Drive from Kolkata to Tea Estate with Baikuntpur Forest & Sundar Basti in the Darjeeling

[pyal_p]

After waiting for sometime, we rushed to "Sundar BAsti", a small hamlet of original Lepchas of Darjeeling, around 11 Kms from Baikuntpur Forest and not more than 30 houses............But very clean unlike some places in Darjeeling.......

There was a ground beside a small primary school, few small shops, selling "Thumba". a local drink fermented from Millets. I do not drink due to health issues so skipped that, had omelettes.

Pronil was invited to the Mid-day meal, but Pronil very politely refused as we had other lunch ideas. It was so kind of them to ask.

This place was around 8 kms away from Suntalekhola reserve Forest

 

[adsatinder]

Great !
Great !
Great !
Great !
Great !

 

[Sangram Keshari Senapati]

Very Nice...

 

[pyal_p]

 

[Big Daddy]

This good travelogue brings back memories from my childhood. Me and my younger brother happened to visit a tea garden once. My brother had a leech on his ear and he did not even know. I found his ear looking funny. Once my mother recognized it was a leech, she put salt on it. The leech left his ear and I think we added more salt and it brusted and died.

The friend that arranged for trip to tea garden had a mother who was Sai Baba bhakt. The whole day she and bunch of ladies were doing Kirtan and I still remember that day. They were singing very loudly something like "Sai jagan maata.." I do not know why Sai was mata? But these ladies keept doing this for hours, perhaps whole day, because I never formally met my friend's mother.

If I recall correctly some of these tea areas also have plantation dates. I was told that it takes something like 25 years before they start using these trees to sell their leaves.

 

[rdp]

Nice !

 

[pyal_p]

This good travelogue brings back memories from my childhood. Me and my younger brother happened to visit a tea garden once. My brother had a leech on his ear and he did not even know. I found his ear looking funny. Once my mother recognized it was a leech, she put salt on it. The leech left his ear and I think we added more salt and it brusted and died.

The friend that arranged for trip to tea garden had a mother who was Sai Baba bhakt. The whole day she and bunch of ladies were doing Kirtan and I still remember that day. They were singing very loudly something like "Sai jagan maata.." I do not know why Sai was mata? But these ladies keept doing this for hours, perhaps whole day, because I never formally met my friend's mother.

If I recall correctly some of these tea areas also have plantation dates. I was told that it takes something like 25 years before they start using these trees to sell their leaves.

Thank you , at least your memories have come back of tea estates.
actually , it takes nearly 2- 3 years for a young bush to start giving leaves.