Perhaps the one place where time stands still is on a tea estate. Most of them have a rich history, and India, as we know, is home to several of them, from the undulating hillocks in the peninsular south to the steeper mountains in Darjeeling, or the famous tea gardens of Assam.
So, whether you’re looking to go sightseeing in the far-flung corners of the country, or simply seeking a relaxing vacation where you can unwind with a book, checking into a sprawling tea-estate property is a good way to spend your next break. And while you’re at it, don’t forget to indulge in some tea-sampling and up your game as a real connoisseur of the beverage.
While the most popular of them all is Darjeeling’s Glenburn Tea Estate, here are some other lesser-known Indian tea estate hotels for you to choose from.
Also read: 5 unique homestays across rural India
The Lodge at Wah, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh
Tea plantation owner Deepak Prakash originally built the lodge as a home for close family and friends in Himachal Pradesh’s Palampur. Built from mud, stone, wood and slate, the establishment, which was built by 2016, has six ensuite rooms spread out over three cottages. There’s also a living and dining area in the main cottage.
Besides personalised tea-tasting and tea-garden tours, the food at the lodge also deserves the spotlight. Menus are personalised as per the preference of guests, and made from seasonal and locally sourced produce. Most of the ingredients used to prepare meals are organic.
With a high-profile list of patrons – the likes of Kareena Kapoor Khan, Vidya Balan and her husband Siddharth Roy Kapur – this property, which is linked to Palampur’s biggest tea plantation, the Wah Tea Estate, is the ideal place for rest and rejuvenation.
Singtom Tea Estate, Darjeeling, West Bengal
A German priest called Joachim Stoelke began this plantation in 1854, making it the second-oldest tea plantation in the region. The name Singtom translates to “house of tigers and leopards” in the local language, which is what it was when the first tea bushes were planted here.
The resort on the estate is looked after by the fourth generation of the Chirimar family. Restored in 2014, the bungalow has four en-suite rooms, the largest of which is the king suite spread out over 800 sq-ft. And parts of the 1600-acre plantation, on which the guest bungalow is built, command views of the magnificent Mt Kanchenjunga. The 360 view point, located a short drive away, offers views of 100 Himalayan peaks from four countries. The property arranges picnics here for guests where they can enjoy fine tea and nibbles while taking in the vista.
The tea tasting tour and the tea factory tour can give you insights into how the world-famous Darjeeling tea is grown and produced. This is arranged on the plantation itself.
Prakritilaya Nature Homes, the Nilgiri mountains, Tamil Nadu
Arun, whose family has been engaged in agriculture and tea plantation for the last 60 years, is the host at the Prakritilaya Nature Homes. As the name suggests, guests can be one with nature in this retreat that stands amid a tea estate.
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The heritage bungalow, built in 1905, has a wrap-around verandah where tea produced from the garden is served to guests. In terms of living quarters, there are three options to choose from – the family suite, the luxury suite, and the premium suite.
Meals served in-house are vegetarian and prepared from farm-fresh organic ingredients. While relaxing here, you can enjoy their mini library or take up bird watching as a hobby. Don’t forget to check out the gift shop, where you can buy Orthodox and CTC teas from the Nilgiris.
Wild Mahseer, Balipara, Assam
Just 25 km out of India’s cleanest city, Tezpur, is the Addabarie Tea Estate (established by the British Assam Tea Company in 1864). At its heart lies the Wild Mahseer retreat spread out over 22 acres. This heritage property has a Burra Bungalow, five cosy tea bungalows and one cottage offering a total of 18 rooms.
The immediate vicinity of the retreat is home to 1,00,000 varieties of plants, 90 species of birds and over 72 species of butterflies. This property shares its campus with the Eastern Himalayan Botanic Ark.
While here, you can partake not just tea tours but also butterfly-watching, river rafting, and farm activities that offer you a chance to interact with the local communities. Wild Mahseer happens to be a part of the Balipara Foundation, which focuses on a community-oriented approach to conservation activities.
Parisons Plantation Experiences by Abad Hotels, Wayanad, Kerala
Inspired by the slow pace of plantation life, the Parisons Plantation Experiences retreat in Kerala’s picturesque Wayanad, offers two bungalows that sit on a 4000-acre tea estate. The Talapoya Bungalow is a heritage property and the Cherakara Bungalow is marketed as a boutique property.
While the earliest parts of this plantation date back 200 years, to colonial times, the property itself offers all the modern and luxurious conveniences a holiday-maker may want. There’s a swimming pool, rooms with quaint fireplaces, a gym and a spa. Guests can sign up for cycling tours of the estate, indulge in bird-watching, enjoy the property’s library and undertake tea-tasting and tea-estate tours at their leisure.
The multicuisine menu on offer features dishes that are prepared from locally sourced ingredients from God’s own country. Enjoy tea from the in-house tea factory on the premises.
Also read: Live like a tribal at these Bastar homestays
The lead image on top shows a guest of The Lodge at Wah identifying tea varieties on the property’s tea estate. (Photo courtesy: The Lodge at Wah)
