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Tea Tour in India
Welcome to the land of 'Chai'. In this tour we will help you unfold the story of Tea in India right from where it all began during the British Raj in the region of Assam to the modern tea industry today which brings you your favourite cup of delight.
Highlights of Tea tour
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Visit the lush green Tea Gardens.
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Stay in Heritage Tea bungalows.
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Discover the birth of Tea Industry in India in a remote village in Assam.
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Experience a Traditional Tea Ceremony.
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Learn the nuances of Tea tasting with an expert.
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Visit a Tea Factory to see how different varieties of tea are manufactured from the same tea leaves.
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Witness tea plucking by the pluckers.
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Enjoy local cultural dances.
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Excursions to nearby places.
Tour Inclusions
Accomodation Transport Meals
Guide Entrances
Tour Exclusions
Airfare, Travel Insurance, Visa charges, Tips and expenses of personal nature.
Tea is an integral part of the Indian identity, India being the largest tea producer and consumer in the world. Although commercially introduced in India by the British colonialists Tea has assimilated with the Indian culture and is the favorite beverage of the country. The most popular ways to drink it being spice mixed milk tea or 'Masala Chai', 'Lemon black tea' and simple black tea or milk tea.
The story of Chai in India started with British army officer Robert Bruce discovering tea growing naturally in a remote village in Upper Assam of the Singpho tribal community who were making tea and drinking it in their own traditional methods.
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 fire places, vintage wooden furniture like four poster beds and other colonial era charms.
Tea destinations in assam
Dibrugarh (Min 2 Nights stay)
Dibrugarh in Upper Assam is known as the Tea town of Assam. On the banks of 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 the 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 (Min 2 Nights stay)
Jorhat in middle Assam is another tea destination in Assam having a great Tea History. There are as many as 135 tea gardens in Jorhat and some of the best Tea Bungalows in Assam open for visitors. Each of these bungalows has its own unique history. It also has Assam’s only golf resort which is a Tea estate property converted into a resort. Jorhat also has a Tea Research Institute established in 1911, the oldest and the largest research station of its kind in the world.
Jorhat has an airport connected to Kolkata, Guwahati and Delhi.
Activities in a Tea Plantation
1. 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.
2. 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 worldover for its aroma and flavour.
3. 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 tasted for quality.
4. Cycling : 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.
5. Birding : Big trees are planted in Tea Gardens to provide shade to the Tea bushes. These tress also provide shelter to many birds. Assam being a biodiversity hotspot and many parts of the region being under Important bird area (IBA) birding in the tea gardens of Assam is a rewarding experience.
6. Cultural program : Local dances can be arranged on prior request. Folk dances like Jhumur dance of the tea tribes, Bihu dance of Assam etc. are colourful, rhythmic and enjoyable.
Apart from the above following activities can be done in Dibrugarh and Jorhat
Dibrugarh
1. 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 on India who introduced Tea growing naturally in the region to the British in India. They still make Tea in their traditional methods. Guests will have a traditional styled lunch in a nice bamboo cottage.
2. Excursion to Dibru Saikhowa National Park and Dhola Sadiya bridge, India’s longest bridge (Full Day) : Dibru Saikhowa national park is famous for birds – both local & migratory. A country boat ride in Maguri beel, a natural lake will take the guests near the birds. After that drive towards India’s longest bridge the 9 kms long Dhola Sadiya brigde that connects Assam with Arunachal Pradesh.
3. Excursion to Bogibeel bridge India’s longest rail cum road bridge and Malini Than temple (Half day) :
4. Horse riding (Approx 2 hrs): Guests who know horse riding can enjoy riding through tea gardens.
Jorhat
1. 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.
2. Visit the Tocklai Tea Reasearch Institute : Tocklai is the oldest and the largest Tea research institute in the world. It is a pioneer in the research and development of tea and an innovator in providing extension services to the tea industry. See the displays here on the various aspects of tea plantation and manufacturing.
3. Majuli day trip : Majuli island in Brahmaputra is known as the biggest inhabited river island in the world. It is the seat of Vaishnavite culture in Assam and has many Xatras or Vaishnav monasteries. The monasteries have preserved various art forms through the centuries like mask making, mask theatre, dances, songs and music. It is also famous for the Mishing tribal culture.
4. Tai village visit : The Tai people had migrated to Assam from Northern Thailand in the 16th-17th century. They are Buddhists and still follow their old customs and traditions. There are some Tai community villages near Jorhat. Guests can walk through the neat and pretty villages and observe their lifestyle.