Darjeeling & Sikkim – The Eastern Himalaya
Kolkata, Kalimpong, Gangtok, Pelling, Glenburn,
Darjeeling, the eponymous home of the tea, is a Victorian established Hill station located 600km north of Kolkata, 2200m up in the Eastern Himalayas. The first established hill station of the British when the Raj was governed from Calcutta in 1835.
Having arrived, the British quickly realised the potential for growing tea in this region, following the success they had had in Assam. The tea industry is still flourishing today and there are lots of tea walks and tea tours on offer. Situated just outside of Darjeeling, The Glenburn Tea Estate is a beautiful functioning Tea Estate where several of the Tea planters bungalows have been converted into an idyllic boutique hotel with elegant interiors and sweeping panoramas of the surrounding mountain views. A perfect retreat for a luxury holiday to Darjeeling.
Built on a ridge, Darjeeling is surrounded by rich forest, rolling tea estates and framed by the spectacular Himalayas including Kanchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world. Take in the vistas on board the heritage Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, where the century old miniature steam engine still chugs through the scenic hillside.
You can also take the toy train and visit the Ghoom Monastery built in 1875. Often lost in the clouds, Ghoom was built by a renowned astrologer and within the main prayer hall you will find the fascinating huge Maitreya statue, considered to be the Buddha of the future.
This part of the world is a gardener’s paradise. With over 139 species of Rhododendrons, magnolia and orchids in every variety and hue, the Lloyds Botanical Gardens is well worth a visit. Nearby Kalimpong offers an extraordinary profusion of orchids, amongst other flowers and several monasteries, a perfect spot for day walkers. Darjeeling is also a perfect entry point into beautiful state of Sikkim with its sweltering verdant valleys and snow top peaks. An independent mountain kingdom until 1975, Sikkim still retains its own distinctive charm.
Kolkata, Kalimpong, Gangtok, Pelling, Glenburn,
Paro, Punakha, Phodrang, Thimphu, Phuntsholing, Darjeeling
Glenburn Tea Estate is a heavenly plantation retreat that lies on a hillock above the banks of the River Rungeet, high in the Himalayas, overlooked by the mighty Kanchenjunga mountain range. Just outside Darjeeling this working tea estate has been lovingly restored, whilst ensuring that its colonial past is retained. The Windemere is a 19th century boarding house that has been lovingly retained providing a real glimpse into the rich past of this colonial hill station. Another option is the pretty Mayfair hotel perched on a hillside offering true old world charm.