Monsoon is officially here, and Mumbai monsoons are truly beautiful. It’s that time of year that the city truly comes alive. Of course, it comes with its downfalls too – traffic gets slower, travel gets longer and roads get dirtier. As much as we love the rain, we wouldn’t blame you if you wanted a break from it. Nothing sounds more attractive to us than a cup of hot brewed tea along with a book or great company. While the Mumbai cutting chai honking rickshaws have been great and all, an isolated, quiet retreat sounds ideal just about now. If you’re looking for a serene getaway where you can enjoy the rain without the worry of leaving work an hour earlier or forgetting to carry an umbrella. Like we said earlier, we understand, we know what you need so look no further – here are 5 lovely tea and coffee estates around the country where you can enjoy the drizzles, landscape and hot brews from the comfort of your bed. So scroll on, and pick your perfect space for these cloudy days.
Where: Darjeeling, West Bengal
If you want tea and pampering is what you’re looking for, Glenburn is where you need to be. The estate’s hosts, Will and Faye, have given themselves one job – spoiling you. Stay in one of their two bungalows, each with four suites along with common gardens and terraces. Have the complete ‘tea experience’ – tour the tea factory and watch the rolling, fermenting and sorting of the leaves, before tasting a variety of teas, of course.
Cost: Doubles from INR 36,500, including meals, transfers and all activities.
Where: Chikmagalur, Karnataka
Surround yourself with a lush, green, 275 acre coffee plantation at this retreat, named after an ancient water body situated inside the boundaries of the estate. Know what it’s like to be a part of nature; wake up to the call of the Langur and the Barking Deer. The best part? It is a television, telephone and room service-free zone – you’re left alone, cut off from the chaos of your city.
Cost: INR 2975 per day inclusive of all three meals.
III. Wild Mahseer Lodge
Where: Balipara, Assam
This lodge is perhaps the best way to enjoy the magnificent land of tea. It offers stunning views and allows you to explore the local wildlife. If you’d rather step out then laze around in your room, ride around on a jeep and watch elephants at the Kaziranga National Park, trek and bird watch, take on the might of the river as you raft, or, of course, taste tea – all varieties of it.
Cost: Doubles from INR 6,900.
Where: Mojo, Coorg
For a few days, make the hills and forested valleys your home. If you adore nature and are an environmentalist, this retreat would be your dream come true. Located on an organic spice farm, this plantation is in perhaps the most beautiful part of the Kodagu district. The cottages here were built using eco-friendly construction methods, are run on solar energy, and the scrumptious meals are prepared using bio-gas from their gobar-gas plant. They also offer what they consider some of the finest trekking and birding in South India, so don’t miss out!
Cost: Doubles at approximately INR 2000
V. Glenrock Tea Estates
Where: Yercaud, Tamil Nadu
Glenrock Estates stands tall and proud at 6000 feet high. Renowned for its coffee, spices, silver oak and sandalwood estates, Glenrock is pure happiness, in estate-form. Escape the heat at temperatures that don’t stray far from 10 to 15 degrees celsius, and enjoy the spacious cabins with massive balconies. If you’re travelling with friends, this place also offers dormitories for larger groups. It is a fully-functioning coffee estate, which means you can explore the entire coffee-making process with a tour of their coffee plant. Apart from discovering how your morning cup of coffee is made, you can also go trekking or trout fishing, or just sit by a campfire and watch the stars. Just when you think it can’t get any better, Glenrock Estates is also pet-friendly! Don’t let your pooch miss out on the fun.
Cost: Approximately 7,200 per night.