Glenburn Tea Estate
Author: Anothertravelguide.com0 COMMENTS
Tea tourism is becoming increasingly popular in the world. Like well-known wineries, tea plantations now are also embracing the idea of opening small hotels that offer an opportunity to witness the process of tea producing as well as "get away from it all". It is definitely made easier by the fact that the location is usually picture postcard material and busy with life uncontaminated by mass tourism. Glenburn Tea Estate, although not the only hotel of this kind, belongs among the pioneers of this trend in the Darjeeling district. The tea plantation was started in 1860 by a Scottish company; today it belongs to the Prakash family from Kolkata, one of the first Indian tea planter families in the region. The hotel was opened four years ago and is an hour or half-hour drive from Darjeeling. The first bit of the road from Darjeeling in the direction of Kalimponga is a pleasure to drive, both quality- and landscape-wise: it's all mountains and white clouds of magnolia trees in bloom. Then the road turns downward; now it is passing tea plantations. This is the time when the first harvest is being gathered, and all the slopes are full of colourfully dressed women carrying enormous bamboo baskets. As we are continuing our way downhill, the air is becoming considerably more humid and warmer; the wind has disappeared. It feels as if we had crossed several climate zones within an hour. The road gradually turns into an endless series of bumps and potholes; a jeep is definitely the right car for these places. It looks like no-one has even attempted to repair the road since the last monsoon. Each of the people we meet in the tiny road-side villages gives us a different answer (apart from head-shaking): another 25 minutes... 10 minutes... One thing is clear, though: this is the right road and there is no other way of getting to the Glenburn Tea Estate.
When we finally get there, the tea pickers are having their lunch break. A moment later something sounding like a siren can be heard: it is a signal that they have to return to work. The "tea ladies" finish off their meal hastily and pick up the baskets again.
Burra Bungalow, the main building of Glenburn Tea Estate, currently housing a small four-room hotel, is more than 150 years old. It is located in a fantastically scenic place, on top of a small hill, and is surrounded by tea plantations. The weather is overcast during our stay but we are told that on a clear day Kangchenjunga is visible from there. Each of the four bedrooms is in a different colour scheme and differently designed. The Kangchenjunga Suite is dominated by light blue and white. The Planter's Suite is in warm shades of beige and cream. Hand-printed and naturally-dyed Indian fabrics; huge bathrooms with vintage bathtubs; a fine library and even a DVD collection.The hostess serves first flush tea with frittered cress blossoms in a spacious veranda with comfortable chairs (a bit of English-style design). Most of the vegetables and fruit come from the hotel garden. The atmosphere at the Glenburn Tea Estate is one of fantastic lightness and gentle and engulfing comfort. Guests can also spend a night or two at the Glenburn Lodge, another building of the property on the other side of the river Rungeet.
Glenburn Tea Estate is ideal for a family or a company of friends; booking the whole building would be ideal, of course. And the best time for staying is from October to May. In the summer with the beginning of the rain season unpleasant encounters with leeches may take place during longer walks, and from November to February the weather is relatively cold. A three-night stay is ideal: you need time to fully appreciate and enjoy the place. Besides, coming such a long way for a shorter stay just doesn't make sense. And perhaps you would do wise not to choose Glenburn Tea Estate as your only accommodation in Darjeeling: if you want to see the city it's best to spend the night there.
Glenburn Tea Estate also houses a small shop (one of the best of this type in Darjeeling); you will find local honey and tea (in charming silk bags), jewellery by modern Indian artists, etc.
Rates: from USD 180
Glenburn Tea Estate
DLX (P) Ltd
Kanak Building
41 Chowringhee
Kolkata -700071
West Bengal
India
www.glenburnteaestate.com
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