Temi Tea Garden

Temi is the only tea garden in Sikkim, established in 1969 by the state on land at around 1,200 to 1,800 metres, and it covers about four hundred and forty acres on a single slope. Because Sikkim became the first fully organic state in India in 2016, the estate is certified organic and its tea sells at a premium at auction. The garden runs down a hillside with Kanchenjunga visible above it on clear days, and a road cuts through the middle of the plantings so it can be driven or walked. The factory takes visitors for processing tours, and a heritage bungalow on the estate takes guests.

What you actually see

• The single slope - four hundred acres of tea on one hillside.
• The factory - withering, rolling and drying explained on tours.
• The Kanchenjunga view - the range above the garden on clear days.
• The estate bungalow - colonial-style accommodation among the bushes.

When to go

March to May for the first flush and picking, October to December for the clearest views; the monsoon brings heavy rain. Factory activity follows the plucking season.

Honest expectations

Factory tours need arranging in advance and run only when processing. The bungalow is small and books out. Kanchenjunga is often cloud-covered.

Nearby

Ravangla lies north; Namchi is south.