The locations include Samsing, Murti, Hill, Mahua and Malbazar. As the government is further trying to acquire land in Chalsa and Sylee, the state seems to have finally recognised the potential of North Bengal as a destination for tea tourism.

“Jalpaiguri district itself has 183 tea gardens. The initial infrastructure is being developed by the state government in collaboration with the Government of India,” says TVN Rao, Managing Director, WBTDC. Parking lots, toilets and refreshment counters will be developed in certain tea gardens. The WBTDC has chalked out a detailed plan for cluster development that would include accommodation and interpretation centres in certain other gardens. The Central government has already sanctioned Rs 7.14 crore for the development of tea tourism in the state.

Most of the tea estates in West Bengal are under private ownership while the state government owns only five. “We are encouraging private parties. Sinclairs and Mahindra and Mahindra have shown a keen interest in investing in tea tourism,” said Rao.

“All land belongs to the state government. It was leased out to the private parties for the sole purpose of tea cultivation. If they want to develop their estate as a tourist destination certain formalities have to be completed,” says Bijoy Chatterjee, principal Tourism Secretary, government of West Bengal. The state government has already received applications to this effect from various tea gardens. The Makaibari tea estate has applied for permission to develop a resort by Bengal Ambuja. \ The Murti tea estate will be able to provide deluxe accommodation by 2009.