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Darjeeling Blend, not tea but of cultural colors :) | Photo

By on November 28, 2011 in Darjeeling Photos

I had taken this photo sometime back when I had visited the most renowned and sacred shrine at Observatory Hill in Darjeeling, known locally as “Dara”. Here lies one temple with two religions – sounds weird but this is true. One side constitutes Hinduism with Lord Shiva as the main deity of worship and the other side is Buddhism. Two religious priests will be sitting on opposite sides facing each other – one is a Hindu pundit and the other is a Buddhist Monk or Lama. If you are to dig into the religious history of both Hinduism and Buddhism, we find it intertwined and special place of worship such as this here on top of Observatory Hill proves it.

A Tibetan woman at Observatory Hill, Darjeeling

Ah yes, its not a tea blend, but a blend of colors. Yes, I have been talking about Darjeeling Tea since I got online and people tag me as a tea guy, which I don’t deny and every time I write something friends and foes :) take it surely to be tea related. Anyways, apart from tea, I love photography, though an amateur photographer, I really love to angle all thats related to tea, culture and nature. For a long time I have been thinking of upgrading to a better SLR, probably Canon SLR, but am really confused – Hope to decide upon soon and bring you better photographs.

The thing I like about this photo is how the Tibetan woman offering prayer flags at “Dara” has perfectly blended with with surrounding religious colors! I like this photo a lot!

Enjoy the photo!

- Benoy

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Darjeeling Tea Garden munsi at Arya Tea Estate | Photo

By on November 24, 2011 in Darjeeling Photos, Darjeeling Tea Photos

Here is a photo of a Darjeeling Tea garden worker at Arya Tea Estate. Arya Tea Estate is one of the most well renowned tea estates of Darjeeling producing pure and 100% organic Darjeeling Teas. Its line of jewels – Ruby, Topaz, Emerald and Diamond are worth trying which instigates a feeling of what a real Darjeeling Tea tastes like.

Darjeeling Tea Worker at Arya Tea Estate

The photo above was taken sometime back when I visited Arya Tea Estate. A Darjeeling Tea garden itself can be seen as a huge entity with hundreds of employees each bearing a specific designation highest being the Superintendent who is responsible for looking after more than one tea garden, but in case of a single tea garden ownership, manager holds the highest position in the plantation. Likewise, there are various designations and the photo above is of a “Munsi” – A munsi is responsible for all the tea plucking inspection. Most of the munsi’s are males and his work is going out to the fields along with the women tea pluckers and inspect and direct proper tea pluckings in the area where the plucking is being done. He has to have a thorough knowledge which comes with experience and time. This particular munsi has been working at Arya Tea Estate for decades.

Hope you enjoy the photo!

Benoy at Arya Tea Estate Darjeeling
arya tea estate
arya tea estate
arya tea estate
First Flush Darjeeling Tea 2009 Arya Tea - organic Tea
First Flush Darjeeling Tea 2009 Arya Tea - organic Tea
arya tea estate
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Part of Darjeeling Town, dusk | Photo

By on November 20, 2011 in Autumn Flush, Darjeeling Photos

This is a photo taken during twilight or you may say dusk – a part of Darjeeling town. Darjeeling had been severely experiencing some extreme cold wintery type of weather conditions starting right after the Diwali festivals. The weather turned all foggy with chilly winds blowing and we had to tug ourselves into more of those woolies.

Darjeeling town photo

Autumn flush for Darjeeling Tea production was affected a bit due to cold weather prevalent – managers from some Darjeeling Tea plantations informed me that some sections of their plantation had totally stopped bearing tea leaves due to the cold weather which inhibits growth – this is the very reason why Darjeeling Tea production goes into some kind of hibernation during the winter months. The inhibition of tea growth is simply due to lack of sunlight which is much needed for the new shoots to sprout properly.

Anyways, tea lovers need not worry about the new 2011 Autumn Flush, I have already bought some and looking out for some more :)

At the moment its been about 3 days, the sun god seems happy and its dawning upon us and we are now able to dry up our frozen bones. But the winds blowing across seems to be freezing in nature.

Enjoy the photo!

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