A short trip away from the mundane city life to the lap of nature can be the perfect way for weary Kolkatans to rejuvenate this monsoon. An overnight train from Sealdah to New Jalpaiguri and catching another one to Malbazar, 65km away, the misty jungles are sure to take your breath away
All photographs by Amit DattaThe landscape provides a unique blend of blue hills, greenery and grey-blue sky dotted with puffy clouds
As the train trundles along a small non-descript bridge, your eyes catch the waters of the snaking Gurjan Jhora river
Reaching Malbazar, you could take a short 3-kilometre drive to the Tunbari Tea Estate
The first thing that catches your eye are the men and women vigorously plucking tea leaves from the lush-green bushes on the rolling terraced garden. A closer look, however, reveals that the wicker baskets for collection have been replaced with bluish translucent sacks
Tea garden workers with their sizeable collection of tea leaves are seen walking up to a man weighing their sacks. A little enquiry revealed that each worker has to compulsorily collect 16kg to 18kg of tea leaves daily. The worker is paid at the rate of Rs 3 for each additional kg
The green expanse in the distance serves as a soothing balm for the eyes
Greyish-white fluffy clouds give you a notion of the approaching Durga Puja
One last look at a tea garden worker and it’s time to leave to look out for an accommodation for the night
But not before collecting your umbrella as you never know when the milling clouds in the horizon precipitate into a sudden shower