Glenburn Tea Estate

Style

Steeped in history

Setting

Plantation amid the peaks

Glenburn Tea Estate, a luxury hotel in West Bengal, suits travellers to a 'tea' (chortle…). With eight rooms in two historic bungalows, on a plantation in the Himalayas, the hotel takes a quantum leap into India's colonial past (with a steamer full of luxury extras, of course). Original plantation buildings – formerly workers' huts – have been scrubbed, varnished, and furnished with antiques; however, the views of emerald hills are evergreen in their beauty. Outdoor pursuits require more effort than putting a kettle on, with Himalayan hikes and fishing in a nearby river, but it's worth working up an appetite: a reward of exceptional Indian food awaits. After dinner sip a cup of house-grown tea on the veranda, gazing out at the far-off mountain peaks.

Facilities

Rooms

Eight, including seven suites.

Checkout

Anytime before 11pm, the hotel are very flexible, subject to guests’ transfer times. Earliest check-in, 6am.

More Details

Rates include all meals and transportation in a chauffeured car.

Also

Three rooms in the Burra Bungalow can accommodate wheelchairs; the bungalow has two entry steps, but staff are happy to assist.

Free Internet Access

Laundry

On-Site Restaurant

Spa

At the Hotel

Gardens, library, spa, valet parking, and free WiFi throughout. In rooms: free bottled water, Glenburn Therapy by Mountain Valley Springs bath products.

Our Favourite Rooms

Each room is decorated around a unique theme (birds, butterflies, and local flora and fauna) and opens out to a veranda. Overlooking its namesake mountain range, the Singalila Suite has two private balconies for double the views, and a four-poster bed, positioned so couples can watch the sunrise over the peaks beyond the tea fields.

Spa

The Glenburn Therapy Mini Spa offers massages in one treatment room using green-tea-infused house oils. Guests can get mini shoulder or foot massages on the verandas or out in the gardens.

Packing Tips

Comfortable walking shoes are practically mandatory for exploring the vast gardens and grounds.

Also

Take advantage of your tea-centric surroundings with the hotel's full-day Tea Experience, which includes a lengthy walk to the tea factory, a tasting and a tour through the plantation, stopping for lunch by the nearby river.

Children

All ages are welcome. The expansive grounds and gardens are ideal for playtime. Cribs and highchairs are available for little ones.

Gallery

Food & Drink

Top Table

Take a table under the pomelo tree for the most fragrant and peaceful setting.

Dress Code

Perky floral patterns and billowing blouses are best for this classically decorated, English-inspired space.

Hotel Restaurant

There’s no dedicated restaurant, but the hotel serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, using freshly gathered ingredients from the hotel gardens. In lieu of a menu, the kitchen tailors dishes to guests’ desires. Local specialties are served alongside Southeast Asian favorites and some Continental options, as well as Tibetan dishes like momos (dumplings). Meals are served in several romance-laden settings, such as the gardens, veranda and the candlelit Dining Room.

Hotel Bar

There is no bar, but drinks are served before dinner, wherever guests congregate. Opt for a classic cocktail or a tea-inspired drink made with oolong-infused vodka.

Last Orders

Breakfast is typically served from 7am to 11am and dinner from 7:30pm to 9:30pm, but the team is flexible.

Room Service

A vast array of hot dishes, baked goods and sandwiches are available from 6am until 11pm.

Planes

Bagdogra Airport, a four-hour drive away, is the nearest to the hotel. Fly to New Delhi (Virgin Atlantic and British Airways fly direct from the UK; Air India and United from the US) or Kolkata; from there Spice Jet and Jet Airways run frequent flights to Bagdogra (around a two-hour journey). Transfers from here to the hotel are included at no additional cost.

Trains

New Jalpaiguri railway station in Siliguri is a four-hour drive from the hotel, offering connections to New Delhi and Kolkata. The hotel provides free transfers.

Automobiles

The road to Glenburn can be bumpy and stressful, so driving is not advised. Luckily, the hotel offers unlimited chauffeuring to ease the stress on travellers.

Worth Getting Out of Bed For

Learn the basics (and some of the less-basic bits) of Bengali cuisine from the talented kitchen crew in a cooking class. Private lessons can be arranged on request. Surrounded by gardens, farmland and forest, Glenburn Tea Estate has plenty of greenery for guests to explore and a resident naturalist to accompany guests on hikes, identifying new and noteworthy plants and critters. The Glenburn Campsite, by the River Rangeet, is the ideal setting for fishing, bird-watching and picnics. Up to four hours away by foot, the campsite is the ideal spot for a day trip, and the hotel can arrange overnight stays at a secluded log cabin on-site – staff will even spark up a toasty bonfire for you.

Earn or Redeem Points with World of Hyatt

This Mr & Mrs Smith hotel participates in the World of Hyatt loyalty program. As a member, you can earn and redeem points and enjoy exclusive benefits for qualifying nights. .