An increasing number of tourists are visiting tea plantations in Himachal’s Kangra district, giving a boost to the budding tea tourism trend as tea plantation owners are only just realising the true potential of the industry.
According to data from the Tea Board of India, Palampur has 2,310 hectares of tea plantations, but only around 1,400 hectares is actually under cultivation. (HT file) {{^userSubscribed}} {{/userSubscribed}} {{^userSubscribed}} {{/userSubscribed}}
Amid declining production, tea planters are increasingly turning to tea tourism as an alternative to keep the struggling industry afloat. With the area under tea cultivation shrinking in recent years, tea plantation owners are promoting Kangra tea, known for its unique flavour, through local visitors.
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Activities on offer include guided tea estate tours, tea tastings, factory tours and education on tea production, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the tea culture of the vast tea estate.
Kangra tea is known for its unique aroma and subtle fruity flavor. It is milder in flavor than Darjeeling tea, but has more body and alcohol content. This tea is grown on the slopes of the Dhauladhar range in the Western Himalayas, at an altitude of 900-1,400 meters above sea level.
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Follow models from other states
Despite the historical importance of Kangra tea and the economic potential of tea tourism, the state government is yet to frame a policy, unlike states like Assam and Kerala, tea growers stress.
“Tea tourism has huge potential and can be a better option to promote Kangra tea,” said Surya Jai Prakash, director of Wa Tea Estate, which offers tourists guided tea tours, factory visits, tea tastings and explanations about the history of tea plantations. “The government should allow hospitality activities to promote tea with clear policies, as seen in Assam, Darjeeling and Kerala.”
He added that the number of people visiting the gardens has increased and school and college groups are also organised frequently, highlighting the potential of the industry.
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A senior government official in Kangra said attempts have been made to formulate a policy in the past few years but it has not yielded the desired results.
“We cannot carry out commercial activities on our tea estate land. We have been urging the government to allow us to use a certain area for tea tourism,” added Sukhsham Butaïl, president of the Kangra Valley Small Tea Planters Association.
“States like Kerala, Assam and West Bengal realised that cultivation alone was no longer enough to sustain a livelihood and so they embraced tourism. We need policies to support that in Himachal as well,” he added.
In West Bengal, under the Tea Tourism and Allied Business Policy, 15% of the total area has been permitted for tourism and allied business activities.
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Noting that the idea is new to the region, Vinay Dhiman, deputy director of Kangra Tourism, said, “Tea tourism is a new concept and there is a huge scope to promote Kangra tea as a standalone product as well.”
Stopping the spiral
According to data shared by officials at the Tea Board of India in Palampur, on paper, tea is cultivated on 2,310 hectares of land. However, only about 1,400 hectares is currently in use. Kharga tea has fallen out of favor and production has plummeted in recent years. Annual production remains at around 900,000-1 million kilograms, far less than the 1.7-1.8 million kilograms produced a few decades ago.
In particular, with each passing generation, land holdings shrink, making tea cultivation an unprofitable business, leading to an increasing number of people abandoning tea cultivation.
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Rakesh Buta’il, who runs a bed and breakfast in Sungar, Palampur, said, “We demonstrate to our guests how to prepare tea, from plucking the leaves from the garden to sipping and tasting the tea. People here are realising the potential of combining tea and tourism. With land holdings shrinking with every generation, tea tourism is the only way forward.”
“People who come to our tea estates get tours of the factory. They learn about the system. The tea industry is tourist-friendly and the government needs to step in to promote it,” said Rajiv Sood, owner of Palampur-based Himalayan Brew Tea.
“The younger generation knows that tourism and tea go hand in hand, so they are coming up with innovative ideas to promote tea. The government also needs to create awareness about Kangra tea,” said Mayur Sood, who runs Himalayan Adrenaline in Palampur.
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Once popular in Europe, Central Asia, Australia and even Afghanistan and Pakistan, Kharga tea has fallen out of favor in recent years and production has drastically decreased. Dr. Jameson, then the director of the Botanical Gardens, recognized the region’s potential for tea cultivation in 1849. One of the smallest tea-growing regions in India, Kangra produces green and black teas of a higher quality. Black tea has a long, sweet finish, while green tea has a delicate woody aroma.
News / Cities / Chandigarh / A sip of tranquility: Plans emerge to take Kangra tea tourism forward, stakeholders oppose state policy
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