Gopaldhara Tea Estate is a

tea garden A tea garden is an outdoor space or garden where tea and light refreshments are served, or any garden with which the drinking of tea is associated. Especially in India, it is also a common term for a tea plantation. The tea garden was a part o ...

in the

Mirik Mirik is a small town and a Notified Area of Darjeeling district in the state of West Bengal, India. It is the headquarters of the Mirik subdivision. The name ''Mirik'' comes from the Lepcha language, Lepcha words ''Mir-Yok'' meaning "place bur ...

CD block in the

Mirik subdivision Mirik subdivision is a subdivision of the Darjeeling district in the state of West Bengal, India. It was declared a subdivision on 30 March 2017. Subdivisions Darjeeling district is divided into the following administrative subdivisions: ...

of the

Darjeeling district Darjeeling District is the northernmost district of the state of West Bengal in eastern India in the foothills of the Himalayas. The district is famous for its hill station and Darjeeling tea. Darjeeling is the district headquarters. Kurseon ...

in the

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

n state of

West Bengal West Bengal (, Bengali: ''Poshchim Bongo'', , abbr. WB) is a state in the eastern portion of India. It is situated along the Bay of Bengal, along with a population of over 91 million inhabitants within an area of . West Bengal is the fourt ...

Etymology

In 1881, the tea estate was developed in the lush green paddy fields owned by a person named 'Gopal'. 'Dhara' is a small stream in the local Nepali language. Gopal's paddy fields were interspersed with many small streams. Put together the name became "Gopaldhara".

History

In 1881, a new plantation was developed for Tappu and Tara Sahib. In 1920 the tea estate was bought by Kingslay, who in turn sold it to Moolji Sikka and Company in 1947. Dalchand Saria bought Gopaldhara Tea Estate in 1953–54. As of 2020, his son, Shiv Saria and his grandson, Hrishikesh Saria, manages the affairs of Gopldhara Tea Estate under the banner of Sona Tea Group. This group also manages

Rohini Tea Garden Rohini Tea Garden is a village in the Kurseong CD block in the Kurseong subdivision of the Darjeeling district in the state of West Bengal, India. History Rohini Tea Garden is one of the 8 new gardens in India, developed after independence. It w ...

in Darjeeling and New Glenco and Soonagachi Tea Estate in the Dooars.

Geography

Gopaldhara Tea Estate, “one of Darjeeling’s pride”, is one of the highest tea estates in Darjeeling producing

Darjeeling tea Darjeeling tea is a tea made from ''Camellia sinensis var. sinensis'' that is grown and processed in Darjeeling or Kalimpong Districts in West Bengal, India. Since 2004, the term ''Darjeeling tea'' has been a registered geographical indication ...

. Out of a total area of , have been planted with tea. Most of the estate is between and a sizeable area of is at an average elevation of . The high altitudes of Darjeeling offer a perfect combination of moisture and sunlight ideal for mature high quality tea leaves. The cloud cover helps the aroma to linger on. Gopldhara Tea Estate produces premium tea, most of which is exported. As a result of the cooler environments at great heights, tea plants grow at a slower pace. Normally tea gardens follow a follow a 5-year cycle of tea pruning when tea plants are pruned by 30–40 cm. At higher heights it becomes a 7-year cycle. Note: The map alongside presents some of the notable locations in the subdivision. All places marked in the map are linked in the larger full screen map.

Developments

Gopaldhara Tea Estate produces the finest

in all categories such as Black, Green, White, Oolong, Flavored, Speciality Tea and Handcrafted tea. It has built a new factory. Vacant high elevation areas are being planted with fresh varieties.

References

External links

* {{Darjeeling District Tea estates in Darjeeling district