Ukiyo, the Japanese word, has a beautiful meaning that indicates the importance of living in the moment because ‘the floating world’ is fleeting and transient. The beauty of Sikkim that we witnessed in its latest cherry blossom season at Temi made me realise it even better. This transient beauty of nature, which adorns the roads in south Sikkim leading to the scenic Eco Adventure Resorts’ The Temi Bungalow in the late autumn-early winter season, didn’t miss our sight luckily just by a glance before it withered away the very next day after our visit. Yet, Temi, even with its withered cherry blossom, didn’t fail to impress us with many more ‘ukiyo’ moments of nature during our two-day stay at this south Sikkim resort.

A cherry blossom tree on either side adorns the deck. The scenic beauty from the deck looks like a picture postcard

The journey to this place of exquisite natural beauty is easy. A one-hour flight to Bagdogra from Calcutta was followed by a four-hour road journey to Temi. Stopping for some piping hot momos on the way in Siliguri was a must before embarking on the late-evening road trip up the hill via Namchi. It was a full moon night, and the glistening peak of the snow-clad Kanchenjunga range greeted us before we arrived at the Temi Bungalow almost around midnight. The staff welcomed us with warmth, fed us some delish dishes kept ready and hot, and sent us for a good night’s sleep on the comfy beds that they made for us at the cottages, with a much-required amenity of hot water bag on each bed to keep us warm and cosy.

Out of all my recent globetrotting, the next morning was the most visually captivating view that I woke up to. The mesmerising sleeping Buddha view of the snow-clad Kanchenjunga, gradually glowing with the glistening golden hues of the rising sun made the morning memorable. Nestled in the historical south Sikkim Temi tea estate, The Temi Bungalow is an experiential retreat. Its strategic location gives a view of the hills and the rolling tea gardens on all sides of the resort.

The Stay

The Temi Tea Bungalow is nestled in the 400-acre tea gardens, which are owned and run by the Sikkim government, while the bungalow owned by Eco Adventure Resorts manages the stay and experiences. The bungalow, with five rooms, is known as the heritage Bada Bungalow, a restored colonial structure. It was built in 1885 by the British missionaries. It was inhabited by British pastors but was damaged in 2011 by an earthquake. Its eight rooms, indoor dining space and tea lounge, and the large verandah with books and comfortable seating, have been redesigned keeping the colonial touches and heritage charm intact. What makes the rooms even more interesting are their names, themed on tea or Buddhism.

The eight cottages in the property that was built later match the historical aesthetic of the Bada Bungalow, yet are designed with a modern touch. It has twin beds that are convertible into king beds. Additional bed facilities in the rooms are available. The verandah and the windows of the rooms overlook the organic tea plantation that was raised by settlers of Kewzing village and planted by the last king of Sikkim, Palden Thondup Namgyal, envisioning a safe haven for the Tibetan refugees.

The verandah for warm and cosy adda sessions

The outdoor deck is a major highlight of the property that offers a view of the Himalayan ranges and the tea gardens that look as pretty as a painting. During our stay, we were lucky to watch not just the sunrise but a moon-rise from the deck! What made these everyday visual experiences from the deck even more enthralling is that every fleeting moment of a natural phenomenon can be experienced moment by moment, a rare experience in city life. Below the deck, going down a flight of steps, is the dining area. Painted in green, it has an indoor and outdoor seating arrangement. It offers a wide variety of cuisines to choose from.

One of the signatures of the Eco Adventure Resorts properties is their range of activities that are provided to their guests. However, instead of too many adventure-based activities, The Temi Bungalow is a retreat that’s best enjoyed for a relaxed vacay to go back to the city life rejuvenated. “Read a book, go on a walk or explore local life…” says the Temi Bungalow people about their place. Create your own experiences with the mood that nature sets for you or experience the curated ones. Bonfire nights and barbecues are regular evening activities at the resort. Entertainment and cultural evenings by local Nepalese school students and the supremely talented hotel staff are definitely experiences to look forward to. Wellness activity includes yoga. The Tea Lounge in the bungalow has many board games for guests to enjoy. Star gazing from the deck is an experience not to be missed. The resort structure is ideal for group visits too, as a group can book the entire five-room bungalow to themselves.

Sightseeing

Temi’s second flush is a 2018 gold medal winner at the World Tea Awards championship at Hangzhou, China. The closest sightseeing spot is the Temi tea factory where one can indulge in some tea tasting and know about the process from planting to plucking tea.

The view of the sleeping Buddha of Kanchenjunga at dawn

For nature lovers, the Temdong forest walk is ideal for experiencing biodiversity and nature at its best. In the one-way 4km trek, if one is lucky, spotting a red panda or flying squirrel is not impossible.

The high-tea and breakfast set-up.

The 130ft Buddha statue at Ravangla Buddha Park

OWNER SPEAK: “I was looking at the West Bengal hills for the last four to five years and was particularly looking for the tea gardens. I was informed by an acquaintance about this Sikkim tea estate and an old dilapidated bungalow. Then there was confusion about whether to break this down or restore it. I wanted to restore it and now it is what we see.

We try to involve the local life in the experiences we offer as much as possible. When we organise cultural evenings for our guests, we pay something to the school, too, and that helps them economically,” said Arijit Dutta, director of Priya Entertainments, that owns the property. Esha Dutta, who ideated the decor and interiors of the property, said: “In the bungalow, I wanted to keep a local touch that’s relevant to the state. The state is very strong on Buddhism. So, I named the rooms accordingly. Pema is associated with Buddha. It is in a tea garden, so Camellia is after the name of a tea. The theme of the bungalow decor is based either on Buddhism or tea garden. For the 150-year-old bungalow, we did a retro setting, which is why the interior is starkly different from the cottages, which have a modern look. The bungalow looks more vintage.” Talking about the resort highlight, the deck, she said: “The deck was specially built for the view. It overlooks the tea garden valley. This tea garden is unusually at a high altitude and I wanted to take advantage of that and the mountains in the background. So, we designed it like a protruding structure with the resort."