Do you know India is one of the largest tea growers of the world? If there is one thing that Indians are known for, it’s certainly their love for tea.We fondly call our tea ‘Chai’ and it is perhaps the second most-consumed drink after water. If you are a tea lover you must have felt the pangs if someday you missed your refreshing morning cup of tea.
Have you ever pictured yourself sipping on your favorite cup of tea amidst a lush green tea garden soothing both your eyes and mind? Indian tea gardens and estates are filled with beauty and serenity. We don’t need an excuse to sit back with a cup of piping hot tea, come rain, sun or snow! So pack your backpack to dash towards intoxicating lush green tea plantations and the aroma of freshly harvested tea.
Here are some of the most beautiful tea gardens in India for you to explore.
Margaret's Hope Tea Estate, Darjeeling
Darjeeling is surrounded by tea plantations known to produce floral smelling light colored tea. A quarter of India's total tea output comes from Darjeeling. Situated in the northern valley of Kurseong, Margaret’s Hope tea Estate is a tea lover’s paradise- this beautiful estate spread over 1450 acres has a beautiful landscape with flowing streams and wildflowers allowing you to be in harmony with nature and closely enjoy the process of making Darjeeling tea, famous for its flavor. One can also stop by the estate’s innovative tea lounge called Margaret’s Deck and try out some exotic teas and continental food. This ‘Ship’s deck’ shaped tea lounge offers a panoramic view of the rolling hills in front where you could just sit and spend a lazy afternoon gazing at the blue horizon of the sky. A tea garden with a tea lounge! What more can one ask for? This tea estate in Darjeeling is one you cannot miss at all.
Temi Tea Estate, Sikkim
Situated in south Sikkim in the Tandong mountain range, Temi Tea garden is a hidden secret of the state of Sikkim. This sprawling and scenic tea estate is filled with miles upon miles of lush tea plantations and is one of the finest producers of organic tea in the world. The estate also offers a stunning view of the snow-capped Kanchenjunga which is bound to mesmerize anyone and if you visit in the months of March-May, you’ll find this beautiful place ornamented with rich fields of orchids, well-trimmed cherry blossoms and the gorgeous rhododendrons. The Temi Tea Estate is a picture-perfect location up the hills.
Nilgiri Tea Plantations, Tamil Nadu
Tea has been grown in the mountainous Nilgiri district for more than 100 years, and is the most important industry in the region. The splendid hills of Nilgiris which literally translates to blue mountains is always an inviting destination to take your blues away! This hill station also offers a tea tour to the lovely lush greenery of over 100 years old tea estates famous for their distinctive dark and intensely aromatic tea. One could start from Coonoor and try out some of the exotic teas at the Tranquilitea Tea Lounge, book a stay at Tenerife Hill which is a plantation farm in the midst of tea gardens on the slopes of Tenerife hill, the highest point in Coonoor, offering unmatched views of the tea gardens and the rolling Nilgiri Hills. Staying amidst these beautiful tea plantations will give you an utmost experience of peace and tranquility.
Kolukkumalai Tea Estate, Tamil Nadu
At 8000 feet above sea level, Kolukkumalai Tea Estate is perhaps the highest tea plantation in the world that produces tea using the traditional method in their time tested tea factory. Kolukkumalai is known for manufacturing the highest-quality tea using traditional machines that require significant labor with limited productivity. A sip of their tea is enough to understand why Kolukkumalai tea is considered one of the best in the world. The tea grown here is known to have a unique aroma and taste because of the high altitude. Tour around this beautiful tea plantation, acquaint yourself with the orthodox method of tea processing and of course, sip on some delightful tea while inhaling the beauty of Kolukkumalai.
Darang Tea Estate, Himachal Pradesh
After you are done skiing, trekking and enjoying everything that the state has to offer to you, you must visit the Darang Tea Estate in Himachal Pradesh known for its exotic tea. The view is spectacular, and the tea plantations only add to it. The Darang Tea Estate is mystically nestled in the upper Himalayan ranges with sprawling lush tea gardens along with a beautiful sight of the snow capped mountains. This family-owned tea plantation is over 150 years old and its rustic charm has been lovingly preserved over the years in the beautiful pristine hills of Himachal Pradesh. Book yourself a cozy cottage in the estate and enjoy a good portion of it filled with tea gardens, wild flowering plants, fruit-laden trees and little mountain streams.
Durrung Tea Estate, Assam
Often referred to as the Tea capital of the World, Assam is the largest tea producing region in the country. Situated in the Durrang district of Assam, the Durrung tea plantation is one of the oldest tea estates in Assam with the mighty Brahmaputra flowing through it. Owned by the same owners of Chota Tingrai tea Estate, Durrung produces one of the finest orthodox black teas. Surrounded by lush green bushes all around, Durrung Tea Estate is a hidden beauty that only a few know about!
