✨ Singell Tea Estate – Tranquil Tea Trails Near Kurseong

Nestled in the misty folds of the Darjeeling hills, just a short distance from the bustling streets of Kurseong, lies a quiet green world that breathes in rhythm with the mountains. Singell Tea Estate – tranquil tea trails near Kurseong — is not just a destination, it’s an immersive journey into history, stillness, and the subtle art of slow travel.

If the iconic Darjeeling Tea has a soul, you will find it whispering through the leaves at Singell. I arrived as a visitor, but left feeling like a keeper of stories shared over steaming cups of tea.

📍 Getting to Singell: A Swaying Journey Through Mist and Pines

Our journey began from Kurseong, a town already celebrated for its colonial-era charm and monsoon romance. Singell Tea Estate is just about 3 km away, but the drive through narrow hill roads takes you into a quieter, greener dimension.

• From Kurseong to Singell: ~3 km (15-20 mins by car)
• From NJP Station: ~50 km (2.5 hrs)
• From Darjeeling: ~30 km (1.5 hrs)
• From Bagdogra Airport: ~55 km (2.5 hrs)

For the last stretch, I chose to walk, guided by a gentle drizzle and a winding trail of wildflowers.

🏡 Singell Tea Estate: A Living Patch of Tea History

Established in the 1860s, Singell is one of the oldest tea gardens of the region. Managed today by Jay Shree Tea & Industries, this sprawling estate stretches across rolling ridges, mossy trails, and countless shades of green.

What struck me most wasn’t just the beauty, but the peace. Here, everything moves slower. The sun rises gently through the mist. The workers sing softly while plucking leaves. And the wind carries the scent of tea and memory.

🌿 Things to Do in Singell Tea Estate

☕ 1. Tea Garden Walks & Heritage Trails

The best way to explore Singell is on foot. Most homestays and guides offer curated walking trails that take you through:

• Tea plucking areas
• Scenic viewpoints overlooking Kurseong
• Wild orchid patches
• Historical manager bungalows (some now in ruins, others restored)

One of my favorite trails led me to a hilltop prayer flag shrine where Kanchenjunga revealed herself just as the clouds parted.

🏠 2. Visit the Singell Tea Factory

With prior permission, you can visit the Singell Tea Factory, which still follows many orthodox processing methods. Learn about:

• Withering
• Rolling
• Fermentation
• Drying

And of course, there is a tasting session with fresh teas that taste like the earth, the rain, and the smiles of the pluckers.

🍽️ 3. Experience Himalayan Meals & Garden-to-Table Hospitality

Meals at Singell homestays are not just food, they are family rituals. Some of the unforgettable dishes I had:

• Chhurpi-tama curry (bamboo shoot with cheese)
• Buckwheat roti with radish chutney
• Phing curry (glass noodles)
• Herbal teas with wild lemongrass and ginger

Food is always served with a smile, often beside a wooden fireplace, with stories of harvests, leopards, and tea gods.

📸 4. Sunrise & Sunset Points

Singell sits at a perfect ridge altitude for sunrise views over Kurseong and sunset over the plains. Early morning walks up the hilltop chautara (stone resting place) became a daily ritual. Nothing feels as intimate as watching the tea gardens glow gold under the sun.

🚍 Nearby Destinations to Explore

While Singell itself is quiet and self-contained, you can do short day trips to:

• Eagle’s Crag Viewpoint (Kurseong): 3 km
• Netaji Museum (Giddapahar): 6 km
• Bunkulung Village: 14 km
• Margaret’s Deck Tea Lounge: 4 km

Sonakshi Travels offers local sightseeing itineraries that can be clubbed with your Singell stay.

🏨 Where to Stay in Singell Tea Estate

Accommodation in Singell is limited but special. Options include:

• Singell Heritage Bungalow (restored manager’s residence)
• Tea Trails Eco Homestay
• Singell Sunrise View Homestay

Expect:

• Wooden floors and vintage windows
• Family-cooked meals
• Hot water buckets
• Unfiltered Himalayan hospitality

☀️ Best Time to Visit Singell Tea Estate

• March to May (Spring): Fresh flush season, orchid bloom
• October to December (Autumn-Winter): Clear skies, best for sunrise and trekking
• Monsoon (July-August): Misty, magical, but slippery trails

✈️ Travel Tips for First-Time Visitors

• ✅ Carry a flashlight and umbrella
• ✅ Mobile network (Jio & Airtel) works in patches
• ✅ Carry basic medication (nearest pharmacy is in Kurseong)
• ✅ Don’t litter, this is a zero-plastic zone
• ✅ Ask before photographing workers

🎉 Festivals and Local Events

• Tihar Festival: Houses glow with butter lamps, locals sing “Bhailo” and “Deusi”
• First Flush Festival (March): Plucking ceremony, tea tasting, farm rituals
• Monsoon Forest Walks (July): Guided nature walks through orchid forests

If you visit during Tihar, you may be lucky enough to be invited into a home for sel roti, local drinks, and the warmest hospitality you’ll ever experience.

❤️ Emotional Takeaway: A Place That Sips Time, Not Just Tea

Singell didn’t overwhelm me with activities. It whispered. It held me with its quiet. The early morning fog, the smile of a plucker offering you tea straight from her flask, the gentle creak of a wooden floor — all these stay with you.

As I packed to leave, Auntie handed me a small pouch of Singell’s first flush and said, “Drink it when you miss the hills.”

And I have. Many times.

🚀 Book Your Tranquil Escape to Singell Now!

Sonakshi Travels invites you to discover the essence of the Himalayas with two curated tour packages:

✨

💚 Go Green, Go Wild — Choose a Sustainable Sundarban Tour Package!
Travel responsibly while exploring one of Earth’s last great biodiversity zones.

Perfect for couples and solo travelers seeking silent trails, tea experiences, and offbeat Himalayan stays.

✨

📿 Rituals, rivers, and resilience—your Sundarban Tour is where culture floats on every tide

Ideal for families and heritage enthusiasts looking to blend nature, tea, and history in one journey.

📞 For Bookings & Enquiries:
Sonakshi Travels — WhatsApp: +91 7980469744

Let Singell Tea Estate remind you what it means to pause, sip, and savor the moment.