I believe in slowing things down, it’s the only way you really get to know a destination, peel back the layers and truly get a sense, if not an understanding, of what it is all about. I’ve visited Kolkata 4 times, the first time for 3 nights, it wasn’t enough, the second time for 5 nights, still not enough. You get the picture. It’s a crazy city with the heart of a village. As for Glenburn well, by the time you’ve got there, a journey definitely worth making, there’s no point in staying for anything less than three, and even with 4 I still think you’d feel cheated. Let me tell you a little bit about them below:

Kolkata, originally leased by the British East India Company in 1690 was by the late 19th century the capital of the Raj, with burgeoning trade and a reputation for being more cosmopolitan than the rest of India. It is famous for urban chaos and poverty, but somehow it has triumphed and emerged as one of India’s most creative and intellectual cities. Many of the most creative minds of India were born here who have made the city most talked in whole world for their outstanding work. Sights in Kolkata include the Victoria Memorial, St Paul’s Cathedral and the excellent India Museum, housing one of the world’s finest collections of Indian art.  Calcutta is a thriving city that is a world apart its people are gentle and welcoming, a visit here truly gives the true essence of India.

Glenburn, a heavenly plantation retreat lies on a hillside above the banks of the River Rungeet, and is overlooked by the mighty Kanchenjunga mountain. Home to generations of tea planters, it was originally established in 1860 and remains today a working tea estate with a beautifully restored, colonial planter’s bungalow, and is a wonderfully peaceful place to stay. Enjoy many treks in the area, accompanied by a guide with a picnic hamper providing home grown tea and freshly made cakes,  spend a day visiting to Darjeeling or head out through the villages to their river lodge.  The hospitality here and attention to detail are second to none and no matter how many nights one stays, it is never quite enough!