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Where the road from Gangtok to Darjeeling takes its great bend high above the
Teesta river, directly opposite Kanchenjunga, a Buddhist monk many years ago is
believed to have proclaimed "Rungli Rungliot" This pious benediction which,
literally translated, means "thus far and no further" is alive and well today in
the shape of one of the most celebrated tea gardens in the Darjeeling hills. The
village is steeped in legend.
As the story, goes, that peripatetic monk's search for the ultimate tea ended
here. For he had evidently covered great distances over unpaved tracks, and
traversed valley after valley. But what he found was not just that
quintessential blend : The pure mountain air coming off the flanks of the
world's third highest peak, Kanchenjunga, had cast its magical spell.
Switch to the present. The monk's stony track is now a black top road that takes
the driver in four hours from Rungli Rungliot to the Rumtek Monastery near
Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim. From that vantage point, there are options not
only for the trekker, but also the mountain bike buff and white water
enthusiast.
The focus of the visit is a walk around the
estate. The experience is a novel, one, not open to many. With permission for
entry, the gardens at close range resemble a large joint family. For that
special insider's feel, one must respond to the early clarion that signals the
morning shift. As the first rays hit the snows of Kanchenjunda, the garden stirs
of life. You may join groups of women as they gather their baskets to trickle
down the pathways where they will pluck the world - famous leaves. Dotted
against the slopes, their intricate web presents a pretty picture.
For the adventurous, some gardens will, at
times, allow movement on horseback or even on mountain bikes. If one encounters
the manager on his rounds, on may chat about the stages in tea processing - from
drying, rolling and processing - from drying, rolling and pressing to
fermentation, heat application and grading. Each of these are worth subsequent
visits. While down below, the Teesta rushes on, inviting a white water run in
stark contrast to the air of serenity that looms above the gardens
Getting there :
By Air : Bagdogra is the nearest airport (90 km from Darjeeling).
By Train : Darjeeling is the closest
railhead
By Road : A short distance from
Darjeeling
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