PasqualeCairnduf at 21:27, 28 February 2025

2025-02-28T21:27:36Z

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{{Short description|Tea garden in Rangli Rangliot, India}}
{{Infobox park
| name = Lopchu Tea Estate
| alt_name =
| photo =
| photo_width = 250
| photo_caption =
| type =
| location = [[Darjeeling district]], [[West Bengal]], [[India]]
| nearest_city =
| map =
| coords = {{coord|27.074533|N|88.369637|E||display=inline,title}}
| area = {{convert|226|acres|abbr=on}}
| open = early 1860s
| elevation = {{convert|4800|ft}}
| owner = Rajesh Kanoria, Sandeep Kanoria
| operator =
| visitation_num =
| status =
| website =
}}
'''Lopchu Tea Estate''' is a [[Tea garden (cultivation)|tea garden]] in the [[Rangli Rangliot (community development block)|Rangli Rangliot]] [[Community development blocks in India|CD block]] in the [[Darjeeling Sadar subdivision]] of the [[Darjeeling district]] in the [[India]]n state of [[West Bengal]].

==Etymology==
"Lopchu" is a derivative from [[Lepcha language]], which prevailed in the area when the garden was set up.<ref name="teaboutique">{{cite web | url = https://www.darjeelingteaboutique.com/lopchu-tea-estate/| title= Lopchu Tea Estate| publisher= Darjeeling Tea Bouquet |accessdate = 8 March 2020}}</ref>

==History==
Lopchu Tea Estate was owned by British planters, possibly the Brown family, in its earlier days.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://blogs.otago.ac.nz/global-dunedin/2015/12/08/lopchu-a-tea-family-in-dunedin/ | title = Lopchu: A Tea Family in Dunedin | publisher = University of Otago |accessdate = 8 March 2020}}</ref> The garden was established in the early 1860s.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.ajantatea.com/product/details/lopchu-golden-orange-pekoe-26.html| title = Lopchu Tea | publisher = Ajanta Tea|accessdate = 8 March 2020}}</ref>

In 1954, Lopchu Tea Estate was purchased by S.N.Kanoria and G.L.Kanoria, two cousins and both jute traders. Now, their grandsons, Rajesh Kanoria and Sandeep Kanoria, own the garden.<ref name="teaboutique"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=Lopchu Tea Estate Darjeeling, Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe Tea Online |url=https://www.thunderbolttea.com/lopchu-tea-estate/ |access-date=2022-05-13 |website=Thunderbolt Tea, Darjeeling |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Geography==
{{OSM Location map
| width=350| height=370| zoom=10
| coord={{coord|26|57|0|N|88|20|0|E}}| float=left|caption='''Places and tea estates in the north-eastern portion of Darjeeling Sadar subdivision (including Rangli Rangliot CD block) and Kurseong subdivision in Darjeeling district''' CT: census town, R: rural/ urban centre, N: neighbourhood, H: hill centre, NP: national park/ wildlife sanctuary, TE: tea estate, TA: tourist attraction Abbreviations used in names – TG for Tea Garden (town/village), TE for Tea Estate Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly

|mark-coord1={{coord|27|1|20|N|88|21|21|E}}| label-pos1=right|label1= Rangli Rangliot| numbered1=R| mark-title1= [[Rangli Rangliot]] (CT)|label-color1= #800000 |label-size1=11| mark-size1=12|shape1=l-circle|shape-color1= #C42222|shape-outline1=white|label-offset-x1=2
|mark-coord2={{coord|27|2|10|N|88|22|0|E}}| label-pos2=right|label2=Takdah| numbered2=R| mark-title2= [[Takdah]] (R)
|mark-coord3={{coord|27|3|30|N|88|23|12|E}}| label-pos3=right|label3=Peshok TG| numbered3=R| mark-title3= [[Peshok Tea Garden]] (R)
|mark-coord4={{coord|27|0|30|N|88|24|13|E}}| label-pos4=right|label4=Teesta Valley TG| numbered4=R| mark-title4= [[Teesta Valley Tea Garden]] (R)
|mark-coord5={{coord|26|48|45|N|88|15|38|E}}| label-pos5=right|label5=Longview TG| numbered5=R| mark-title5= [[Longview Tea Garden]] (R)
|mark-coord6={{coord|26|57|57|N|88|22|20|E}}| labelpos6=right| label6=Mangpu| numbered6=R| mark-title6= [[Mangpu]] (R)|
|mark-coord7={{coord|26|54|20|N|88|16|40|E}}| label-pos7=left|label7=Monteviot TG| numbered7=R| mark-title7= [[Monteviot Tea Garden]] (R)
|mark-coord8={{coord|26|49|35|N|88|17|22|E}}| label-pos8=left|label8=Rohini TG| numbered8=R| mark-title8= [[Rohini Tea Garden]] (R)
|mark-coord9={{coord|26|46|20|N|88|21|35|E}}| label-pos9=left|label9=Sukna| numbered9=R| mark-title9= [[Sukna, Darjeeling]] (R)
|mark-coord10={{coord|26|50|35|N|88|19|45|E}}| label-pos10=right|label10=Tindharia| numbered10=R| mark-title10= [[Tindharia]] (R)
|mark-coord11={{coord|26|52|5|N|88|17|55|E}}| label-pos11=right|label11=Giddapahar| numbered11=R| mark-title11= [[Giddapahar]] (R)
|mark-coord12={{coord|26|47|47|N|88|18|30|E}}| label-pos12=left|label12=Simulbari TG| numbered12=R| mark-title12= [[Simulbari Tea Garden]] (R)
|mark-coord13={{coord|26|56|11|N|88|28|2|E}}| label-pos13=right|label13=Sittong| numbered13=R| mark-title13= [[Sittong]] (R)
|mark-coord14={{coord|26|53|49|N|88|28|22|E}}| label-pos14=right|label14=Sevoke| numbered14=R| mark-title14= [[Sevoke]] (R)
|mark-coord15={{coord|26|52|15|N|88|15|50|E}}| label-pos15=left|label15=Ambootia| numbered15=R| mark-title15= [[Ambootia]] (R)| shape-color15=#C42222
|mark-coord16={{coord|26|49|45|N|88|19|0|E}}| label-pos16=right|label16=Cart Road| numbered16=CT| mark-title16= [[Cart Road]] (CT) | shape-color16=#800000
|mark-coord17={{coord|26|53|30|N|88|17|30|E}}| label-pos17=left |label17=Kurseong| numbered17=M| mark-title17= [[Kurseong]] (M)| shape-color17=#800000
|mark-coord18={{coord|27|5|55|N|88|20|50|E}}| label-pos18=left|label18=Glenburn TE| numbered18=TE| mark-title18= [[Glenburn Tea Estate]] (TE)| shape-color18=#87A96B
|mark-coord19={{coord|27|4|28|N|88|22|10|E}}| label-pos19=left|label19=Lopchu TE| numbered19=TE| mark-title19= Lopchu Tea Estate (TE)|shape-color19=black| label-size19=13|label-color19=black 
|mark-coord20={{coord|26|51|30|N|88|14|8|E}}| label-pos20=left|label20=Balasun TE| numbered20=TE| mark-title20= [[Balasun Tea Estate]] (TE)| shape-color20=#87A96B
|mark-coord21={{coord|26|51|20|N|88|16|50|E}}| label-pos21=right|label21=Castleton TE| numbered21=TE| mark-title21= [[Castleton Tea Estate]] (TE)| shape-color21=#87A96B
|mark-coord22={{coord|26|53|35|N|88|20|0|E}}| label-pos22=right|label22=Goomtee TE| numbered22=TE| mark-title22= [[Goomtee Tea Estate]] (TE)| shape-color22=#87A96B
|mark-coord23={{coord|26|54|35|N|88|20|20|E}}| label-pos23=right|label23=Jungpana TE| numbered23=TE| mark-title23= [[Jungpana Tea Estate]] (TE)| shape-color23=#87A96B
|mark-coord24={{coord|26|50|40|N|88|16|20|E}}| label-pos24=left|label24=Makaibari TE| numbered24=TE| mark-title24= [[Makaibari Tea Estate]] (TE)| shape-color24=#87A96B
|mark-coord25={{coord|26|55|24|N|88|17|50|E}}| label-pos25=right|label25=Margaret’s Hope TE| numbered25=TE| mark-title25= [[Margaret's Hope Tea Estate]] (TE)| shape-color25=#87A96B
|mark-coord26={{coord|26|52|25|N|88|26|20|E}}| label-pos26=bottom|label26=Mahananda |labela26= Wildlife| labelb26= Sanctuary| numbered26=NP| mark-title26= [[Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary]] (NP)| shape-color26=#228B22
|mark-coord27={{coord|26|49|0|N|88|31|0|E}}|label27=Teesta River| label-color27 = #77A1CB| label-angle27=45| label-pos27=top| label-size27=10| mark-size27=0| mark-title27=none
|mark-coord28={{coord|26|47|0|N|88|23|30|E}}|label28=Mahananda|labela28= River| label-color28 = #77A1CB| label-angle28=45| label-pos28=top| label-size28=10| mark-size28=0| mark-title28 =none
|mark-coord29={{coord|26|45|0|N|88|17|0|E}}|label29= Balason River| label-color29 = #77A1CB| label-angle29=35| label-pos29=top| label-size29=10| mark-size29=0| mark-title29 =none
|arc-coordA={{coord|27|9|0|N|88|11|50|E}}|arc-textA= SIKKIM| arc-text-colorA=hard grey| arc-angleA=-161| arc-gapA=-4| arc-radiusA=0.7
|arc-coordB={{coord|26|50|0|N|88|7|0|E}}|arc-textB= NEPAL| arc-text-colorB=hard grey| arc-angleB=60| arc-gapB=3.5| arc-radiusB=0.4 }}

Lopchu Tea Estate is located north-east of [[Darjeeling]], mid-way between Darjeeling and [[Kalimpong]], and close to [[Sikkim]]. The nearest [[Darjeeling tea]] estate is [[Glenburn Tea Estate]], separated by a hill. [[Takdah]] is also close-by.<ref name="teaboutique"/>

Located at a height of {{convert|4800|ft}} nestles in a glen overlooking the majestic [[Kangchenjunga]] peak.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://lopchu.com/ | title = Enjoy your cuppa that cheers| publisher = Lopchu |accessdate = 8 March 2020}}</ref>

Lopchu has {{convert|226|acres|abbr=on}} under tea cultivation. Most of tea plants were transplanted from Yunan province in China, and much of the tea gets exported to Germany and other European countries.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://in.teabox.com/collections/estates-darjeeling-lopchu | title = Lopchu Tea Estate| publisher = Tea Box |accessdate = 8 March 2020}}</ref>

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.

==Lopchu tea==
[[The Economic Times]] says that Lopchu, a 90-year old tea brand, "has won a dedicated, global following after enduring tough competition." Many of the leading Indian tea connoisseurs love its aroma and smoky taste.
<ref>{{cite web | url = https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/lopchu-tea-a-brand-that-puts-no-stock-in-harrods/articleshow/44779741.cms | title = Lopchu tea: A brand that puts no stock in Harrods | publisher = The Economic Times, 11 October 2014 |accessdate = 8 March 2020}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Wikivoyage inline|Darjeeling}}

{{Darjeeling District}}

[[Category:Tea estates in Darjeeling district]]

Lopchu Tea Estate - Revision history

PasqualeCairnduf at 21:27, 28 February 2025