Escape Enchanted: Weekend Getaway: Tea Tourism at Singbulli Tea Estate

Singbulli Tea Tourism

Tea tourism? Singbulli Tea Estate? Both ideas are new to you? Great! That is what we, at Escape-Enchanted, strive to bring to you…new and cheap travel ideas. Being true to our commitment, this post brings a fresh weekend getaway idea that would make you, your family and friends, as well as your wallet pretty happy. Let’s check out the details!

What is tea tourism?

Tea tourism is a fairly new concept that allows you to experience a few days of absolute calm and peace at a sprawling tea garden, reliving the glorious moments of a tea planters life. Up on the slopes of misty hills, you wake up to never-ending greenery and the refreshing smell of fresh tea leaves. Lazily, you climb out of the bed and walk up to the window to see the Himalayan range at a distance and a flood of colorful flowers at your doorstep.

Singbulli Tea Estate Visit

Break of dawn and a cup of priceless Darjeeling tea harvested from the gardens…you would sip what the royals in Birmingham Palace might be sipping. A light breakfast and then off to the garden for a tour. Take a stroll through the garden, talk to the garden workers and see how they deftly pluck the two leaves with a bud, and learn about their lives. You are also invited to take a look and learn about the tea processing in the factories where some of the best tea in the world are withered, rolled, dried, sorted, and packaged. If you want, someone from the factory might take you on a guided tour and explain each step of processing in detail. So next time you sip Darjeeling tea, you’d know exactly how it was made.

You can then rent a car or just walk around to see the local places of interests and lose yourself amidst virgin nature. Feel the soft cloud passing by your feet, smell the moss and the leaves, touch the plants and the flowers, and soothe your tired eyes with the balm of Mother Nature. Later you take a walk through the villages and nature trails, and get deeper insight into the lives of the people living in the mountains. In the evening, enjoy local dance and music specially performed for you as you drink a glass of local wine.

Doesn't this sound like a perfect weekend getaway idea to rejuvenate and re-energize yourself? And this, my friend, is tea tourism.

Why should you visit Singbulli Tea Estate?

Nature Walk at Singbulli

Till date, tea tourism is a costly affair as people mostly prefer to stay in luxury bungalows built in the colonial times, typically the residence of British tea planters. The bungalows, like the general culture of the tea gardens, retain the antique aura of the colonial days. These, of course, come at a considerable price. However, at Singbulli, you can enjoy your cheap weekend getaway with the experience being the same.

What would you do? In Singbulli, you can:

Relax amidst nature
Roam the tea gardens
Get some amazing shots of natural beauty
Explore the tea factory
Interact with the planters
Know about the pleasures and pains of tea garden lives
Enjoy the local liquor, culture, music, and food
Go for walks along the mountain tracks
Chill out and rejuvenate yourself
Visit the nearby places of interest

Where would you stay? You can chose to stay with the villagers who offer home stays in their village homes along with meals. If you are looking for a budget option, this is a great way to go for it. Decent accommodation, fresh home-made meals, and of course…Darjeeling tea…would keep you healthy and happy. However, it is important to remember that staying in plantation estates is not like staying in a five star luxury hotel. You cannot compare the amenities one to one. Tea tours are meant to bring you closer to nature and the tea garden life while offering you a home stay. Home stay along with meals (breakfast, lunch, tea, and dinner) might come for about Rs. 1000/- per person per day. Compared to other available options in tea tourism, isn’t this a bounty?

Stay at Singbulli

What are the nearby places of interest? While visiting Singbulli, you can also explore Mirik valley, Bunkulung, and Anjana Devi Shrine. You can visit Ambutia…which experienced one of the largest landslides in Asia.

What do you need to carry? If you are visiting Singbulli in the winter season, then carry ample woolens to keep you warm in the Himalayan chills. Summers are pleasant. One thing that you must carry is your camera…it is a photographers’ paradise!

Mirik and Bunkulung

Where is Singbulli located?

Address: P.O. Phuguri -734218, P.S.Mirik, Dist.: Darjeeling, West Bengal, India.

Location: 45 kms from Siliguri, on NH 35, near Mirik, Dist.: Darjeeling, West Bengal, India.

Nearest Airport Bagdogra (50 kms.)

Nearest railway station: New Jalpaiguri

Who would you contact? One of the greatest reasons for you to visit Singbulli is that it is still a virgin spot, unnoticed by the roving eyes of the professional tourism mongers. Therefore, if you are planning to visit Singbulli Tea Estate, then write to us at escapeenchanted@gmail.com. We will provide you the details you need and direct you to the contact persons at the site.

Escape Enchanted

Wednesday 13 February 2013

Weekend Getaway: Tea Tourism at Singbulli Tea Estate

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