TEA TOURISM IN THE EAST HIMALAYA

The cultivation and brewing of tea in India has a long history. India is quite famous for its tea plantations especially in Assam, Darjeeling, Dooars, Cachar, Sylet Hills, Khangra, Kerala, Nilgiri, Terai and Travencore. Among these places Darjeeling, Assam and Dooars gain global popularity for the quality of tea they offer and also because of its beautiful scent. Commercial production of tea in India did not begin until the arrival of the British East India Company, at which point large tracts of land were converted for mass tea production. Today, India is one of the largest tea producers in the world, though over 70% of the tea is consumed within India itself. The culture still continues, and especially the Darjeeling, Assam and Dooars tea has immense popularity worldwide even today.
The world of tea has hardly changed in the past century in the Darjeeling, Assam and Dooars region. The culture surrounding the huge tea plantations is a unique phenomenon and is a lifetime experience.
Tea-tourism is a fast growing travel concept in the Eastern Himalayas, mainly in the Darjeeling hills and Dooars foothills. A retreat in tea gardens set amidst serene landscape is perhaps the most exotic and innovative way to enjoy nature. On the whole it is the lifetime experience to have a leisure walk through these tea plantations and experience its uniqueness.

In Tea Tour traveler can enjoy the various flavors depending on the places and on your requirement. Some ideas are given as under :-

• Accommodation in Tea Bungalow (well-preserved old colonial structures) with garden fresh bio-organic food.

• Tea Garden Walk .

• Tea Processing observation.

• Tea Testing.

• Picnic day out with Birding or fishing.

• Interaction with the Garden workers .

• Ethnic cultural program with bon fire.

• Nature tours, forest safaris and excursions.

• Hill toy train ride (Darjeeling Himalayan Railways).

We offer the finest guided and unguided Tea Tours covering the best Tea Plantation areas to :-

• Selim Hill Tea Estate, Kurseong, Darjeeling.

• Makaibari Tea Estate, Kurseong, Darjeeling.

• Glenburn Tea Estate, Darjeeling.

• Damdim Tea Estate, Western Dooars.

• Phaskowa Tea Estate, Alipurduar.

• Lankapara Tea Estate, Eastern Dooars.

Our tours, hand-picked by our expert Guide and field guides, promise an experience which is difficult to match elsewhere. For book a tour, please contact us at ecotrails.kolkata@gmail.com or guha.tuhin86@ yahoo.com