Plan a relaxing Tea Plantation Holiday in Assam
Assam, a major tea plantation state offers tea tourism where many tea estates design their own packages for tourists to experience the refreshing ‘tea’ experience - right from plucking the leaves to drinking the fresh brew. The sights and sounds of an Assam tea estate are of a unique kind, different from the landscapes that confront tourists elsewhere in India. There are around 400 large tea estates, most of which were established by the British - truly magical destinations complete with old heritage bungalows where you get the feel of the old-world charm.
Tea is an integral part of the Indian identity, India being the largest tea producer and consumer in the world. The story of Chai in India started with the British army officer Robert Bruce, who discovered tea growing naturally in a remote village in Upper Assam. The Singpho tribal community living there used to make and drink tea in their own traditional methods.
The tea industry of India started with a few tea gardens in Upper Assam to the present almost 400 gardens across the state. Many of these gardens are more than 100 years old and some of them still have the old wooden bungalows where the Tea planters used to stay.
Some of these bungalows have been converted to boutique hotels and heritage stays where guests can relive the tea garden experience of the colonial era. Many of these houses are known as ‘Chang Bungalows’ as they were built on stilts, taking inspiration from houses of local tribes built on raised platforms. Most of the Tea Bungalows come with fireplaces, vintage wooden furniture like four-poster beds, and other colonial-era charms.
Tea Destinations in Assam
Dibrugarh in Upper Assam is known as the Tea town of Assam. On the banks of the river Brahmaputra and
surrounded by Tea Gardens, Dibrugarh is a historic town with the credit of being the place having the first commercial tea plantation in India. Visitors can stay in a Heritage Tea Bungalow and relax in a soothing environment. The Bungalows are exclusive properties with very few rooms, so they are ideal for families and groups of friends. Evening barbeque/tandoor, cultural program, etc. can be arranged on request. Dibrugarh Airport is connected with all major cities in India.
Jorhat is another town in Assam having some great Tea Bungalows each having its unique history. It also has Assam’s only golf resort, which is a tea estate property converted into a resort. Jorhat has an airport connected to Kolkata and Guwahati.
Activities at a Tea Plantation
Tea Garden visit and tea leaves plucking: Guests can visit a tea garden and see how tea leaves are hand-plucked by the tea pickers. One can try plucking the two leaves and a bud on their own.
Tea Factory visit: The process of manufacturing tea can be seen by a visit to a tea factory. Guests can see firsthand how the tea leaves from the gardens are converted into the famous Assam tea known world over for its aroma and flavour.
Tea Tasting: Different types of teas like Orthodox, CTC, Green tea, etc. are manufactured from the same plant. These types are further graded according to their quality. Just like wine tasting tea tasting reveals the quality of a particular tea. Guests can see how different types of teas are tested for quality.
Excursion to Singpho tribal village: Guests can also go on an excursion to a Singpho tribal village, the place where the Tea story of India started. The Singphos are original tea drinkers in India who introduced Tea growing naturally in the region to the British in India. They still make Tea in their traditional methods. Having a traditional styled Singpho lunch in a nice bamboo cottage here is an experience not to be missed.
Cycling (Half Day): Cycling through lush tea gardens, paddy fields and picturesque villages will definitely give great opportunities to adventure and nature lovers for some insta worthy pictures.
Golf: The Kaziranga Golf resort in Jorhat has a world-class 18 hole golf course. It is a Tea plantation property converted into a resort where one can enjoy a round of golf amidst the lush green tea gardens.
Other activities: Visitors can avail of a Sibsagar day trip from both Dibrugarh and Sibsagar, Majuli day trip from Jorhat, visits to weaving centre, excursion to Dibru Saikhowa National Park for birding and Dhola Sadiya bridge (India’s longest bridge) from Dibrugarh, visit the local village and trying local cuisines, etc.