Jungpana Tea Estate


Jungpana Tea Estate is a tea garden in the Kurseong CD block in the Kurseong subdivision of the Darjeeling district in the Indian state of West Bengal.

History

Jungpana Tea Estate was planted by Henry Montgomery Lennox in 1899. It was subsequently managed by G.W.O’Brien, who was forced in the aftermath of the Second World War to sell it to the ruling Rana of Nepal. The Kejriwal family took it over around 1956 and they continue till now.

Geography

Location

It is around 12 km from Kurseong in a rather remote and isolated place, not accessible by any motorable road. It is connected through a snaking pathway, accessible only on foot. More than 350 steep steps leads to a footbridge across a small stream, Changey Khola. Across the stream, the pathway leads to the garden tea factory. Tea estates in the surrounding areas are: Goomtee Tea Estate, Sivitar Tea Estate and Mahalderm Tea Estate
Jungpana Tea Estate is spread over,at an altitude ranging from
Note: The map alongside presents some of the notable locations in the subdivision. All places marked in the map are linked in the larger full screen map.

Economy

Apart from being promoted by Britain’s royal family, Darjeeling tea from Jungpana is sold by Fortnum & Mason, U.K., Harrods of Knightsbridge, U.K.Mariage, France and Fauchon, France. Jungpana tea is one of the best sold brands. Nestlé markets Jungpana under its special tea brand in France, Switzerland, Germany and Japan. Shantanu Kejriwal, the third generation owner, feels that the international success is because of “careful ownership and understanding of the plantation.”

The human side

Jungpana has faced adversities at home. The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha-supported trade union has at times posed problems.
Lassi Tamang was the first woman factory manager at Jungpana Tea Estate.