RISHEEHAT TEA ESTATE
Rishihat Tea Estate (also pronounced as Risheehat) is a tea village guarded by lush green tea estates from all sides located in Darjeeling Pulbazaar CD of Darjeeling sadar sub division of Darjeeling district. Rishihat or Risheehat Tea Estate was established by the British in 1900 and during that time it was named as ‘Tshering Bagan’ because of the predominance of a local Tibetan group ‘Tshering’. Later this tea estate was named as Rishihat or Risheehat Tea Estate which literally translates into ‘Rishi – Sage’ and ‘Hat – Home’ meaning ‘Home of the Holy Sages’. Till date Rishihat or Risheehat Tea Estate is a lesser known tourist destination and is an ideal hideout or ideal escape from the madding city crowd for a day or two. The altitude of Rishihat or Risheehat Tea Estate varies from 760 meter to 1460 meter (2500 feet to 4800 feet). The topography of Rishihat or Risheehat Tea Estate is steep. Most of the local villagers living within the periphery of Rishihat or Risheehat Tea Estate are involved in tea processing, tea plucking and tea planters. Apart from that some of the local villagers also produce variable fruits and vegetables like Oranges, Cardamom, cabbage and others on the valleys through organic process. Rishihat or Risheehat Tea Estate is bounded Arya Tea Estate in the east and Chongtong Tea Estate in the west. On a clear day Rishihat or Risheehat Tea Estate offers stunning view of the snow-capped Himalayan ranges of Mt. Kanchenjunga, Mt. Kumbakarna, Mt. Pandim and others.
Activities and attractions around Rishihat or Risheehat Tea Estate:
Being a tea estate centered village, Rishihat or Risheehat Tea Estate has many tourism related activities to offers and experience all around.
- Darjeeling Visit: From Rishihat or Risheehat Tea village in a day trip tourists can opt for a visit to Darjeeling town located at a distance of 16 km away. From Rishihat or Risheehat tea village to the opposite side tourists will get to see Darjeeling town clearly. Around Darjeeling town tourists can visit the local watchable like Mall, Keventers, Glenary’s, Darjeeling Zoo, Batasia Loop and others.
- Gangamaiya Park: From Rishihat or Risheehat Tea village tourists can opt for a visit to Gangamaiya Park located at a distance of 8.1 km away. Gangamaiya Park is a natural park built at the foothills of the Himalayas decorated with numerous species of trees, flowers and orchids which are seen in full bloom. A small Himalayan stream flows through Gangamaiya Park over which a wooden bridge is constructed. A route from Gangamaiya Park goes to the downward side and meets near a lake which is ideal for paddle boating.
- Rock Garden Visit: The Rock Garden is another natural site worth visiting for tourists from Rishihat or Risheehat Tea Village. Rock Garden is located at a distance of 03 km away from Gangamaiya Park and 6.5 km away from Rishihat or Risheehat Tea village. Rock Garden is centred on a natural waterfall from where the route goes to the upward direction and meets at an open valley which offers panoramic view of the surrounding area and Darjeeling town.
- Tea Garden Trail: On leisure day at Rishihat or Risheehat Tea village tourists can opt for a walk along the narrow trails of the tea garden and witness the process of tea plucking by the local villagers.
- Buddha Monastery Visit: Nearby Rishihat or Risheehat tea village there is a Buddhist Monastery which is also worth visiting. The periphery of this Buddhist Monastery is very serene and is decorated with beautiful Buddhist prayer flags and it also offers stunning view of the snow-capped Himalayan ranges.
- Rishihat or Risheehat Tea Factory: Rishihat or Risheehat Tea Factory is another point of tourist interest at Rishihat or Risheehat Tea Village. Though Rishihat or Risheehat Tea Factory is a small factory but here tourists can get deep insight of the tea processing and packaging. One can also opt to buy some tea from the outlet.
- Ghoom Monastery: Ghoom Monastery is another point of tourist interest located at a distance of 14.7 km away from Rishihat or Risheehat Tea village.
- Nature and Bird Photography: Rishihat or Risheehat Tea village offers tourists with ample options for nature and bird photography. Rishihat or Risheehat tea village is a safe haven for numerous species of birds those inhabit the region along with that the lush green winding tea valleys and the snow-capped Himalayan ranges at the backdrop offers enthusiasts with some of the best clicks.
- Short Treks and Hiking: Few short trekking trails and hiking routes have emerged from Rishihat or Risheehat Tea village those leads to different parts of the village. Tourists can indulge in trekking and hiking activity by these short trails from Rishihat or Risheehat Tea village.
- Tiger Hill: From Rishihat or Risheehat Tea village tourists can easily visit Tiger Hill located at a distance of 10 km away. Tiger Hill is very popular among tourists for the magnificent view of the morning sunrise at the backdrop of the snow-capped Himalayan ranges.
How to Reach:
By Air: Bagdogra Airport is the nearest airport to Rishihat or Risheehat Tea village located at a distance of 74.9 km away. Bagdogra Airport is well connected by flight services with Kolkata, Guwahati, Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore. From Bagdogra Airport tourists will get hired vehicle service to reach Rishihat or Risheehat Tea village.
By Train: New Jalpaiguri or NJP railway station is the nearest rail head to Rishihat or Risheehat Tea Garden located at a distance of 80 km away. From New Jalpaiguri or NJP railway station tourists will get direct hired cars to reach Rishihat or Risheehat Tea Estate. Tourists opt to reach Rishihat or Risheehat Tea Estate by shared vehicle need to reach Ghoom by shared car service and from there by another car tourist can reach at Rishihat or Risheehat Tea Estate.
By Road: Rishihat or Risheehat Tea Estate is well connected by good motor-able roads with Siliguri (70 km), Darjeeling (16 km), Ghoom (14.7 km) and Mirik (45.3 km). From all these places tourists will get reserved vehicles to reach Rishihat or Risheehat Tea estate. Tourists are advised that car service between Rishihat or Risheehat Tea Estate and Darjeeling is very rare in number and hence one should book a car from the homestay directly for their traveling.
Best time to visit Rishihat or Risheehat Tea Estate:
Rishihat or Risheehat Tea Estate can be visited throughout the year. But winter is the best time to experience the snow-capped Himalayan ranges view. During winter bird’s activity at Rishihat or Risheehat Tea Estate becomes more frequent. Summers are quite comfortable and tourists can easily travel from one place to another from Rishihat or Risheehat Tea village. Monsoon is a low tourist season, as during this time some of the road condition becomes bad, but the surrounding greenery becomes denser.
HOSANNA HOMESTAY
Hosanna Homestay at Risheehat Tea Village is set on a hill top in the midst of thick natural vegetation all over. Hosanna Homestay offers tourists with a rustic experience during their stay at Risheehat Tea village. Hosanna Homestay is set within private farmland that spread over 07 acres area high in the Himalayas overlooking the vast stretches of the tea valleys and might snow-capped Himalayan ranges. At Hosanna Homestay tourists will get the privilege to experience rural village life with the local family of the region. Hosanna Homestay is an ideal staying option for nature lovers, bird lovers and above all for those who loves to spend their gateways amidst the lush green tea gardens. Rooms of Hosanna Homestay also offer stunning view of the Himalayan ranges from its rooms. All rooms of Hosanna Homestay are very clean, tidy and comfortable. At Hosanna Homestay tourists can fell home away from home.
Amenities available:
All rooms are well furnished with attached washrooms.
Rooms are mostly wooden furnished.
Western type toilet and geyser facility available for running hot water.
Pick and drop facility available on request.
Arrangement of car for local sightseeing.
Tourists are served with home cooked organic foods.
Camp fire and Bar-B-Cue option available (chargeable).
Tariff:
INR @ 2000/- per day per person (both food and lodging included).
Meals include: Morning tea, breakfast, lunch, evening tea, snacks and dinner.
HOW TO BOOK: Call us at 9831311606 , 9830381306, to get the current availability status or use the query form furnished below with all you travel queries and submit, we will call/ contact you directly. Or, you may also directly book from our Kolkata office at: 8C Shanti Ghosh Street, Kolkata – 700003. Nearest Landmark: Manindra Chandra College and Shyambazar Metro Railway Station (Gate No: 3).
