Friday, September 14, 2007

GHOOM & DARJEELING TEA


GHOOM:
No visit to Darjeeling is complete without a visit to Ghoom which is 6 km away from the main town. The hillock is dominated by the famous Yiga Choeling Monastery which has 15 images of the Maitreya Buddha. Belonging to the yellow hat sect, the monastery contains many ancient palm leaf and paper manuscripts in Tibetan script. The Museum of Natural History is where one can see a fine collection of Himalayan animals, reptiles, birds and insects. If flora is what one enjoys, then Llyod Botanic Garden is the place of interest. It has a marvelous collection of alpine flora and orchids.
Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park is the only center in India for the breeding of the rare snow leopard. The Ussurian tigers and the Himalayan black bear are also among its attractions. The Himalayan Mountaineering Institutean which established in 1954 by the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, is the place where one can get all the information and details of conquest Mount Everest. Tenzing Norgay,one of the first climbers of Everest was the Founder Director and Advisor till his demise. Darjeeling-Ranjit Valley ropeway is the another attraction which is very nearer to this place.The Tibetan Refugee Self Help Center is the place where the excellent Tibetan crafts like carpets, wood and leather work are displayed for the visitors. Kalimpong Teesta ,the crown of this queenee valley is spreaded the tinny town Kalimpong. The view of Mac Farlane Church welcomes the tourists with open hands to this nature's paradise Once, it was the headquarters of a Bhutanese Governor. The word kalim means king's minister and pongmeans the stronghold. The place is situated at an altitude of 1250 meters and covers arround 3.5 square miles. Dr. Graham' s Homes school which was founded by Dr. John Anderson Grahman in 1900 is one of the main attrctions of Kalimpong.. This has been built on the slopes of Delo Hill,approximately three kilometers away from the town.Visitors who wants to witness a bird' s eye view of the picturesque place has to go to Durpin Dara, an observatory point at hill top, from where he or she can get an overall view of the mighty Himalayan ranges.There are numbers of monasteries in this area, among them the Pedong monastery and Thongsha Gompa are the oldest and mostly known.. Another monastery is the Tharpa Choling Monastery which has been constructed in 1937 by the Yellow Hat sect , is situated at Tirpai Hill at a distance of arround two kilometers from Kalimpong. Mirik Mirik is the place which is famous tor tea gardens and orrange orchards. The climate of this place is cool and charming nad gives a completely different experence to the visitors.Lush green valley covered with tea plantation,small cottages, long oke trees, big lake and jucey orranges are the things which is unique to its comparison.This is the ideal place to spend some time away from the monotonous city life with friends,family or alone.Fishing and boating in the lake gives something more to the tourists. DARJEELING (Shopping) Mall is the place where the visitors can give the finishing touch "shopping" to there visit. This is basically a comercial center of this valley.Here one can find hand knitted sweaters,hand painted wall hangings,fancy bags, himalayan and tibetian antique , and specially tibetian theme based oil paintings of black&white in colour.Here the local people also appear with some traditional food like momos etc. Mall leads to Chowrasta which is also popular and crowdy like mall for shopping purpose. Here hotels, restaurants and shops are plentily availabale in wide and different range.Woollen garments, tribal ornaments, Thankas, rosaries, brass statuettes and Gorkha daggers arewidely available here.Some shols offers foriegn goods.But the two places, Mall and Chowrasta deserves shopping after huge bargaining. DARJEELING (Trekking)Trekking in the Darjeeling hills started almost a century back.It was one of the first hill region in India where trekking were organised .The Everest and Kanchenjunga stillalluring thousands of nature lovers from different parts of the world since it was discovered. The best time to undertake trekking programeis April-May and Octoberan dNovember. Through Travel Agents and personal program both are acceptable here.Both low and high altitude treks are arranged over here.Some of the most popular treks are Maneybhanjang (2134 m), Meghma (2900 m), Toughu (3070 m), Gairibas (2621 m), Sandakphu (3636 m), and Phalut (3600m)etc. Anotherattractive high altitude trek is to Kalimpong valley from Relli, Pankhasari, and to the highest point in the areas, Rochella (3,400 m).All the varietiy of Himalayan flora and faunaare widely available her to experience The mostly used and adviseable routes are from Darjeeling to Kurseong through the Old Military Road, Darjeeling to Singla, Darjeeling to Bijabbari and Darjeeling to Tiger Hill. Darjeeling Tea occupies a place of pride for the whole of India. The aroma and taste of Darjeeling orthodox tea is unparalleled in the world. There are a total of 78 tea estates in the hills which have been accorded the status for its produce, as Darjeeling Tea by the Tea Board of India. These estates cover over 17,500 hectares producing over 9 million kg of tea engaging about 50 percent people of the district. The Darjeeling Tea industry is the mainstay of the economy up in the hills and provides a rewarding life to its workers by way of a steady livelihood and other facilities like housing, statutory benefits, allowances, incentives, creches for infants of working monthers, children's education, integrated residential medical facilities for employees and their families and many more.
In Darjeeling the first trial plantation of seed was planted at an altitude of 700 ft. by Dr. A Campbell and in 1845 an experimental nursery in Darjeeling was set up by the Government. In 1847 the Government planted a nursery at Lebong and the rest, as they say, is history.
Tea plantations in Darjeeling are restricted to Darjeeling and Kurseong sub-divisions only. Kalimpong sub-division was left out as it already had agricultural holdings and reserve forest. Tea is grown at an altitude ranging from 600 to 2000 meters above mean sea level and requires a minimum of 50" to 60" of rainfall in a year and for this Darjeeling did not lack. The cool and moist climate , the soil, the rainfall and the slopping terrains all combine to give Darjeeling tea its unique "Muscatel flavour" and "Exquisite Banquet". The combination of natural factors give Darjeeling tea its unique distinction not found anywhere else in the world. Thus, it is the most sought after and highly valued. In the affluent Western and Japanese markets, 80% of the total produce is exported every year. Darjeeling still manufactures the original methods of tea manufacture, known as the "Orthodox" tea manufacture, as against the "C.T.C." type of manufacture adopted in the plains, now.(C.T.C. stands for Curling, Tearing & Crushing). 'Organic tea' is a name given to tea grown using natural manure and ecologically sustainable practices. There is no use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in an organic tea garden. In recent times growing appreciation and demand for the organic products in the western countries have driven some tea gardens of Darjeeling to produce organic tea. 'Tea tourism' is the latest concept being popularised in India. The tourists are encouraged to stay in tea garden Bungalows with all amenities during which apart from enjoying serene atmosphere of tea garden they can also see the tea manufacturing process and the unique culture of tea garden. Nature walks, tea plucking session, trekking, rafting and golf is also on offer. The Darjeeling logo is a hallmark of excellence. Launched in 1986, the Darjeeling logo has come to represent high quality muscatel flavoured tea with the unmistakable class that only Darjeeling can offer. The logo is a significant landmark in the history of the tea industry. Conceptualized by the Association in Darjeeling and launched in the international and domestic market by the Tea Board, it guarantees genuine Darjeeling tea, tested, and packed for the connoisseurs of tea throughout the world. The Darjeeling tea industry is a happening place and has more surprises to unfurl. 1. Black Tea Black tea accounts for over 90% of the tea consumption in the western world. During the production process of black tea the leaves are changed substantially, allowing the characteristic flavors of black tea – ranging from flowery to fruity, nutty and spicy – to emerge.
2. Oolong Tea Also known as partially or semi-fermented tea, the oolongs have some of the qualities of both black and green tea. At their best, oolongs are beautiful, full-bodied tea with a fragrant flavor and fruity, sweet aroma.
3. Green Tea Green tea, for centuries the beverage of choice in Asia, is rapidly gaining popularity in the western world. Its natural aroma and widely acclaimed health benefits make green tea appealing to both the tea lover and previously non-tea drinker. When preparing green tea, it is important to use water below the boiling point and to carefully watch the infusion time to avoid bitterness.
4. White Tea White tea are the most delicate of all tea; the finest varieties are appreciated by tea connoisseurs for their unmatched subtlety, complexity and natural sweetness. The production of the most delicate white tea consists of only two steps: Steaming and drying. The absence of withering, rolling and oxidation leaves the appearance of the leaves essentially unaltered.
5. Blended, Flavored & Scented Tea Blended Tea : Earl Greys, Breakfast & Afternoon Blends, Russian Caravan Tea and Lapsang Souchons. Flavored Tea : Flavored Black Tea, Flavored Oolong Tea, Flavored Green Tea. Scented Tea : Jasmine, Litchee and Rose Tea. Seasonal Blends : Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter & Holiday Blends.

No comments: