, many nature and adventure lovers gather to enjoy this festival and the natural beauty of the surroundings.

Venue: Temi Tea Garden, South Sikkim
Time & Duration: November, three days long
Organized By: The Tourism and Civil Aviation Department, Govt. of Sikkim

Attractions of the Temi Tea festival:

• • Cultural Shows
  • Adventure activities like Paragliding, Ziplining.
  • Traditional Food
  • Hiking
  • Cycling
  • Camping
  • Jeep Safari
  • Exhibition of organic Temi tea, local handicrafts & handlooms.

TEESTA TEA AND TOURISM FESTIVAL

The festival is held every year to introduce tea lovers to various aromatic tea traditions. It is celebrated in a very grand manner. Apart from this, there is an opportunity to buy different kinds of tea, and various kinds of events are organized that highlight the local traditions.

Venue: Darjeeling & Dooars, West Bengal and Sikkim
Time & Duration: November – December and 3 weeks weeks
Organized By: The West Bengal Tourism, Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA)
and Sikkim Tourism, along with the Tourism Department of India Government.

In 2019, the West Bengal government changed its earlier tea tourism policy to promote tea tourism and create employment opportunities through the effective utilization of surplus land in tea plantations.
Government and private tour planners should promote it to reach more tourists and include it in mainstream travel packages. In addition to the development of the health and cleanliness of tea garden residents, scientific knowledge should be created so that this type of tourism will expand in the future. Home-bound tourists chose offbeat destinations, many of which were tea plantations, to stay during the COVID pandemic, which indirectly popularized tea tourism. Because tea tourism is still nascent in India. A significant aspect of this type of tourism is that your love for tea will deepen. There are still many tea gardens like Tukvar Tea Estate, Ambootia Tea Estate, Runglee Rungliot Tea Garden, and so on that I could not describe in this blog, but I will write about them when I get a chance in the future.

On April 1–3, 2023, the Second G20 Tourism Meet (tea tourism was one of the topics discussed) was held for the first time at Makaibari Tea Estate (in Kurseong), Mayfair Tea Resort (on the outskirts of Siliguri), and Darjeeling, respectively.
Delegates from various countries like the United Kingdom, Brazil, Mexico, Japan, Germany, and others attended this meeting.

• Assam is the world’s largest tea-producing region; hence, the region is also known as the ‘Tea Capital of the World‘.
• Father of the Indian Tea Industry: Charles Alexander Bruce (January 1793–April 1871) was a British naval officer, explorer, and author.

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