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tea tasting tour
Delhi – Dibrugarh - Dibru Saikhowa - Tai Paktail - Kaziranga- Guwahati - Bagdogra – Mirik – Darjeeling – Bagdogra – Delhi
Duration: 13 Days
Best season to Visit: October to March
Life in Assam’s tea gardens is wonderful. For the wearied traveller,a brief sojourn in a lush green tea plantation is a novel experience. Tea plantations in Upper Assam can be best experienced in and around Dibrugarh. Watching the tea pluckers at work, one would only marvel and admire the deftness of their fingers as they pluck the delicate two leaves and a bud.
Day 01: Arrive Dibrugarh Ex-Delhi / Kolkata
Received at the airport and transferred to a Heritage Chang Bungalow. In the afternoon, take an introductory tea walk. In the evening, enjoy a Bihu dance (an Assamese Folk Dance) on the Bungalow lawn. Overnight at the Chang Bungalow.
Dibrugarh is the gateway to the “Hidden Land” of Eastern Arunachal Pradesh. The Ahoms from Thailand came through Northern Myanmar through this area in the 13th century to establish their Empire which thrived in the ancient land of Assam. It is the “Camellia” town of Upper Assam, an undisturbed haven, with its rich tea gardens resembling a lush green carpet. Experience and enjoy the richness of these tea gardens while staying at the Heritage Chang Bungalows. These are constructed on stilts and are situated in a serene atmosphere free from pollution.
When the British established their tea plantations in the mid-19th century they quickly built comfortable bungalows designed to make life as pleasant as possible in what, was to them, a hostile and strange land. One of the main features of these buildings has given rise to their name – Chang bungalows. Chang in the local language means “raised on stilts” and the design served multi purposes; to keep the house cool by allowing the breeze to blow underneath and to keep both water and animals out!
Bihu is the most popular folk dance of Assam. The people of Assam are very proud of its unique position among all other such dances of India. Except Bhangra (the popular folk dance of Punjab), no other folk dance in India can compete with the rhythmic exuberance of the Bihu dance. ‘Bihu’ performed by young men and women reflects youthful passions and joys rejuvenating life during the spring season, accompanied by songs woven around the theme of love and physical yearning. The dance is performed by all irrespective of caste, creed and religion.
Day 02: Tea Tour
Go for a tour of a tea garden to know the origin and the history of tea - how it is grown, all about tea tasting and its quality. In the afternoon -take a nature walk in a natural protected forest area or visit an ethnic Assamese village.
Overnight at the Chang Bungalow.
A tea tour through a 157 years old heritage tea garden gives an insight into the different activities that vary from season to season. It teaches us all about tea- its origin, how it is grown, tea tasting and its quality. During the winter months the dormant bushes are pruned to ensure vigorous growth during the warmer months. Once the rains begin, and the temperature rises, the gardens come alive with teams of colourfully dressed tea pluckers, predominantly ladies as they are said to be better able to pluck the delicate buds and leaves. The harvest, which goes continuously from March to November, is taken everyday to the factory where it undergoes an age old process of being turned into the finished product. All stages of the process are carefully controlled to ensure that the tea that leaves the factory is only of the highest quality, a quality that has made Assam tea world famous.
Day 03: Dibrugarh - Dibru Saikhowa National Park - Dibrugarh
Early morning drive to Guijan range of Dibru-Saikhowa National Park (50kms/1.5hrs) – a riverine park and a biodiversity hotspot situated on the southern bank of the river Brahmaputra. Explore the park in a country boat or trek inside the park . Return to Dibrugarh late in the afternoon. In the evening- enjoy a Jhumur dance performance by the tea tribes on the Bungalow lawn. Overnight at the Chang Bungalow
Dibru-Saikhowa National Park has the most distinct and vibrant wildlife. This park got its status as a national park in 1999 only. The forest in this park ranges from semi-evergreen to deciduous to littoral to swampy marshes with patches of semi- evergreen jungles. About 36 species of mammals have so far been recorded in Dibru-Saikhowa National Park – Royal Bengal Tiger, Leopard, Clouded Leopard, Jungle Cat, Sloth Bear, Malayan Giant Squirrel, Slow Loris are some to name a few. Dibru-Saikhowa is a safe haven to many rare and endangered species of birdlife. We take boat rides and walks around parts of the park’s southern fringes. We will be able to see the White Winged Wood Duck, Bengal Florican, Great Indian Hornbill, Greater Adjutant Stork, Pallas’s Fish Eagle, Greater Spotted Eagle, Swamp Fran Colin, Swamp Prynia and Marsh Babbler
Jhumur dance is generally performed by the tea-tribes. In the passage of more than a hundred years of their settlement in Assam, the tea-tribes have developed a synthesized form of dance. This dance is performed by both girls and boys together, and some times by the girls only with a precision of footwork while clasping each others waist. The Jhumur dance is replete with enchanting descriptions of the beauty of nature and expresses emotions like love, sorrow and joy.
Day 04: Drive to Tai - Phakial Village - Digboi
After breakfast drive to Digboi (90Kms/2hrs). A beautiful and famous oil-town, also being Asia’s oldest and continuously producing oilfield at the extreme north-eastern corner of India. Visit the Oil Museum which was set up to mark the100th Anniversary of the Digboi Oil Refinery.
Visit Digboi War Cemetery. It has 200 graves of different Allied Forces personnel from UK, India, West Africa, Burma, Belgium, USA and Italy who sacrificed their lives during the 1939-1945 War. It is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Dibrugarh is the reach out centre for ethnic tribal villages like Tai-Phakial - an ethnic village whose kith and kin date back to the Ahom period. The villagers still maintain their age-old culture - a village worth exploring. It is situated near the River Buri-Dihing. A Buddhist Monastery dots the village which belongs to the Hinayana sects. Tai translation of the Ramayana written on handmade paper has been newly discovered in this village. The structures of the houses are unique as the walls are made of bamboo and the roof is of palm leaves (Toko), mounted over a Chang or stilt. The monks in the monastery offer a warm welcome to the visitors and always eager explain their scriptures.
Return to Dibrugarh late in the afternoon after lunch. Enroute see the Bells Temple which has more than two hundred thousand brass bells. It is believed that wishes are granted if one ties a brass bell on the banyan tree.
Overnight at the Chang Bungalow.
Day 05: Dibrugarh - Kaziranga National Park
Drive on to Kaziranga National Park (220km/5hrs). Enroute see the monuments and temples of the Ahom Dynasty at Sivasagar. Reach Kaziranga late in the afternoon. Overnight at BonnHabi lodge.
Sivasagar was once the capital of the Ahom Kings. The Shans who came from Thailand through Northern Myanmar to this area in early 13th century, ruled for 600 years. The Siva Temple, built by the Ahoms, situated here is believed to be the tallest of all existing Hindu temples. The ruins of the Ahom palaces and monuments dot the landscape around this historical town. Centuries, before the arrival of the British, this part of the world was controlled by a number of tribal chieftains.
In the town of Sivasagar, one can still see the remaining well preserved relics. Palaces, tanks, forts, places of worship and burial sites (vaults) at Charaideo present the richness of this highly evolved and advanced civilization. The largest and the oldest amphi-theatre of Asia (Rang Ghar) is also another remarkable landmark in the history of Sivasagar. The Tai- Ahom Museum of Sivsagar contains the some of the relics of the Ahom period, like – swords, clothes, manuscripts and sundry artefacts.
Day 06: At Kaziranga National Park
Early morning take an elephant safari in the central range of the park followed by a jeep safari after breakfast to the western range of the park. Post Lunch visit the eastern range of the park. Evening at leisure. Overnight at the lodge.
Kaziranga national Park - is a World Heritage Site, where more than 75% of the world’s total population of the great Indian One horned Rhinoceros can be found. It lies on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra River and is one of the oldest parks of Assam. Besides rhinos, the Asiatic Water Buffalo numbering over 1200, elephants over 1000, tigers more than 81, Swamp deer, Barking deer and Hog deer can be seen. About 400 species of birds are found in Kaziranga National Park. Swamp Francolin, Kalij Pheasant, Greylag Goose, Gadwall, Eurasian Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Shoveller, Northern Pintail, Streak Throated Woodpecker, Bay Woodpecker, Oriental Pied Hornbill, Great Hornbill, Osprey, Palas’s Fish Eagle, Changeable Hawk Eagle, Pied Falconets, Lesser Adjutant Stork, Greater Adjutant Stork, Black necked Stork, Grey-headed Lapwing, Indian White Backed Vulture, Long Billed Vulture, along with a large number of Spotted Billed Pelican.
Day 07: Kaziranga National Park - Guwahati
After breakfast depart for Guwahati (240km/ 5hrs). Visit the Tea Auction Centre – the largest auction center for tea. Visit a Tea Brokerage Firm to know more about tea tasting and its quality. Overnight at Hotel Dynasty or similar.
Guwahati, the capital city of Assam situated on the south bank of river Brahmaputra. It has The world’s largest tea auction centre, is also the gateway to the north-eastern region of India. Guwahati is famous for several temples including Kamakhya, all of them are dates back to the Vedic and Puranic times.
Day 08: Guwahati – Bagdogra - Mirik
Morning flight to Bagdogra from where we take the scenic four-hours drive through the Himalayan foothills and tea gardens to Mirik. Rest of day at leisure or free for optional activities. Mirik, the youngest hill station of India, is built around a 1.25 km long natural lake. The magical hill resort lies close to Siliguri in the West Bengal state of India. The peaceful and tranquil hill resort of Mirik boasts of several nature spots. The wild flowers, lovely lake and flourishing forests of Cryptomaria Japanica trees make Mirik appear as a tropical paradise. Mirik is surrounded by tea estates, orange orchards and cardamom plantations. There is a floating fountain in the middle of the lake and a quaint little footbridge connecting the flower garden on the eastern bank to the heavily forested ridge on the west. The lake is provided with boating facilities
Overnight at hotel.
Day 09: Mirik
Morning after breakfast take an excursion to Thurbo Tea Garden. A conducted tour of the tea factory is an interesting option at Mirik for it is surrounded by some of the best tea estates. There are eight tea estates surrounding Mirik. Thurbo T.E., 2 km away, is the best known. It can be an interesting experience to visit the factory and watch tea being made. One can also buy tea from many of the gardens. Thurbo Tea garden, owned and operated by Goodricke Group Limited, is right in the heart of Mirik. The clouds hang so low, you can literally reach up and touch them! The lush green hills and the beautiful earthy smell is only accentuated with the shafts of sunlight piercing the clouds to create a surreal atmosphere. The weather is cool during most parts of the year with drizzling rain, allowing the bushes to grow slowly and produce the muscatel flavor. Orange Orchards also abound in the area, it being the largest producer of this fruit in West bengal. Cardamom Groves can be seen in marshy terrain around Mirik.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 10: Mirik / Darjeeling (Drive)
Morning after breakfast take the scenic two hours drive through the Himalayan foothills and tea gardens to Darjeeling. Rest of day free to explore the 'queen of the hill stations' where British administrators came each summer to the escape the heat of the Indian plains during the days of the Raj. Tea was introduced to the area in the 1840's and today Darjeeling tea is a world-renowned brand.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 11: Darjeeling (Drive)
We start early for Tiger Hill to catch the spectacular sunrise over Kanchenjunga, the world's third highest mountain. We then visit the Planter's Club, where the local tea growers still meet; the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute; and the zoo with its Himalayan fauna (Yaks, Black Bears, Red Pandas and various colourful pheasants). We also visit a tea estate, the Botanical Gardens and the Tibetan Refugee Centre. Today there are 86 running gardens producing 'Darjeeling Tea' on a total area of 19,000 hectares. The total production ranges from 10-11 million kgs annually.The Darjeeling tea industry at present employs over 52 thousand people on a permanent basis,while a further 15,000 persons are engaged during the plucking season which lasts from March to November.A unique feature of this work force is that more than 60 percent are women and the employment is on family basis.The income of garden worker is half in the form of cash and the other half by way of perquisites which have over the years effectively provided with free accommodation, subsidized cereal ration and free medical benefits. Gardens used to run primary schools that have since been taken over by the government but the building continued to be maintained by the garden management.
Overnight at Hotel.
Day 12: Darjeeling / Bagdogra (Drive) / Delhi / Kolkata (Flight)
Morning after breakfast we bid farewell to the Himalayas and drive to Bagdogra airport to connect our flight to Delhi. Arrival Delhi. You are met and transferred to the hotel. In Delhi's existence of 3000 years; seven cities have risen where the present capital of India stands today. Here you'll encounter a fascinating blend of the ancient and the contemporary.
Overnight at hotel
Day 13: Delhi
Enjoy a full day sightseeing tour of Old and New Delhi. We start by visiting Old Delhi. The 7th city of Delhi - Shahjahanabad, built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan (1639-48 AD). Red Fort - the 17th century imposing fortress built in red sandstone. Jama Masjid (Friday Masjid) was completed in 1656 and India's largest mosque. Finally visit Raj Ghat on the banks of the river Yamuna is Mahatma Gandhi's Memorial, where he was cremated following his assassination in January 1948. The highlights of New Delhi are The Humayun's Tomb - An early example of Mughal architecture considered the predecessor of the Taj Mahal. The Qutub Minar - the landmark of Delhi, a huge tower of victory started in 1199 and completed in 1368. Proceed to the Rashtrapati Bhawan once the Viceroy's residence is now the official residence of the President of India. The Government Buildings designed by Baker, The Parliament House, The India Gate (42m) arch built of Bharatpur-stone, commemorates the 70,000 Indian soldiers who died in the 1st world war.
Overnight at hotel.
Meeting an assistance upon arrival in Delhi & transfer to International Airport to your onward destination.
The package includes
• Accommodation on twin sharing basis.
• All meals
• Transfers by AC Sumo (3 pax to a vehicle)
• Entry Fees and local sight seeing
• Tea Tour at Dibrugarh & Darjeeling
• 1 elephant safari and 1 jeep safaris at Kaziranga National Park
• 1 boat cruise at Dibru - Saikhowa National Park
The package does not include:
• Camera Fees
• Insurance
• Expenditure of personal nature / tips / telephone calls / laundry
• Alcoholic Beverages
• Service Tax as applicable which is presently @ 4.90% on the total tour cost.
• Airfare from Guwahati to Bagdogra
• Accompanying English speaking escort.
Other Administrative Details:
• Full advance payment should be made within the due date.
• Money Changing facilities are not available every where. Hence, we would advice you to change money before commencement of the tour.
• Credit Cards / Travellers Cheque’s are not freely accepted.
• Mobile phone service is available in the region for selective networks only. It may not be active at all destinations.
• Tea factories are functional from March to November only.
• National Parks of this region remains open from 1st week of November till end April only.
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