View source for Meenglas and Leesh River Tea Estates

{{Infobox park
| name = Meenglas and Leesh River Tea Estates
| alt_name = 
| photo = 
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| type = 
| location = [[Jalpaiguri district]], [[West Bengal]], [[India]]
| nearest_city = [[Odlabari]]
| map =  
| area =   
| open = {{Start date|late 1800s}}
| elevation = {{convert|784|ft}}
| owner = Goodricke
| operator = 
| visitation_num = 
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}}
'''Meenglas Tea Estate''' and '''Leesh River Tea Estate''' are [[Tea garden (cultivation)|tea gardens]], located near each other in the [[Mal (community development block)|Mal]] [[Community development blocks in India|CD block]] in the [[Malbazar subdivision]] of the [[Jalpaiguri district]] in the [[India]]n state of [[West Bengal]]. Both the tea estates are located in the western end of the [[Dooars]].

==Geography==
{{OSM Location map
| width=410| height=350| zoom=10
| coord={{coord|26|50|0|N|88|44|0|E}}| float=left|caption='''Places and tea estates in Malbabazar  subdivision (including Mal, Nagrakata and Matiali CD blocks) in Jalpaiguri district'''<br/>CT: census town, R: rural/ urban centre, N: neighbourhood, NP: national park/ wildlife sanctuary, TE: tea estate<br/>Abbreviations used in names – TG for Tea Garden (town/village), TE for Tea Estate, JRS: junction railway station<br/>Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly
|mark-coord1={{coord|26|52|30|N|88|44|10|E}}| label-pos1=top|label1= Malbazar| numbered1=CT| mark-title1= [[Malbazar]] (CT)|label-color1= #800000 |label-size1=11| mark-size1=12|shape1=l-circle|shape-color1= #A40000|shape-outline1=white|label-offset-x1=2
|mark-coord2={{coord|26|53|1|N|88|47|53|E}}| label-pos2=top|label2=Chalsa| numbered2=CT| mark-title2= [[Chalsa, India]] (CT)
|mark-coord3={{coord|26|52|6|N|88|48|16|E}}| label-pos3=bottom|label3= Mangalbari| numbered3=CT| mark-title3= [[Mangalbari]] (CT)
|mark-coord4={{coord|26|43|6|N|88|45|57|E}}| label-pos4=bottom|label4= Lataguri| numbered4=CT| mark-title4= [[Lataguri]] (CT)
|mark-coord5={{coord|26|56|49|N|88|48|44|E}}| label-pos5=right|label5= Matelli| numbered5=CT| mark-title5= [[Matialihat]] (CT)
|mark-coord6={{coord|26|52|20|N|88|37|17|E}}| label-pos6=left|label6= Odlabari| numbered6=CT| mark-title6= [[Odlabari]] (CT)
|mark-coord7={{coord|26|50|20|N|88|37|1|E}}| label-pos7=right|label7= Dakshin Odlabari| numbered7=CT| mark-title7= [[Dakshin Odlabari]] (CT)
|mark-coord8={{coord|26|53|57|N|88|35|4|E}}| label-pos8=left|label8=Bagrakote| numbered8=R| mark-title8= [[Bagrakote]] (R)|shape-color8= #A42222
|mark-coord9={{coord|26|50|20|N|88|47|43|E}}| label-pos9=bottom|label9=Batabari TG| numbered9=R| mark-title9= [[Batabari Tea Garden]] (R)|shape-color9= #A42222
|mark-coord10={{coord|26|52|10|N|88|40|1|E}}| label-pos10=top|label10=Dam Dim| numbered10=R| mark-title10= [[Dam Dim]] (R)|shape-color10= #A42222
|mark-coord11={{coord|26|45|5|N|88|35|8|E}}| label-pos11=left|label11=Gajoldoba| numbered11=R| mark-title11= [[Gajoldoba]] (R)|shape-color11= #A42222
|mark-coord12={{coord|26|54|33|N|88|43|39|E}}| label-pos12=left|label12=Gurjangjhora TG| numbered12=R| mark-title12= [[Gurjangjhora Tea Garden]] (R)|shape-color12= #A42222
 |mark-coord13={{coord|26|50|15|N|88|49|31|E}}| label-pos13=right|label13=Murti| numbered13=R| mark-title13= [[Murti, Jalpaiguri]] (R)|shape-color13= #A42222
|mark-coord14={{coord|26|53|12|N|88|54|55|E}}| label-pos14=right|label14=Nagrakata| numbered14=R| mark-title14= [[Nagrakata]] (R)|shape-color14= #A42222
|mark-coord15={{coord|26|59|24|N|88|48|42|E}}| label-pos15=left|label15=Samsing| numbered15=R| mark-title15= [[Samsing]] (R)|shape-color15= #A42222
|mark-coord16={{coord|26|51|52|N|88|54|23|E}}| label-pos16=right|label16=Sulkapara| numbered16=R| mark-title16= [[Sulkapara]] (R)|shape-color16= #A42222
|mark-coord17={{coord|26|56|30|N|88|46|14|E}}| label-pos17=left|label17=Zurantee TG| numbered17=R| mark-title17= [[Zurantee Tea Garden]] (R)|shape-color17= #A42222
|mark-coord18={{coord|26|55|13|N|88|41|3|E}}| label-pos18= left |label18= Meenglas TE | numbered18=TE| mark-title18= Meenglas and Leesh River Tea Estates (TE)|shape-color18=black| label-size18=13|label-color18=black <!-- make the subject of the article stand out with black colors -->
|mark-coord19={{coord|26|51|34|N|88|35|21|E}}| label-pos19= left |label19= Leesh River TE | numbered19=TE| mark-title19= Meenglas and Leesh River Tea Estates (TE)|shape-color19=black| label-size19=13|label-color19=black <!-- make the subject of the article stand out with black colors -->
|mark-coord20={{coord|26|58|0|N|88|55|10|E}}| label-pos20= bottom |label20= Hope TE | numbered20=TE| mark-title20= [[Hope and Jiti Tea Estates]] (TE)| shape-color20=#87A96B
|mark-coord21={{coord|26|58|54|N|88|55|39|E}}| label-pos21= right |label21= Jiti TE | numbered21=TE| mark-title21= [[Hope and Jiti Tea Estates]] (TE)| shape-color21=#87A96B
|mark-coord22={{coord|26|57|47|N|88|46|59|E}}| label-pos22= left |label22= Chalouni TE | numbered22=TE| mark-title22= [[Chalouni, Aibheel and Chalsa Tea Estates]] (TE)| shape-color22=#87A96B
|mark-coord23={{coord|26|55|0|N|88|47|10|E}}| label-pos23= right |label23= Aibheeli TE | numbered23=TE| mark-title23= [[Chalouni, Aibheel and Chalsa Tea Estates]] (TE)| shape-color23=#87A96B
|mark-coord24={{coord|26|56|3|N|88|50|15|E}}| label-pos24= right |label24= Chalsa TE | numbered24=TE| mark-title24= [[Chalouni, Aibheel and Chalsa Tea Estates]] (TE)| shape-color24=#87A96B
|mark-coord25={{coord|26|46|20|N|88|48|0|E}}| label-pos25=bottom|label25=Gorumara |labela25= National| labelb25= Park| numbered25=NP| mark-title25= [[Gorumara National Park]] (NP)| shape-color25=#228B22
|mark-coord26={{coord|26|54|20|N|88|51|18|E}}| label-pos26=bottom|label26=Chapramari |labela26= Wildlife| labelb26= Sanctuary| numbered26=NP| mark-title26= [[Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary]] (NP)| shape-color26=#228B22
|mark-coord27={{coord|26|39|40|N|88|38|40|E}}|label27= Teesta River| label-color27 = #77A1CB| label-angle27=60| label-pos27=top| label-size27=10| mark-size27=0| mark-title27=none
|mark-coord28={{coord|26|49|0|N|88|57|0|E}}|label28= Gatia River| label-color28 = #77A1CB| label-angle28=-45| label-pos28=top| label-size28=10| mark-size28=0| mark-title28=none
|mark-coord29={{coord|26|41|0|N|88|53|0|E}}|label29= Jaldhaka River| label-color29 = #77A1CB| label-angle29=80| label-pos29=top| label-size29=10| mark-size29=0| mark-title29=none
|arc-coordA={{coord|27|1|0|N|88|55|0|E}}|arc-textA= BHUTAN| arc-text-colorA=hard grey| arc-angleA=20| arc-gapA=3.5| arc-radiusA=0.4}}

===Location===
Meenglas Tea Estate is located at {{coord|26.9204|N|88.6844|E||display=inline}}.

Meenglas Tea Estate is flanked by the Chel River on the west and Malnudy on the east. The Newra range of Gorubathan forest is on the north.<ref name="tea1">{{cite web | url =  http://www.goodricke.com/tea-garden/dooars/meenglas| title = Meenglas | publisher =  Goodricke |accessdate =  4 July 2020}}</ref>

Leesh River Tea Estate is located at {{coord|26.8596|N|88.5894|E||display=inline}}

Leesh River Tea Estate is surrounded by rivers on three sides - Geesh River on the east, Leesh River on the west and [[Teesta River]] on the south.<ref name="tea2">{{cite web | url =  http://www.goodricke.com/tea-garden/dooars/leesh-river| title = Leesh River | publisher =  Goodricke |accessdate =  4 July 2020}}</ref>

===Area overview===
[[Gorumara National Park]] has overtaken traditionally popular [[Jaldapara National Park]] in footfall and [[Malbazar]] has emerged as one of the most important towns in the [[Dooars]]. Malbazar subdivision is presented in the map alongside.<ref>{{cite web| url =  https://northbengaltourism.com/malbazar/ |title =  Malbazar |publisher= North Bengal Tourism | accessdate = 13 July 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.north-bengal.com/dooars.html |title =  Dooars Tour |publisher= North Bengal Tourism | accessdate = 13 July 2020 }}</ref> It is a predominantly rural area with 88.62% of the population living in rural areas and 11.32% living in the urban areas.<ref name="admin">{{cite web  | url = http://jalpaiguri.gov.in/district-profile| title = Jalpaiguri | work =District Profile | publisher = District administration |accessdate = 13 July 2020 }}</ref><ref name="handbook">{{cite web  |url = http://wbpspm.gov.in/publications/District%20Statistical%20Handbook  |title = District Statistical Handbook 2014 Jalpaiguri  |work = Tables 2.2, 2.4b|publisher = Department of Planning and Statistics, Government of West Bengal  |accessdate = 13 July 2020}}</ref> Tea gardens in the [[Dooars]] and [[Terai]] regions produce 226&nbsp;million kg or over a quarter of India's total tea crop.<ref>{{cite web| url =https://www.indiatea.org/tea_growing_regions |title = Tea Growing Regions | work= Dooars and Terai|publisher= Indian Tea Association  | accessdate = 13 July 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.teaboard.gov.in/TEABOARDCSM/MTA=|title = Dooars-Terai |publisher= Tea Board India | accessdate = 13 July 2020}}</ref>  Some tea gardens were identified in the 2011 census as [[census town]]s or villages.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://censusindia.gov.in/pca/pcadata/Houselisting-housing-WB.html  |title = 2011 Census – Primary Census Abstract Data Tables | work= West Bengal – District-wise  |publisher= Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India  | accessdate = 13 July 2020 }}</ref> Such places are marked in the map as CT (census town) or R (rural/ urban centre). Specific tea estate pages are marked TE.

<small>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.</small>

==The gardens==
At Meenglas Tea Estate the old garden was uprooted and replanted afresh. The old factory equipment was dismantled and a new processing unit was installed in 2007. It is one of the best modernized tea processing units in the region, HACCP certified since 2008. It produces high quality [[Crush, tear, curl|CTC]] tea.<ref name="tea1"/>

At Leesh River Tea Estate there are three divisions - Leesh, Hope and Patibari. In the Leesh Division, earlier named Phoolbarie, there are records that state that it had a planted area of 600 acres. It was among the first gardens to be planted in North Bengal. been The garden has recently been modified and has a HACCP-certified modern factory.<ref name="tea2"/>

==Goodricke==
Established in 1977, Goodricke owns 18 tea estates in India, all inherited from sterling tea companies, who operated from the late 1800s. Goodricke has 12 gardens in the [[Dooars]]. With its rich agro climate the area produces CTC tea. Goodricke's tea gardens in the Dooars are: [[Danguajhar Tea Estate|Danguajhar]], Leesh River, Meenglas, [[Hope and Jiti Tea Estates|Hope]], [[Chalouni, Aibheel and Chalsa Tea Estates|Aibheel]], [[Chalouni, Aibheel and Chalsa Tea Estates|Chulsa]], [[Chalouni, Aibheel and Chalsa Tea Estates|Chalouni]], [[Hope and Jiti Tea Estates|Jiti]], [[Kumargram and Sankos Tea Estates|Sankos]], [[Gandrapara and Lakhipara Tea Estates|Gandrapara]], [[Gandrapara and Lakhipara Tea Estates|Lakhipara]] and [[Kumargram and Sankos Tea Estates|Kumargram]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.goodricke.com/about | title = Overview| publisher =  Goodricke |accessdate =  4 July 2020}}</ref>

Eight sterling tea companies viz., The Assam-Doors Tea Co. Ltd., Hope Tea Co. Ltd., The Lebong Chulsa Tea Co. Ltd., The British Darjeeling Tea Co. Ltd., The Chulsa Tea Co. Ltd., The Leesh River Tea Co. Ltd., The Danguajhar Tea Co. Ltd., and The Meenglas Tea Co. Ltd., were amalgamated with Goodricke in 1977.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.goodreturns.in/company/goodricke-group/history.html | title = Goodricke Group Limited – Company history and annual growth details| publisher =  |accessdate =  4 July 2020}}</ref>

==Tourism==
[[Odlabari]] is an upcoming tourist attraction in the area. It offers some of the most spectacular sights in the Dooars region.<ref name="tourism">{{cite web | url =  https://northbengalguide.com/oodlabari#:~:text=Oodlabari%20is%20surrounded%20by%20many%20tea%20estates%20like,produces%20some%20of%20the%20world%E2%80%99s%20most%20delicate%20tea.| title = Oodlabari| publisher = North Bengal Guide |accessdate =  4 July 2020}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|3}}

{{Jalpaiguri district}}

[[Category:Tea estates in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Jalpaiguri district]]