Tea, or Chai as its devotees call it throughout India, is the nation’s second-most-popular beverage, after only water. If you like drinking tea, you’ve probably experienced a twinge of regret at least once when you forgot to make yourself a cup of tea first thing in the morning. Picture yourself relaxing in front of a beautiful green tea plantation while drinking your favourite chai and taking in the sights and sounds of your surroundings.
10 Mesmerising tea plantations in India that tea lovers must visit
The tea plantations of India are settings that exude both beauty and tranquillity. Therefore, grab your bag and go as fast as you can to some of the best tea estates we have selected for you here to experience a one-of-a-kind high that you have never felt before.
Cherry Resort- Namchi, Sikkim
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The Cherry resort is the ideal haven for vacationers who are planning to sample the mouthwatering specialities that Sikkim has to offer. This little inn has the most impressive resort location in all of Sikkim since it is perched on the slopes of the verdant green carpet that is the Temi tea estate in South Sikkim. The picture-postcard vistas of the snow-capped mountain Khangchendzonga, the drifting clouds and mysterious mists, and the acres of green tea garden sheltered by flowering cherry blossoms form an amazing setting for this romantic getaway.
Cherry Resort is an excellent escape for anyone looking to relax in elegance since it is situated amid one of the most spectacular tea farms in Sikkim. The dining room has breathtaking views of the tea plantation and blue mountains, providing a pleasant atmosphere in which meals are served. You can stroll around the tea gardens and appreciate the surrounding natural scenery. The location is ideal for seeing the daily activities that take place on a tea plantation from morning to sunset. You also get the opportunity to see the Tea processing facility that is situated nearby.
By Air: Bagdogra Airport is the closest airport and is located 101 kilometres away from Namchi. The airport has frequent Airs to all main cities in India, including Delhi, Kolkata, and Mumbai. The journey from the airport to Namchi can be made by shared taxis or private cabs. Gangtok and Bagdogra are also linked to Namchi via helicopter services.
By Train: The closest train station is New Jalpaiguri in Siliguri, West Bengal, which is about 98 kilometres away from Namchi. Gangtok is 78 kilometres from Namchi, and the easiest method to reach Namchi is to first go to Gangtok and then drive to Namchi.
By Road: Through National Highway 31A, visitors can reach Namchi from Gangtok, Yukosom, and Pelling. Irrespective of the weather, bus and taxi routes are maintained consistently.
Makaibari Tea Estate – Darjeeling, West Bengal
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The Makaibari Tea Estate is perhaps the most renowned and historic tea plantation in the Darjeeling region. This is one of the oldest tea estates in Darjeeling, having established its first factory in 1859. Makaibari is situated in Kurseong, almost halfway between Bagdogra International Airport and Darjeeling City Centre. Every day, 700 individuals from the local community work in the tea gardens, most of whom are women.
In 2005, several Makaibari villagers and tea garden employees decided to rent out a portion of their houses to tourists and visitors. This was done to accommodate the visitors’ persistent requests for chances to explore the garden and its activities over a few days. A guided tour of the tea gardens is available, which includes walking through the estate and tea bushes, observing the garden workers plucking teas (depending on the season) and conversing with them, and learning how tea is processed in the factory from drying to packaging, and partaking in a tea tasting session, among other activities.
By Air: The airport closest to Darjeeling and the tea plantation is Bagdogra Airport in West Bengal. Bagdogra links significant Indian cities such as Kolkata, Guwahati, and Delhi. One can rent a taxi or cab from the airport to reach the hill station.
By Train: If you want to go by train, you should travel to New Jalpaiguri since it is the closest station (80km) from the hill station. The station has excellent connections to the major Indian cities of Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Chennai.
By Road: Darjeeling area is also easily reachable by car with excellent road connections to other cities such as Kalimpong (51 kilometres distant) and Gangtok (100 kilometres away).
Glenburn Tea Estate – Darjeeling, West Bengal
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If you’re a tea fan or just want to visit a beautiful, verdant estate, you should check out Glenburn Tea Estate, which is nestled in the Himalayan foothills. You will be able to see the production of Darjeeling tea, which is renowned for its taste while relaxing in peace with nature on the tea estate’s expansive 1600-acre grounds, which include stunning scenery.
The majestic Kanchenjunga Mountain can be seen from each of the eight luxurious rooms that are included in the stunning bungalow the estate provides for your convenience and pleasure. Do not pass up the opportunity to go to Happy Valley Tea Estate while you are in the Darjeeling area; it is one of the oldest in India and is well-known for producing tea with a taste that is reminiscent of fragrant flowers.
By Air: Bagdogra Airport, which is the closest airport, is serviced daily by Air India, Spice jet Indigo, & Go Air from Kolkata (45 minutes), Guwahati (30 minutes), and New Delhi (two hours). Visitors are suggested to take the direct connection (Delhi-Bagdogra-Delhi), which significantly shortens the travel duration. It takes 3 hours to reach Glenburn from Bagdogra airport. Helicopter charters and taxi rides can be arranged upon request from Glenburn estate.
By Train: New Jalpaiguri Jn, 82 km away, is the closest train station. The trip from the train station to Glenburn estate takes 3 hours by car. Most of the route is along the Teesta River; after crossing the river into Sikkim at the bridge, you’ll drive down into the Glenburn valley before starting your ascent to Darjeeling.
By Road: Alternatively, you could drive through the verdant tea plantations of the Dooars before ascending into the hills via the city of Kurseong, then following the Toy Train railway tracks past charming stations and villages all the way to the outskirts of Darjeeling Town before turning off towards Glenburn.
Gatoonga Tea Estate – Jorhat, Assam
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Are you wondering which place is known as the tea garden of India? It’s Assam.
Gatoonga Tea Estate is a favoured location for many tea enthusiasts who seek to enjoy a one-of-a-kind experience of living on a tea plantation. The estate is located close to Jorhat, a city with air connection, making it easily accessible. You can have fun hiking around the estate and get the finest possible view of the tea production process. To gain a look into the history of tea plantations in Assam, be sure to arrange your stay at the historic colonial house known as the Banyan Grove, which is located on the Gatoonga Tea Estate.
The Banyan Grove has a history dating back more than one hundred years. If you want a more varied experience and have the time for it, book yourself in one of the Jorhat Tea Bungalows situated among Tea estates for a few days of the unique pleasure of gracious living in the lap of nature. All of these bungalows date back to the colonial era when they belonged to the tea planters.
They have been kept in good condition up until now so that you can have the unique and unforgettable experience of living on a tea plantation in the same manner that the planters did. The picturesque golf course, which was formerly a part of the tea plantations, is an extra feature that can be found at some of these Bungalows and adds to the overall elegance of your stay.
By Air: Jorhat Airport, also known as Rowriah Airport, is situated inside the city, which makes air travel to the area much more convenient. There are regular Airs from this airport to other important cities in Assam, such as Guwahati and Dibrugarh.
By Train: Jorhat’s rail connection is supplied by the Furkating Mariyani branch railway station, from which there are frequent trains to Guwahati. It is also well linked to the rest of India and the other important cities in Assam. From the station, bus and taxi services are readily available to all points inside the city.
By Road: The distance between the cities of Jorhat and Guwahati is about 308 kilometres (6 hours), which is covered by frequent bus services. Both governmental and private bus services provide transit to and from the location. The Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) operates bus services to Kaziranga, Guwahati, Tezpur, Sibsagar, Tinsukia, Dimapur, and Itanagar.
Cooch Behar Tea Estate – Cooch Behar, West Bengal
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Cooch Behar Tea Estate is a popular tourist destination in the Indian state of West Bengal. The region is home to many tea farmers thanks to its location on the foothills of the Darjeeling Hills. If you like travelling through natural environments, you will have a wonderful time going along the riverside of the Saniajaan River and through the lush tea farms there.
You can either watch the process of plucking tea or try it yourself. You can also observe how tea is processed by going to one of the tea factories. The iconic Rajbari in Coochbehar can be seen on a day excursion, along with the rest of the town.
By Air: Bagdogra Airport is the closest airport, around 153 kilometres from Cooch Behar. Delhi, Kolkata, and Guwahati, among others, can all be reached easily from the airport.
By Train: Roughly 5 kilometres outside of the city proper lies the railhead of New Cooch Behar. From Cooch Behar, frequent trains run to and from the major Northeast Indian rail junctions. In addition, the nation’s main cities, such as Kolkata, Mumbai, and Bangalore, can all be reached by trains that stop at the Cooch Behar railway station.
By Road: Cooch Behar is now one of the most accessible cities in the state, thanks to the efforts of both public and private operators. Close to the Rajbari lies the Central Bus Terminus, from which the vast majority of buses set off.
Darang Tea Estate – Darang, Himachal Pradesh
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The Darang Tea Estate has been in the same family for more than 150 years. It was one of the earliest plantations in India to be established by an Indian. The Estate is about one hour’s drive from McLeodganj. You will be introduced to soul-nourishing tranquilly and amazing natural splendour in an area of Himachal Pradesh that is still relatively undiscovered when you visit the Darang Tea Estate.
Cosy cottages can be found tucked away on the estate, each with a view of the snow-capped peaks of the Dhauladhar range in the Himalayas. In addition to being encircled by acres of tea garden and serenaded by the babbling waters of a khud (mountain stream), visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy both the cosiness of a homestay and the seclusion of an elite resort all in one location. This picturesque region is well-known for activities like hiking and skiing, as well as for its Buddhist temples and monasteries. The area is known for its peaceful atmosphere, which can be attributed to the substantial Tibetan influence that exists here.
By Air: Gaggal airport in Dharamsala is around 24 kilometres distant, making it the closest airport to Darang. To get to the estate from there, you can either take a cab or ask the homestay to arrange for a pick-up service for you.
By Train: Pathankot is the closest station for tourists who wish to go a long distance by rail. The railway station is around 100 kilometres from Darang Tea Estate. When you reach Pathankot, take a cab or a bus to Darang. Pathankot’s local gauge also provides access to the Nagrota railway station, eight kilometres from Darang.
By Road: Frequent Volvo buses run directly from New Delhi to Dharamshala and Palampur. If taking a cab or driving yourself from Delhi, you will pass via Chandigarh, Una, Kangra, and Darang.
Kelagur Tea Estate – Chikmagalur, Karnataka
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The Kelagur Tea Estate is a well-known tea estate in Karnataka for its organic method of producing tea, which is then distributed all over the globe. This sprawling centre of evergreen and lush vegetation was established more than seven decades ago and currently covers an area of 1500 acres. It is a significant destination for tourists, in particular those interested in tea.
You get the opportunity to learn the time-honoured methods used in the production of tea by paying a visit to the factory and the estate. The Kelagur coffee and tea plantation is one of the oldest, still employing the original techniques for making its product. At this tea estate, in addition to having the opportunity to walk around the coffee plantations, you can also have a look at the newly grown leaves. You will find a little kiosk at the front of the property where you can purchase organic tea to take with you when you leave.
By Air: Located around 110 kilometres away from Chikmagalur, the Mangalore airport is the one that is closest. You can take a bus or rent a cab to go to Chikmagalur from Mangalore.
By Train: Despite having its own station, Chikmagalur is not well-connected. Therefore, the closest train station to Chikmagalur is the Kadur train station, which is 40 kilometres away. Buses, taxis, and local transport services are easily accessible from the Kadur railway station.
By Road: Chikmagalur has excellent transportation links to many important cities, including Bangalore, Mangalore, and Chennai. From each of these cities, several buses go to Chikmagalur regularly. Taxis are also easily accessible.
Nilgiri Tea Plantation – Coonoor, Tamil Nadu
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The Nilgiris, located at the southernmost tip of the Western Ghats in the Coonoor region, are also often referred to as the Blue Mountains. The Nilgiri Mountains are home to some of the most beautiful hill stations in the nation, with an elevation of 1000 and 2500 metres. In addition, the hills are most well known for the huge tea plantations located there. Nilgiri tea farms, unlike those in other major tea-growing regions in India, can consistently provide their famed tea all year long.
Black and Oolong are the main types of tea grown here, and their scents and tastes differ from those found in the rest of India. The high heights of the Nilgiri tea plantations are largely responsible for this anomaly. On a trip to the Nilgiris, you won’t want to miss out on seeing prominent tea plantations, including Craigmore, Pascoes Woodlands, Nonsuch Dunsanadale, Parkside, Glendale, Tiger Hill, Colacumby, and Corsley. The local government in this region of India is responsible for hosting an annual Tea and Tourism festival.
By Air: The airport that is most convenient for visitors flying out of Coonoor is Coimbatore Airport, which is situated roughly 70 kilometres away. The airport offers scheduled services.
By Train: With a distance of 45 kilometres, Mettupalayam is the closest major railway station to Coonoor. There are connections to all of the states and the nation’s main cities from this station.
By Road: The Mudumalai Tiger Reserve and some breathtaking hairpin turns are some of the highlights of the journey by road to reach Coonoor, which is one of the reasons why travelling there by car is considered to be one of the most effective methods to get there. There are bus services regularly between Ooty, Mettupalayam, Coimbatore, Bangalore, etc.
Kolukkumalai Tea Estate- Bodinayakanur, Tamil Nadu
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The Kolukkumalai Tea Estate is the world’s highest elevation tea plantation. The estate grows tea following the traditional technique at their time-proven tea factory, located at an altitude of 7900 feet above sea level. Kolukkumalai exclusively produces the best quality tea using conventional methods, which involve a lot of manual effort to produce only a limited amount of leaves per hour. You just need a taste of their tea to understand why it is regarded as among the world’s greatest.
You should go to this tea plantation in India since it is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful places in the world. Doing so will provide you with a memorable and enjoyable experience. You can take a tour of the breathtaking tea farms, get familiar with the traditional way of tea processing that is utilised at this plantation, and of course, sample some of their delectable tea while taking in the splendour of Kolukkumalai.
By Air: The airport closest to Bodinayakanur is located in Madurai, which is around 94 kilometres away. Taxis are easily available from the terminal. Alternatively, one can also take a bus from the Periyar bus terminal, located roughly 7 kilometres from the airport.
By Train: The Madurai city centre and the Bodinayakanur Railway Station are serviced by two passenger trains consistently.
By Road: There are bus services that frequently run between all of the major cities in the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala to Bodinayakanur.
Kanan Devan Hills Plantation – Munnar, Kerala
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Kanan Devan Hills Plantation in Munnar is a prominent tourist destination that can be found in the Idukki district of the state of Kerala. Visitors to the plantation are captivated by the meticulously tended tea plantations as well as the astonishing biodiversity that can be seen there. It was in the year 1880 that the Kanan Devan Hills Plantations Company (KDHP), whose tea estate factory is now held by the Tata Tea plantation, was first established.
A large expanse of tea plantations spread out across the slopes of Munnar’s hills provides a revitalising atmosphere all around while also providing breathtaking views of the nearby hill station. The country’s first tea museum can be found in this century-old tea plantation, and it portrays the development of the plantation from its beginnings with a simple tea roller to its modern state as a fully automated tea factory.
The Tea Museum is India’s only tea museum and is open from 10 am to 5 pm daily. You can be certain that going to the museum will give you a memorable and enjoyable experience.
By Air: The nearest major airport to Munnar is the Kochi International Airport, around 104 km away. As soon as you leave the terminal, you can book a prepaid taxi ride. You can also get a bus from the airport terminal to the bus station in Ernakulam or Vytilla, and from there, you can continue on to Munnar.
By Train: As a hill station, Munnar is not linked to a railway network. However, the Kochi city stations of Ernakulam and Aluva are the nearest to Munnar. From there, you would need to either take a bus or a taxi to Munnar.
By Road: Munnar is easily accessible from many important cities in India, including Bangalore, Coimbatore, Kochi, Madurai, and Ooty. Buses operated by the state governments of Kerala and Tamil Nadu are both accessible. You can also take a taxi or rental car to go to Munnar as an alternative.
FAQs
Which city is known as the tea capital of the world?
When and where is the tea festival held in India?
The Tea Festival is celebrated every year in Jorhat, located in the state of Assam, in the northeastern part of India. The annual great tea festival takes place throughout the year's colder months, often between November and January.
Which place is known as the tea garden of India?
Assam is known as the tea garden of India. It is home to one of the world's biggest tea plantations, making it a major player in the global tea trade. In fact, the only regions in the world with their own native tea plants are Assam and Southern China.
When would you recommend making a trip to the Coonoor Tea Estate?
The ideal time to visit Coonoor Tea Estate is between October and March, during the winter season. This time of year, the environment stays pretty nice and pleasantly cool, luring travellers from all over the globe. You may also organise your trip throughout the rainy season.
When is the ideal time of year to go on a tour of the tea plantations in Darjeeling?
Make your arrangements during the warmer months of the year (April to June). During this period, Darjeeling and the areas around it have temperatures that are ideal for the growth of vegetation, making it an enjoyable experience for visitors.
Which is the world's highest tea plantation?
The Kolukkumalai Tea Estate is situated 35 kilometres west of Munnar, India, on a steep hill that rises above the Tamil Nadu lowlands. This particular tea plantation is the highest one in the world, situated at the height of around 8,000 feet above mean sea level.
