Glenburn Tea Estate MI Evaluation - Gold Plus

On her very first visit to Glenburn, Husna-Tara Prakash decided this was the place for such an experience. It was simply the most heavenly place.  In addition to the “tea experience” we could also offer the guests a “walking” experience, and Glenburn remains perhaps the only destination in India where you can walk all day and return to luxury at night. We grow our own fresh herbs, spices and many fruit and vegetables, making the experience a “foodie” one as well, with an emphasis on using local ingredients to create mouth watering menus. 

The initial idea took about a year to materialize. On a chance encounter, Bronwyn Latif – an interior designer based in Delhi, found herself in Glenburn and fell in love with the place too, because before we knew it, we had fallen right into a complete restoration of the main bungalow of the estate. Our aim was to restore it to its original grandeur.  There seemed to be layers and layers of paint and plywood covering the beauty of the house, as if each manager’s wife wanted to contribute in some way to its beauty! I don't think we would have got very far without Bronwyn's amazing energy and passion as far as restoration and innovative ideas go. 

In 2002 The Burra Bungalow was lovingly restored, whilst retaining the style of a colonial planters' bungalow, and is now a wonderfully peaceful place to stay. With 1000 acres of private forest, and two rivers running through the estate, Glenburn offers a unique holiday experience. 

In 2008 we added 4 more rooms at Glenburn as part of The Water Lily Bungalow perched on the edge of the hill in front of The Burra Bungalow with views of the valleys all around, Darjeeling Town up on one hill and of course the Kanchenjunga Range straight ahead, with views from all the rooms.  We have sourced antique furniture for all the rooms, as well as some old Burma teak for the flooring, and some old (restored) cast iron window frames (with arched skylights) for the 9 foot high windows in each room.  There is a small balcony just outside each of these large windows, just enough to step out on to and enjoy the magnificent views all around.

ACCOMMODATION

DINING 

All meals, snacks and refreshments are included in the tariff, and we plan all the menus according to the select preferences of each guest. The menus comprise a range of cuisine - from interesting local fare and traditional Indian dishes, to exotic South-East Asian delicacies, and a variety of European dishes making full use of the fresh Italian herbs, and salad leaves we grow in our well-stocked kitchen garden. We try to source as much fruit, vegetables, herbs and spices as we can from our own garden, so feel free to plan your own menu based on what's in season! Family recipes including Tea-Leaf Pakoras, Chocolate Brownies, Tibetan Momos and Burmese Khow Suey - all served to you with a discrete but attentive Glenburn touch. 

Please ask if you would like to eat anything in particular and we will plan the menus accordingly. If the fresh herbs in the garden inspire you to conjure up a favorite recipe, do leave it behind and we shall name it after you and serve it to future guests!

LEISURE 

Relaxing at The Burra Bungalow, and enjoying the breathtaking scenery and serenity that Glenburn is so famous for, has given inspiration to artists, writers and photographers. The diverse landscape, birds, butterflies and local populace provide many a subject to paint and write about. Glenburn is also an ideal getaway for anyone seeking refuge from their busy city lives, the stillness and quiet providing the perfect ambiance for yoga and meditation. It is also one of the few places in India where you can hike all day and return to relaxing comfort and night. Although we have many activities on offer, don't forget to just sit back on the Verandah, with a book in hand and a cup of tea, and enjoy some peace and solitude. 

The Tea Experince

Duration: Half or Full day

Difficulty: Gentle to moderate/tough

This can be adjusted to suit each guest. Most of the walking is down hill, and the duration of the walk can range from 1.5 hours to 3 hours, with the level of difficulty from moderate to tough, depending on the route one takes. Guests may also drive the entire route, stopping along the way for short walks at various points of interest. 

The tour starts with an audio-visual presentation on the history of Glenburn, and a brief overview of how tea is grown, manufactured and tasted. 

Walk or drive through the tea fields with one of our guides, who will give you an insight into how the tea bush is grown and looked after. Learn how to pluck the "two leaves and a bud" - that is later manufactured into the tealeaf that ends up in your teacup! During the winter season, learn about the different types of pruning that is undertaken to increase the yield of the coming season. Interact with the Estate workers as you move from one part of the estate to another. Enjoy the multitude of bird life, butterflies and flora that add to the diverse landscape that makes up a tea estate. Catch a crab, or pick some watercress from the numerous springs that filter through the fields. Refreshments will be provided at a suitable mid-way point. 

Break for lunch at Section Number 10, on the banks of the River Rung Dung. Relax on the riverfront and paddle in the rock pools, while you enjoy your meal. An alternative picnic venue is the Coffee Bari, half way down the hillside, with great views of the two Glenburn valleys on all sides. 

Drive back up the hill to the Tea Factory where our Estate Manager will take you for a guided tour on how the leaf is brought in from the fields, weighed, and then taken through the processes of Withering, Rolling, Fermenting, Drying and finally Sorting. 

The day ends with a Tea Tasting Session, where one can discover the differences in aroma, flavour and appearance of tea manufactured in different ways, and during different times of the year. The session also includes tasting teas from other parts of India and the world, together with examples of flavoured and blended teas. 

Other activities available are, a choice of hikes, fishing, river rafting, cookery classes, massage treatments and beauty treatments.