Darjeeling Tea Gardens

Overview

Darjeeling is famous for its tea. The first plantings are credited to Dr Arthur Campbell, who tried tea seeds here in 1841, and commercial estates followed in the 1850s, such as the Happy Valley Tea Estate. In 2004 Darjeeling tea became India's first product to receive a Geographical Indication tag.

The estates climb the steep green hillsides, where women pluck the leaves by hand. The first flush in spring and the second flush in early summer are the best-known harvests, and many estates offer tours of the factory and tastings.

What to look for

• The terraced slopes of tea bushes in the morning mist
• Women pluckers harvesting the leaves
• A factory visit and tea tasting
• The view of the hills and, on clear days, the snow peaks

Visiting tips

• Plucking is busiest in spring and summer; ask your guide about the season.
• Wear comfortable shoes: the slopes and paths are steep.
• Visits to estates and factories are usually arranged in advance.

Why visit with a private guide

A private guide shows you where to stand, when to arrive and what most visitors miss at Darjeeling Tea Gardens, and fits the visit around the rest of your day.

More photographs

Nearby

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