ASHOK KUMAR SINGH : Kumai Tea Estate, Ambiok Tea Estate, & Upper Fagu Tea Estate

1. Kumai Tea Estate

Location & context:

Located in Gorubathan CD Block, Kalimpong district. Mentioned in listings of the six tea-gardens of the district.
The village “Kumai Tea Garden” has map/pin data: Kumai Tea Garden, Factory Line, Garubathan, Kalimpong District 734503.

Visitor / stay-info & tourism potential:

Kumai is also described as an “offbeat natural retreat” with tea estates, forests, and viewpoints.
I did not find publicly listed detailed information about a designated visitor-tour programme (tea-garden tours, factory visits) or in-estate accommodation (heritage bungalow) for Kumai, at least in my search results.
If you intend to visit, I recommend contacting local homestays or tourism offices in Kumai village and asking about permissions to walk the tea gardens or meet estate staff.

Suggested steps:

Reach Kumai via Gorubathan–Kumai route (verify road condition).
Stay in a local homestay in Kumai or nearby – for example, there is “Khambuhang Nature Eco Farm Homestay” in Kumai region.
Ask ahead for access to tea plantation area, and check whether the estate is currently active and open to visitors.

Location & context:

Address (map pin): “Ambiok Tea Garden, Damdim Lava Road, Gorubathan, Kalimpong District, West Bengal, 735231.”
Listed among the six tea‐gardens in the Kalimpong district.

Visitor / stay‐info & tourism potential:

There is a YouTube video showing “Ambiok Tea Estate || Gorubathan || Chelkhola || Fagu” which suggests some visitor/explorer content in that region.
I did not find explicit sources that mention a formal guided tour, overnight stay within the estate, or the estate actively promoting “tea tourism” (at least in the search results I found).
Road access via Damdim → Lava road, through Gorubathan region; so you can include this in a scenic drive and ask locally for entry.

Suggested steps:

You may plan a visit just for a walk through the plantation or a stop for photos, but confirm ahead whether estate allows visitors inside or whether any orientation or tea-factory visit is offered.
Stay can be arranged in the Lava / Gorubathan area, and then visit Ambiok during day.
Because many estates in this region are less set up for tourism compared to more famous ones, calling ahead or reaching out via local tourism office is a good idea.

Location & context:

According to a source: “Upper Fagu Tea Estate is located in the Kalimpong area … a 103-hectare garden produces one of the best first flushes of orthodox Darjeeling tea.”
It is listed on the district portal as one of the six tea gardens of Kalimpong district (Gorubathan block).
According to a news article (Telegraph) there was interest in developing a resort/hotel on the Upper Fagu estate under the Tea Tourism policy.

Visitor / stay-info & tourism potential:

The mention of resort/hospitality interest indicates that the estate area may have infrastructure or plans for stay/tea tourism.
But I did not locate a specific currently-advertised in-estate bungalow accommodation (like “Tea Forest…” for Samabeong) in publicly available sources, nor precise contact details for visitor tours.
Because of its noted quality (orthodox teas, first flush) it could be attractive for tea aficionados.

Suggested steps:

Contact the estate (or the owning company) to ask if they allow tea‐garden visits or overnight stays. The address given: “Fagu Tea Estate PO Fagu, Block Gorubathan, District Darjeeling – 735231 India” (even though the estate is in Kalimpong district after reorganisation) per the source.
If overnight is not possible inside the estate, consider staying in Fagu/Lava region in a mountain lodge or bungalow and visiting the Upper Fagu estate during the day.
Because the article mentions hospitality plans, there may be better facilities in the near future (or already existing but less publicised) — asking tourism/lodge owners may help.

All three estates (Kumai, Ambiok, Upper Fagu) are present in the Kalimpong district’s list of tea gardens.
However, detailed visitor-tourism information (factory tours, in-estate lodging) is not as clearly available for each of them compared to some other estates.
I recommend making phone calls or sending emails to the estate management (or to local tourism offices in Gorubathan/Lava) before scheduling your trip, to ensure access, availability, and conditions.
Road/transport conditions: As they are in hilly terrain, access may be via narrow roads; so plan accordingly (vehicle, weather, daylight).
If staying overnight inside estate is not available, plan for nearby accommodation (in Lava, Fagu, Gorubathan) and day visits to the estates.