Glenburn Tea Estate, Darjeeling
Started by a Scottish tea company in 1859, Glenburn then passed into the hands of one of India’s pioneering tea planting families – The Prakashes, One of India’s pioneering tea-planting families, they have, over the years, come to be known as the “Chaiwala family“ – which literally means “tea planters“. The Burra Bungalow was lovingly restored, whilst retaining the style of a colonial planters’ bungalow. With 1000 acres of private forest, Glenburn has two rivers running through the estate. In 2008 four more rooms were added at Glenburn as part of The Water Lily Bungalow. Perched on the edge of the hill in front of The Burra Bungalow, all rooms have stunning views, including Darjeeling Town up on one hill and, of course the Kanchenjunga Range straight ahead. All the rooms have antique furniture as well as some old Burma teak for the flooring. Restored old cast iron window frames with arched skylights shape the nine foot high windows in each room. The small balconies just outside each of these large windows are perfect for enjoying the magnificent views all around.