Assam Tea Tour – Rich Flavors and Culture Unveiled

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  Arrival at Delhi International Airport

  

  Arrival in Delhi by international flight. Traditional welcome upon arrival and transfer to the hotel at check-in time (2:00 PM). Overnight at the hotel.

• day 2

  In Delhi

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, meet in Old Delhi by metro and visit Jama Masjid, one of the largest and oldest mosques in India. Enjoy a rickshaw ride through the narrow lanes of the old city. Discover Gandhi's cremation site at Raj Ghat before continuing your visit to New Delhi with the discovery of Humayun's Tomb. Walk along the ceremonial Rajpath, formerly known as Kings Way, and admire the India Gate monument. On the way to the hotel, visit the Sikh temple (Bangla Sahib Gurudwara). Overnight at the hotel.

• day 3

  Delhi - Guwahati by plane. Guwahati - Tezpur by road (about 4 hours by car).

  

  After breakfast, transfer in time to the airport to board the flight to Guwahati. Meet and assist on arrival at Guwahati airport, then transfer to Tezpur for check-in upon arrival at Wild Mahseer Lodge, located inside the Adabari Tea Estate. Dinner and overnight stay.

• day 4

  In Tezpur, drive around Balipara by road.

  

  Breakfast at the lodge. The Wild Mahseer Lodge is located on the north bank of the Brahmaputra River. The Adabari Tea Estate, which originally belonged to the British Assam Tea Company, dates back to the year 1900. Until 1962, the manager operated from the single-storey Burmese teak bungalow. Afterwards, the office was moved and the spacious bungalow was left unoccupied. Spend a relaxing day at the Tea Estate enjoying the warm hospitality and picturesque beauty. Enjoy different blends of tea from the Adabari Tea Estate during a tea tasting session. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

• day 5

  Tezpur - Jorhat by road (about 3 to 4 hours drive)

  

  After breakfast at the Lodge, depart by car for Jorhat. Assistance on arrival and transfer to Thengal Manor. Enjoy a leisurely lunch and spend the afternoon taking a casual stroll and tasting the exquisite varieties of tea. Visit the tea factory later in the day and witness in person the various processes carried out there, followed by a tea tasting session. Jorhat, the gateway to the northeast of Assam, is the heart of tea. In addition to its many tea plantations, it is home to the famous Teklai Experimental Centre, which conducts research on new tea varieties and their therapeutic effects. The polished brass plaque on the portico of Thengal Manor tells a story from another era. A 75-year-old Romanesque manor, with four pillars at the entrance, welcomes visitors. In the center of the lawn stands one of the five fountain nymphs commissioned in Southeast Asia. The lounge, with an old fireplace and antique European furniture covered in floral fabrics, is a deliberate contrast to the art objects. The dining room contains interesting works of art. Engravings from Indian mythology adorn the walls, while a large crystal chandelier pleasantly overlooks the table. Thengal Manor offers its guests five rooms, each furnished with canopy beds, bedside tables topped with marble, and antique lamps. A long corridor runs through the house, dotted with photos of the Barooah clan, owners of the bungalow. Behind the bungalow is a small pond where anglers can catch more than a dozen fish in an hour. The manor also has a craft center where locals from the nearby village of Jhalukonibari come to weave mekhalas in exquisite silk. Dinner and overnight at the bungalow.

• day 6

  Jorhat - Majuli by surface

  

  After breakfast, we head to Neematighat (about 30 minutes by road) and take a boat cruise to Majuli (about 2 hours upstream - the time depends on the river's water level), the largest inhabited river island in the world, famous for its Satras or Vaishnavite monasteries and its culture. Visit the monasteries and meet the island's tribes. Afternoon cruise back to the mainland. On the way, it is possible to observe flocks of migratory water birds and the Gangetic river dolphin. Majuli Island, a World Heritage site, is located in the Brahmaputra River. The island has long served as a monastic retreat for the Vaishnavite community and is renowned for its beautiful rural setting as well as the traditional tribal architecture of the Assamese and Mishings. Upon arrival, you will be transferred by road to a monastery; along the way, you will pass through Assamese and Mishing villages. Mishing houses are characterized by their stilt construction and "long house" style. At the monastery, you will be given an orientation tour of the monastic cells and the temple. These Satras were established by Srimanta Shankerdev, the leader of the Vaishnavite revival in the 16th century. They are active and nurture the traditional "Satriya" dance form (which is the 5th nationally recognized dance form, in addition to Bharatnatyam, Kathak, Kathakali, and Manipuri), music, and crafts (mask making), in addition to religious teachings. Dinner and overnight at the bungalow.

• day 7

  Jorhat - Dibrugarh by surface (about 3-4 hours by road)

  

  After breakfast, head to Dibrugarh en route to Sivsagar. Sivsagar was once the capital of the Ahom kings. The Shans, who came from Thailand via northern Myanmar at the beginning of the 13th century, ruled for 600 years. The Siva temple, built by the Ahoms, is considered the tallest of all existing Hindu temples. The ruins of Ahom palaces and monuments dot the landscape around this historic city. Centuries before the arrival of the British, this part of the world was controlled by a number of tribal chiefs. In the city of Sivasagar, well-preserved relics can still be seen. Palaces, tanks, forts, places of worship and burial (vaults) at Charaideo showcase the richness of this highly developed and advanced civilization. The largest and oldest amphitheater in Asia (Rang Ghar) is also another remarkable landmark in the history of Sivasagar. The Tai-Ahom Museum in Sivsagar contains some relics from the Ahom period, such as swords, clothing, manuscripts, and various objects. Continue to Dibrugarh and, upon check-in on arrival, settle into the Mancotta Chang Bungalow located at the Mancotta Tea Estate. The bungalow has retained its old-world charm with its large parquet-floored rooms and antique colonial furniture. Dinner and overnight at the bungalow.

• day 8

  Dibrugarh - Delhi by flight

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Timely transfer to the airport to board the flight to Delhi. Transfer on arrival to the hotel. The rest of the day is free. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 9

  Departure from Delhi

  

  Transfer in time at Delhi International Airport T3 to board the flight to your next destination. End of services. All hotels: check-in time at 14:00 / check-out time at 11:00.