Palampur, a beautiful town in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, is famous for its lush tea gardens spread over a vast area of 1000 acres. The divine fragrance of a tea garden is a paradise for tea lovers.
In the backdrop of the Dhauladhar mountain range, the weather is perfect for growing tea.
Britishers, realizing the importance of the place, introduced tea in the 19th century. Dr. Jameson, superintendent of the botanical garden in the northwest frontier province, started the first tea plantation that became quite famous. In 1849, the British planted camellia tea, which gained quite a lot of popularity. In 1886, tea from the plantation won a gold medal in a London exhibition.
Currently, 1,000 hectares of tea plantations produce 8,50,000 kg of tea per year. Some tea gardens are owned by government organizations such as the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.
The Palampur cooperative tea factory, located on the downhill, processes 4,000 tons of tea every day between the months of April and November. The factory is managed and runs under the guidance of the Tea Board of India. You can watch the whole process of plucking, picking, and processing tea leaves in the factory.
Many tea brands are produced under the brand names Darbari, Bageshwari, Malhar, and Bahar. The tea’s quality and taste are so popular that 80% of it is exported to other countries.
How to Reach Palampur Tea garden
By Road:
Palampur is well connected by road to major cities in Himachal Pradesh and other nearby states. One can take a bus, a taxi, or drive a car to reach Palampur. The nearest major cities are Delhi (520 km), Chandigarh (245 km), and Shimla (236 km). The roads are well-maintained, and the journey is scenic.
By Train:
The nearest railway station to Palampur is the Pathankot Railway Station, which is approximately 85 km away. From there, one can take a taxi or a bus to reach Palampur. Alternatively, the Kangra Railway Station is also nearby, located around 18 km away from Palampur.
By Air:
The nearest airport to Palampur is the Gaggal Airport, located around 40 km away. It is well-connected to major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Chandigarh. From the airport, one can take a taxi or a bus to reach Palampur.