It is rare to find a vacation spot in the country where you can find luxury, spectacular views, and seclusion at the same time. About an hour’s drive from Darjeeling, two colonial-style bungalows, set in the heart of a 1600-acre working tea estate, are your answer to this problem.
Established in 1860 by Scottish tea planters, the Glenburn Tea Estate is the perfect weekend getaway, with a gorgeous view of the Himalayas, a number of tea picker villages, a pair of river valleys to explore, and hiking trails to trek through. The bungalows have a cosy environment, with spot on service, delicious food and a choice of activities to indulge in all day.
Made for
Whether you like to travel alone, with your partner or with family, Glenburn offers a beautiful mix of privacy and inspiration that will make you want to come back for more. The gorgeous estate is perfect for a long-weekend getaway to help you destress from work and return rejuvenated. Its secluded location and private setting also makes it ideal for a romantic vacation when you want to spend some quality time with your partner.
About the property
The main house, also known as The Burra Bungalow, is a restored tea planter’s house with four attractive suites, a sweeping romantic verandah, cosy living room and a grand dining room that hosts candlelit sit-down dinners. The four bedrooms have been handsomely decorated, each having a unique theme. Two of the suites have fireplaces and the other three have free-standing tubs in the bathrooms.
Tucked below the main hillock is an additional bungalow, known as the Water Lily Bungalow, with four more suites and a stunning location on the edge of the Glenburn spur. It is connected to The Burra Bungalow by a stone staircase and houses a large recreational room as well as the massage and steam rooms. All four bedrooms here have a direct view of the mountains with private balconies and bay windows.
Cost
The price starts at ₹22,000 per night per room for a single occupancy and ₹36,500 per night per room for a double occupancy. Off season discounts are available from July to September and can be enquired about via email.
Food
Variety is the name of the game when it comes to dining at the Glenburn Tea Estate. The elaborate menu comprises of a host of cuisines—starting from authentic local dishes to South-East Asian and European cuisines which are cooked by a team of skilled chefs using hand-picked ingredients from the estate's kitchen garden.
To make the dining experience even more special, the chefs even go to the extent of preparing dishes on demand of the guests and what more, if they love your recipe, they'll add your dish to the menu with your name on it and serve it to future guests! Time to show off those cooking skills!
What to do there
Glenburn is more than just a great location or beautiful views. It offers superb pampering services, sumptuous food and a number of activities you can indulge in everyday. Hiking around the plantation and the river valleys is the most preferred activity by guests here and the concierge service at the estate will easily arrange that for you, complete with a picnic basket and a guide to take you through the terrain. Apart from that, you can also learn how tea is made, visit the plantation in a private buggy, head to Sikkim by crossing a hanging bridge, go bird-watching or butterfly-spotting, or just sit in your bungalow's balcony and sketch the stunning landscape. The estate also offer lamp-lit dinners at a stilted lodge on the Rungeet river apart from stargazing escapades and trout fishing tours.
Best time to go
October to March is the best time to go and you’ll get the best mountain views from November to December. October, November and March are the busiest months, so make sure you book in advance.
How to get there
The closest metro city to the Glenburn Tea Estate is Kolkata and here are the different modes of transport that will get you to the picturesque property:
By road - Darjeeling is connected to Kolkata by the NH 12 and it takes about 16 hours to cover the distance of 615km.
By train - There is no direct train service between Kolkata and Darjeeling but daily trains ply between Kolkata and New Jalpaiguri, which is the closest railway station to the hill town. After the 11 hour long train journey, hire a cab from the railway station to reach Glenburn Tea Estate in another couple of hours (80km).
By air - The easiest and most convenient way to reach Darjeeling is to take a direct flight from Kolkata to Bagdogra (nearest airport) which will cost you around ₹3000. Get off at Bagdogra airport and hire a cab which will get you to the property in about 3 hours (84km).
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All pictures by Glenburn Tea Estate.
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