Living in a Tea Estate in Dibrugarh
For most of us the day doesn’t begin until we get our cup of tea. Whether it is the famous cutting chai or the strong black tea; tea has and shall always be an indispensable part of our life. Assam is the world’s largest tea producing area. Assam Tea is popular all over India and many parts of the world as well. Dibrugarh city in Assam is a tea city. It is famous for its expansive tea estates and scenic beauty. There are more than 100 tea estates in the state. A large number of tourists both domestic and international visit this place each year. It is interesting to see the journey of tea right from the start. Most tea estates in the area have accommodation facilities in the form of guest houses. The tea estates prove to be a major source of livelihood for the locals. You would be surprised to see that even an increasing number of tribal people are now working in tea gardens. Many tea pickers are Bangladeshi immigrants as well. Assam is the second in commercial tea production after southern China. In fact, both Assam and Southern China are the only two places in the world with native tea leaves.For an avid tea drinker, what can be better? It is sheer bliss to be in a tea garden and sip unlimited cups of tea. Certainly the tea gardens of Dibrugarh make a great holiday destination. Living in a tea estate is an all new kind of experience. A lot of foreign tourists visit the area to get an insight into tea manufacturing. The state of Assam is known for its tea production. Dibrugarh is a famous city of the state and has many tea estates on the outskirts of the city. Some of the most popular tea estates of the area are – Jalannagar tea garden, Tata Group of Companies and Khanikar tea garden. The first plucking starts in March and continuous for around two months. The second plucking season starts from June.
The entire atmosphere of being in a tea estate is overwhelming. You are surrounded by lush green plantations and are so close to nature. Most plantation workers would be glad to share their experiences with you. Interacting with the locals is a great way to know the culture and traditions of the area. The workers are dedicated and it is delight to watch them work. It seems that they are picking tea leaves in synchronization and the process is nothing short of a full-fledged tea picking factory. The accommodation in a tea garden is a one of its kind experience. Most of these tea estates were built in the early 1900s and ever since they have been carrying out an unmatched legacy.