The Glenburn Tea Estate

Frommer's Review

Homestays are aplenty in India, as are tea gardens and luxurious resorts, but a combination of all three is very rare. The creative offspring of the dynamic Husna-Tara Prakash, Glenburn centers around the 100-year-old Burra Bungalow, which offers just four magnificent rooms, a cozy sitting room, and a traditional dining room where one can eat a multicourse meal in the true planter's style. Each of the rooms is unique and makes delightful use of space, light, and color. Birds and butterflies embroidered on linens, splashes of blues and pinks, beds made of Spanish mahogany and Victorian teak, antique bathtubs, and floral tiles are just some of the features. Add to that the gorgeous views of the Kanchenjunga that can be had from the sit-outs and verandas, while sipping endless cups of Glenburn tea accompanied by the most delicious homemade brownies, and you can see why we think Glenburn is a little chunk of heaven. Trails wind through pockets of forest or slopes of tea all the way from 1,110m (3,700 ft.) to the banks of the rivers Rungeet and Rung Dung, across which lies the neighboring state of Sikkim. Guests have an option to enjoy the day or even stay overnight at the Glenburn Lodge by the river, without giving up their room at the Bungalow -- the two rooms here are charming, especially at night when bathed in the orange glow of hurricane lamps (no electricity) with only the burbling of the river for music. Picnics can be arranged anywhere on the estate and will be served by liveried bearers on portable tables complete with a tablecloth, delicate crockery, and a vase of fresh flowers -- all that is lacking is a chandelier.

Facilities:
Dining; library; board games; vehicle at disposal; guide/naturalist; shop

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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