Photo: Subhrajyoti07 · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Temi Tea GardenHeight above mean sea level 1,500 m

tea country · West and South Sikkim

Sikkim's own tea estate, planted under the last Chogyal in 1969

Best Mar – May · Oct – Nov0–1 nights

Temi Tea Garden is Sikkim's main tea estate, about 177 ha of terraces below Tendong hill in South Sikkim, ≈ 16–20 km from both Namchi and Ravangla. It was set up in 1969 under the last Chogyal and is now run by the state. Walking the garden roads is free; come for half a day or one night.

Temi Tea Garden spreads over about 177 ha, roughly 440 acres, of slopes running down from the Tendong hill range in South Sikkim. Tea bushes cover the hill in neat rows at around 1,500 m, with shade trees, a factory and small workers' villages along the road. It lies ≈ 16–20 km from Namchi and from Ravangla, about 45 minutes to an hour from each, which makes it an easy half-day trip from either town.

The estate was set up in 1969 under Palden Thondup Namgyal, the 12th and last Chogyal of Sikkim, and it belongs today to the Government of Sikkim, which runs it through its tea board. Production is about 100 tonnes a year, and the garden switched to organic farming from 2005. Most Sikkim tea in the shops is sold simply as 'Temi tea', under brand names such as Sikkim Solja, Mystique and Kanchanjunga Tea.

For travellers the appeal is simple. The estate roads are quiet, the walking is free, and on a clear autumn morning you look across tea terraces to the snow peaks. In November the Himalayan cherry trees along the approach turn pink. Visitors can usually see the factory by asking at the office. Stay at Cherry Resort inside the estate for a night, or come from Ravangla or Namchi for the morning and buy tea at source before you leave.

Don't miss

Highlights of Temi Tea Garden

Free walks on the estate roads

The roads that wind through Temi's 177 ha are open to walkers and cost nothing. Start near the factory and walk downhill between the rows, watching pluckers at work in season. An hour gives you the feel of the place; two hours takes you deep into the terraces.

Tea made where it grows

Temi makes about 100 tonnes of organic tea a year. Visitors can usually see the factory by asking at the office, and packets are sold near it. Buying at source is the surest way to get genuine Temi tea, and a good gift to carry home.

Cherry blossom in November

Himalayan cherry trees line the approach to Temi and flower from November, when the pink blossom sits against green tea and, on clear days, the snow peaks. It is also one of the driest, clearest months of the year here, so it is our favourite time to visit.

A night at Cherry Resort

Cherry Resort, inside the estate, is a government building, once the Yatri Niwas, now run privately on lease. Staying overnight lets you walk the garden at dawn, before day-trippers arrive, and watch evening light on Tendong hill above the terraces.

A royal story in a cup

The garden was started in 1969 under Palden Thondup Namgyal, Sikkim's last Chogyal, partly to give work to Tibetan refugees. Knowing that history, and tasting first, monsoon and autumn flush side by side, turns a pleasant stop into a lesson in Sikkim's recent past.

Told in the hills

A king's tea garden on the Tendong slopes

Temi began in 1969, when Sikkim was still a kingdom under Palden Thondup Namgyal, its 12th and last Chogyal. Wikipedia's article on Sikkim tea says he set the garden up as a source of jobs for the large number of Tibetan refugees then living in the region. Part of the land had once held early-20th-century missionary buildings, which the Sikkim government had acquired in 1954. Tea went in on the gentle, loamy slopes below Tendong hill.

Six years later, after the referendum of April 1975, Sikkim joined India as a state and the monarchy ended. The garden carried on and is today owned by the Government of Sikkim and run through its tea board. It now covers about 177 ha and makes around 100 tonnes of tea a year. About three-quarters goes to the Kolkata auctions and the rest is packed for the home market. Temi won the All India Quality Award in 1994 and 1995.

Temi began converting to organic production in 2005, and Sikkim tea has been certified organic by the Institute for Market Ecology. Unlike Darjeeling, Sikkim tea has no geographical indication tag yet, though efforts are under way. The seasons show in the cup: first flush in spring is light, golden and floral, the monsoon flush fuller and mellow, the autumn flush rounded with a hint of spice. Buy a packet from each season and taste the difference at home.

Pinned to the board

Did you know

Temi Tea Garden won the All India Quality Award for tea in 1994 and again in 1995.

About three-quarters of Temi's tea is sold through the Kolkata auctions, and the rest is packed for sale in India.

Temi tea is sold under several names, including Sikkim Solja, Mystique and Kanchanjunga Tea.

Things to do

Four ways to spend a day in Temi Tea Garden

1–2 hours Morning walk through the Temi tea terraces Temi Tea Garden · Free

1 hour Factory visit and buying Temi tea at source Temi Tea Garden · Free or a small fee; ask at the factory…

Half day Himalayan cherry blossom in November Temi Tea Garden · Free

2–3 hours Slow walk on the estate road below Tendong Temi Tea Garden · Free

Getting there

How to reach Temi Tea Garden

Shared jeepShared jeeps link Siliguri with Namchi for about ₹300–400 a seat and with Ravangla for ₹350–450, indicative, 2026. Few shared jeeps run into the estate itself. Ask at the Namchi or Ravangla stand whether one is going via Temi; seats are few and mostly morning. Otherwise take a local taxi for the last stretch, and check current status before you travel.

Reserved carMost people come by taxi from Namchi or Ravangla, ≈ 16–20 km and 45 minutes to an hour each way. A local taxi with waiting costs about ₹1,500–2,500 return, indicative, 2026. From Siliguri, a small car or SUV costs about the same as the ₹4,500–6,000 Siliguri–Ravangla run.

RailNew Jalpaiguri (NJP) is the nearest major station, about 4 hours away by road. Take a shared jeep from the Siliguri stands to Namchi or Ravangla and continue by local taxi, or book a car from the station.

AirBagdogra (IXB) is ≈ 120 km away and has the most flights. Pakyong airport near Gangtok has had irregular flights, so check current status before you travel and plan around Bagdogra.

Namchi to Temi Tea Garden

Costs in Temi Tea Gardenindicative, 2026

Walk on the estate roadsFree
Shared jeep Siliguri → Namchi₹300–400 a seat
Shared jeep Siliguri → Ravangla₹350–450 a seat
Local taxi Namchi or Ravangla → Temi, return₹1,500–2,500
Thali or momo meal₹150–350

Fares and fees change with fuel prices, season and local union rates. Check current rates before you travel.

Money-saving tip

Walking the estate roads is free, so skip paid tours, share a local taxi from Namchi or Ravangla with other travellers and buy your tea at the estate rather than in Gangtok shops.

Where to stay

Sleeping in Temi Tea Garden

The only place to sleep inside the estate is Cherry Resort, a government building that was once the Yatri Niwas and is now privately run on lease. It is named after the Himalayan cherry trees on the approach, which flower from November, and it gives you the tea terraces at dawn and dusk without day-trip crowds. Rooms are limited, so book well ahead for November and the October holidays. For more choice, base yourself in Ravangla, where Mt. Narsing Village Resort and the simple hotels on Kewzing Road suit most budgets, or in Namchi's market area. Homestays in nearby villages are another low-cost option.

comfort

Cherry Resort Resort · Temi Tea Garden ₹4,000–7,500 per room night, indicative

Tour packages

Packages that stop in Temi Tea Garden

Nº 98771 · Pelling3N / 4D Ravangla, Temi tea and Namchi Ravangla → Temi Tea Garden → Namchi Budget fare from
per person, twin₹10,000

On the map

Drawn by Darjeeling Tour Plan from Natural Earth outlines (public domain). Borders as depicted by India. Not for navigation.

Next stations

Near Temi Tea Garden

All of Pelling

Namchi1,315 m

Sky-high Namchi, two giant statues and the Lepcha flood hill

Hill town · best Oct – Apr · 1 nights

Ravangla2,100 m

A 130-foot Buddha, Pang Lhabsol and a ridge-top jeep junction

Hill town · best Mar – May · Oct – Dec · 1–2 nights

Questions people ask

Temi Tea Garden: questions answered

Is Temi Tea Garden worth visiting

Yes, especially from Ravangla or Namchi. It is Sikkim's best-known tea estate, set up in 1969 under the last Chogyal, and walking its roads is free. You get quiet terraces, a chance to see the factory, genuine Temi tea at source and, on clear mornings, snow peaks. Half a day is enough for most people.

How do I reach Temi Tea Garden from Gangtok

Most people come via Ravangla or Namchi. A shared jeep from Gangtok to Ravangla costs about ₹250–350 a seat, indicative for 2026, then a local taxi covers the ≈ 16–20 km to Temi. A reserved car from Gangtok can do Temi and Ravangla in a long day. Check current status before you travel.

How far is Temi Tea Garden from Namchi and Ravangla

Temi is ≈ 16–20 km from Namchi and about the same from Ravangla, roughly 45 minutes to an hour by road from each. A local taxi with waiting costs about ₹1,500–2,500 return, indicative for 2026. Few shared jeeps go into the estate, so a taxi is the easy choice.

Can I stay inside Temi Tea Garden

Yes. Cherry Resort sits inside the estate in a government building that was once the Yatri Niwas and is now privately run on lease. Rooms are limited, so book early, especially for November and the October holidays. Otherwise stay in Ravangla or Namchi and visit for the day.

What is the best time to visit Temi Tea Garden

March to May for the first flush and spring green, and October to November for clear mountain views and, in November, cherry blossom. June to September brings rain, cloud and leeches, though the garden is very green. In the dormant winter months the bushes are pruned and there is little plucking to see.

Who owns Temi Tea Garden

The Government of Sikkim owns Temi Tea Garden and runs it through its tea board. The estate was set up in 1969 under Palden Thondup Namgyal, the last Chogyal, before Sikkim joined India in 1975. It covers about 177 ha and makes around 100 tonnes of tea a year.

Is Temi tea better than Darjeeling tea

It is different rather than better or worse. Temi grows at similar heights and makes organic orthodox tea with light, floral first flushes and fuller monsoon teas. Darjeeling has a much longer history, many more estates and a geographical indication tag, which Sikkim tea does not have yet. Try both and decide.

Is Temi Tea Garden good for a honeymoon

Yes, for a quiet night or two. Cherry Resort inside the estate gives you early walks through empty terraces, sunsets over the hills and, in November, cherry blossom. There is little nightlife or shopping, so pair it with Pelling or Gangtok if you want more going on.

Do foreigners need a permit to visit Temi

Foreign nationals need Sikkim's Restricted Area Permit, which is free and valid for 30 days. Apply online through e-FRRO or get it at the Melli or Rangpo checkposts on the way in. Indian nationals need only photo ID. No separate permit is needed for the tea garden. Check current status before you travel.