Baradighi Tea Estate
When the British landed on India’s shores, they knew little of the vast expanse of land
they would soon claim and use to produce the Chinese drink they would soon swear by. As
it were, the-soon-to-be fantastic discovery of tea would give work to generations,
change the landscape of forests in areas like North Bengal forever, and create a titanic
industry, and give birth to heritage tea bungalows… All while leaving behind the scenic
tea gardens – abodes for seekers of tranquil, and saviours from the hustle of the future
metropolis.
One such non-chronicled discovery was of Baradighi Tea Estate. Little is known of the
first days of this heritage tea house, but collections of recollections from old-timers
and archives leave a teasingly incomplete story of the birth of the majestic 600 acres
of pastoral and production-induced pompousness.