TEMI TEA GARDEN GUIDE

Why Should I Go

Nestled amidst the towering snow-capped mountains of South Sikkim lies a sprawling 440 acre-stretch of land carpeted with emerald-hued tea bushes. Despite facing a stiff competition from its adversaries in the neighbouring Darjeeling, Temi Tea Garden, the only tea producing region of Sikkim, has established itself as one of the finest producers of tea in the world in multiple auction houses. The plantation was set up in 1969 by the Chogyal (King) himself to provide employment to Tibetan refugees who fled to Sikkim after the Chinese invasion.

The heritage bungalow inside the tea garden makes for a perfect place to unwind during your visit here. Built by Scottish missionaries in the early 1900s, the bungalow with its colonial architecture with a functional fireplace and wooden interiors takes you back in time.

Learn the intricacies of tea manufacturing, from plucking to culturing, during your stay here. If you’re in the mood for some adventure, you can even go paragliding to get some breath-taking views of the region.

How Do I Get There

Located in the southern part of the state, the tea garden is lies between Damthang and Temi Bazaar, near Namchi, the main town of South Sikkim. You can hire a cab straight to Temi Tea Garden from Gangtok or take a shared taxi to Namchi and hire a private cab to the tea garden.

When Should I Land Up

If you’re a tea connoisseur then the best time to visit the tea garden is during spring, the season for first flush i.e March to April. If you plan a visit in November, be prepared to get floored by some glorious views for it is when the entire emerald expanse of the tea estate is lined with pink cherry blossoms. Generally, the best time to visit this part of the Himalayas is around spring (March to June) and autumn (September to October)

Flora And Fauna

While trees like Nepalese Alder, beech, cherry dominate the flora of the region, the area is resplendent with a variety of birds such as rusty-bellied shortwing, crimson-horned pheasant, kalij, etc and snakes such as cobra, krait and viper.