Description
Home to generations of tea planters, the Glenburn Tea Estate was originally established in 1860 and remains today a working tea estate, owned and run by the Prakash family. The family has recently spent a great deal of time and effort in restoring the property and it is now a wonderfully cosy, peaceful and comfortable place to stay.
The main bungalow has a wonderful long veranda with comfortable chairs running across the front of it. Inside, the bungalow offers an ‘English’ style sitting room and dining room where everyone eats together. With 4 rooms in the ‘Burra Bungalow’ and 2 rooms in the Glenburn Lodge down on the riverbank, it is the perfect place to be based for visiting Darjeeling (just an hour’s drive away) or for those who just want to enjoy the magnificent views and stunning countryside that surrounds the estate.
Wildlife abounds and there is plenty to do by way of a private tour of the tea estate or walking, trekking, fishing, picnicking and birdwatching. It is the only working tea estate in India at which you can stay as a guest.
Accommodation
Glenburn Tea Estate offers 4 Bedrooms in the ’Burra Bungalow’ - The Kanchenjunga Suite, The Planter’s Suite, The Rose Suite, The Butterfly Room. The Glenburn Lodge is located at the bottom of the Estate and has two bedrooms and the Water Lily Bungalow offers 4 more suites. The latter features a living room, dining room, two verandahs, garden areas and the massage and steam room. All four bedrooms have views of the mountains, with antique furniture, private balconies and bay windows/or sitouts.
Childcare
Children are welcome but there are no specific facilities however babysitting can be arranged on request.
Facilities
Facilities at the hotel include a small shop and resident host.
Activities
Complimentary activities include board games, birdwatching, fishing, swimming in the river, undisturbed walks in the surrounding tea estate, tours of the tea estate and tea factory, and trekking and excursions to Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Sikkim. Local Massages are charged at an additional cost.
Services
All meals, soft drinks, beer, mineral water, tea and coffee are included in the daily room rate.
When to travel
Darjeeling has a moderate climate with all five distinct seasons in a year. Summers (April to June) are mild with maximum temperature never crossing 25 °C. Monsoons (July to August) are accompanied with intense torrential rain causing roadblocks. Autumn (September to November) is accompanied with intermittent showers and Darjeeling looks marvellous during this period. Winters (December to January) have a cool climate within the average range of 5 °C to 7 °C. Minimum temperature this season can be freezing –2 °C.
Spring (February to March) is charming with moderate climate. This season is best with scenic beauties
Best season to visit Darjeeling is from September to June, take woollen clothes in winters and may avoid chilly days in January.
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Best time to visit
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Average time to visit
Not applicable
Location and directions
Darjeeling, India
Glenburn Tea Estate is in the Kanchenjunga Himalayan foothills. It's located along the border between the states of Sikkim and West Bengal, an hour's drive from Darjeeling.
How to get there
There are daily flights from Kolkata (45-minutes), Guwahati (30-minutes) and New Delhi (2-hours) to Bagdogra. Glenburn is a 3-hour drive from the airport.
