Considered the world’s largest tea-producing region, Assam is brimmed with a number of colonial-era bungalows, mostly located in the eastern part of the state. Tourists from across the world frequent these places to get a taste of British architecture amid the lush green gardens. Here are a few must-visit tea destinations. Tea tourism is basically about visiting tea gardens and staying out there if possible. There you get the chance to explore how the trade works and how the tea gardens are run that are generally spread across vast areas and the lush green plantations offer great views. They can be combined with visits to other nearby attractions. As we all know Assam is the heart of the tea trade and it produces the most premium CTC tea in the world. Owing to their proximity to Assam, most other NE states have also started tea cultivation.
So basically in a Tea tour, it includes all the major tea cultivation States of NE India accordingly to the interest of the traveler where and which area they want to explore.
ACTIVITIES INCLUDES IN A TEA TOUR
Heritage Bungalows
Most of the tea gardens, especially in Assam, came up during the British era. Tea planters built their own mansions in the middle of lush green tea gardens. So, many of these tea estates have turned their bungalows into heritage resorts for tourists. If you want to experience that colonial charm and luxury, a stay at a tea garden in Assam can provide you that. The most famous properties of this kind can be found in the Tea Estates pf Upper Assam districts of Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Jorhat, Sonitpur etc.
Tea Tasting
In any tea estate, you can go for a tea tasting session. This is something like wine tasting, where an expert will introduce you to different types of tea and tell you a few things about them. Then you will taste a bit of them and learn to appreciate them.
Tea Garden & Factory Tours
The other essential activity in a tea garden is the tour of the garden and the factory. You can take a walk or a jeep ride through the garden, take photographs, and learn about the process. Similarly, the factories give you additional insight into the trade.
A glimpse of the Tea Tribe culture
Especially in Assam, the tea garden workers have a unique history. They were originally from places like Odisha and Jharkhand, who were brought here by the British to work in the gardens. They are a sizeable population and they have their own song, dance, and culture that you can explore if you get time.
MAJOR TEA CULTIVATION STATES OF NE INDIA
ASSAM
Assam is the center of the tea trade. Tea gardens can be found all over Assam although the concentration is higher in upper Assam. Many of these tea gardens have to converted colonial bungalows to boutique properties. I recently stayed at Sapoi Tea Estate where a 100-year-old bungalow is now hosting guests. We also attended a tea tasting session, got a tour of the garden, and learned a thing or two about the trade. There are other such properties spread across Assam. The best-known properties are to be found in districts like Sonitpur, Darrang, Dibrugarh, Jorhat, etc. on both northern and southern banks of the Brahmaputra.
SIKKIM
Considering its proximity to Darjeeling, Sikkim has a similar landscape and climate suitable for tea although it basically has one major tea estate which is famous and is a major tourist attraction too. It is called Temi Tea Estate and it is a short drive from the town of Namchi in South Sikkim. It is a beautiful estate that looks better due to the hilly terrain. It also has a property where you can stay but you can also simply make a day visit. You can also buy packaged organic tea from the shops here.
Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura, and Mizoram have also some Tea Estates but not yet not ventured into the tourism aspect. Some of them have tourist lodges but overall the tourist infrastructure is not as extensive as in Assam.
Here are a few must-visit tea destinations:
Wathai heritage Bungalow (Tinsukia)
Wathai Heritage Bungalow at Limbuguri Tea Estate in Tinsukia is a plantation bungalow situated around 5 km from Dibru Saikhowa National Park, making it the perfect destination to spend the night after an engaging day of birding inside the Park.
Mancotta Heritage Chang Bungalow, Dibrugarh
Located around 15 km from Dibrugarh airport, Mancotta Heritage Chang Bungalow at Mancotta Tea Estate was built by British tea planters. The bungalow offers a taste of the bygone colonial times. Be it experiencing the lush greenery of the tea estate or being awed by the colonial influence in the décor, this is a must-visit place for heritage tourists.
Banyan Grove, Jorhat
Nestled in the middle of Gatoonga Tea Estate in Jorhat, Banyan Grove is a century-old colonial plantation bungalow. The bungalow offers a rich colonial experience with British-era décor in a serene natural environment.
Thengal Manor, Jorhat
Situated around 15 km from Jorhat, Thengal Manor is a heritage tea estate bungalow constructed in 1929. The bungalow is very popular among tourists owing to its large collection of various materials from the British era. ‘Dainik Batori’, the first Assamese daily, was also launched here.
Wild Mahseer, Sonitpur
Located in Balipara division of Addabarie Tea Estate, Wild Mahseer is a heritage bungalow established by the British Assam Tea Company in 1864. The bungalow has been named after one of the toughest game fish in the world ‘Wild Mahseer’. Known for its impressive colonial architecture, lush greenery, and wide range of activities, Wild Mahseer is the go-to place for tea enthusiasts.
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