Malnicherra Tea Garden
The Malnicherra Tea Garden, the oldest and largest established tea plantation in the Indian subcontinent, is located on the outskirts of Sylhet Sadar Upazila in Bangladesh, specifically along Airport Road in the Khadimnagar Union. Locals refer to it as “Malnichera Tea Garden.” Just a 15-minute drive from Zindabazar Point in the heart of Sylhet, this tea garden is also accessible from Sylhet City Corporation’s Amberkhana area via rickshaw, auto-rickshaw, or car along the road to the airport. Initially, a few tea saplings were planted experimentally in 1849, and then in 1864, under the supervision of Lord Hardson, the tea garden officially began operations on 1,500 acres of land. Today, in addition to tea, private farms also cultivate oranges and rubber here, alongside jackfruit, betel nut groves, tang fruits, agarwood, sandalwood, and various medicinal and ornamental trees.
Surrounded by lush greenery, it feels like nature has laid out a green carpet beneath the blue sky. Small villages and plantations are nestled within hills and valleys, with winding rural paths stretching along the hillsides. In places, silver waterfalls cascade along the trails. Sylhet produces 90 percent of the country’s tea, earning it the name “land of two leaves and a bud.” By following the road alongside the main bungalow of Malnichara for about three kilometers eastward, you’ll find a cave. Besides Malnichara, there are other tea estates nearby, such as the Lakkatura Tea Estate, Ali Bahar Tea Estate, and, to the west, the Tarapur Tea Estate. Eastward lies the Kalagul Tea Estate and Chiknagul Tea Estate.
Notable sights include Jotkona Hill (where water drips from tree roots into the sandy ground below) and Abadani Hill. Within Abadani Hill are the Harung Hurung caves, a pair of ancient tunnels where it is said that Raja Gour Govinda fled after being defeated by Hazrat Shah Jalal (R.A.), leaving these caves as witnesses to history.
History of Malnicherra Tea Garden
It is said that tea was first produced in China around 1650, and drinking tea became one of the daily habits of the country’s intellectuals. Influenced by China, tea cultivation began in Assam and nearby areas in India during the early 1800s. When the British grew fond of tea, land was allocated in 1828 along the banks of the Karnaphuli River in Chittagong district to grow tea. However, various issues hindered production there. In 1840, a tea garden called Kund’s Garden was established near the area now adjacent to Chittagong city, but it quickly fell into decline due to lack of care. In 1843, Kodala Tea Estate was also founded, but it didn’t flourish. The British persisted, and in 1847, Lord Hardson acquired 1,500 acres of land with the intention of creating the Malnichara Tea Garden. By 1849, trial production began, and with early success, 1,500 acres were officially dedicated to tea cultivation in 1854, marking the birth of the first established tea garden in the subcontinent. Although tea board records list August 14, 1856, as the foundation date, various sources indicate it was founded in 1854, reaching commercial scale in 1855. For over 150 years, Malnichara has been managed by various English, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi administrations. In 1971, Showkat Shahnawaz assumed responsibility for the tea garden. However, as he supported Bangladesh’s liberation struggle, the Pakistani army took him to an area near Bengal, where he was martyred. A memorial commemorates him within the Malnichara garden. After Bangladesh’s independence, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman brought the garden under state control. Following his death, in 1988, it was declared personal property of Syed Ragib Ali, a prominent tax and education advocate from Sylhet, who continues to manage it today.
Currently, 700 acres of the estate are dedicated to rubber production, with 7 acres allocated to orange cultivation. The estate employs 1,300 permanent and 1,000 temporary tea workers. Though Srimangal is known as the “land of tea,” Sylhet’s Malnichara Tea Garden is where tea cultivation began, now an integral part of the region’s history and heritage. Former U.S. Ambassador Harry K. Thomas, upon traveling through the garden, remarked, “The world is so beautiful that you can’t understand it without seeing Malnichara Tea Garden.”
Life of the tea workers
In the quiet, sunlit afternoons, you can hear the soft sounds of tea leaves being plucked. Sometimes they hum songs; other times, they share whispered conversations, all while busily gathering tea leaves. At midday, after weighing and collecting the tea leaves, they pause for a meal and a short rest. Their meal typically includes cold tea mixed with salt and flatbread with a chutney made from tea leaves. After resting, they begin the second round of work. Regardless of the intense sun, heat, or rain, they continue working. In the afternoon, they collect wild herbs like grass, taro stems, and leafy greens to take home, preparing for the next morning’s work.
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| When will you go? |
| From distant Meghalaya, cold winds carry a visitor, the “cloud maiden,” to the tea gardens. Soon, the sky over the tea fields is adorned with white clouds. Eventually, the cloud maiden turns into rain, falling gently on the tea leaves. This touch of rain transforms the color of the leaves. The monsoon season, from March to December, is the best time for picking “two leaves and a bud,” the essence of tea. During January and February, plucking is paused, as the cold winter slows the growth of tea buds. Only the two leaves and a bud are harvested, as the leaves bring the liquor, and the bud provides the flavor. Without the buds’ growth, the true taste of tea cannot be captured, making winter unsuitable for tea production. |
| Special Advice |
| It’s best to obtain permission from the authorities before entering the tea garden to avoid any unexpected complications. |
| Distance from various divisional cities of the country |
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| Dhaka | 226 km. (By Dhaka – Sylhet Highway Root) |
| Rajshahi | 452 km. (By Dhaka – Sylhet Highway Root) |
| Rangpur | 502 km. (By Dhaka – Sylhet Highway Root) |
| Sylhet | 4 km. |
| Mymensingh | 180 km. (By Sunamganj Highway Root) |
| Khulna | 391 km. (By Dhaka – Sylhet Highway Root) |
| Barishal | 363 km. (By Dhaka – Sylhet Highway Root) |
Chittagong/
Caṭṭagrāma
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391 km. (By Dhaka – Sylhet Highway Root) |
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Ways to go from Dhaka |
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| Bus |
Bus Stands of Dhaka:-
(Buses are available at Gabtali and Sayedabad bus stands from morning until 12:45 AM.) |
Buses:-
(Before traveling, always make sure to confirm where you are going and whether the transportation options will get you to your destination on time. Because along with changes in time, information can also be subject to change.) |
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| Train |
Trains:-
(Taking the Ubudan Express is the most convenient option for traveling by train. The train schedule may change, so it’s best to check ahead before making a decision.) |
| Air Plane |
Airplanes:-
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Ways to go from Rajshahi |
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| Bus |
Bus Stands:-
Buses:-
(Before traveling, always make sure to confirm where you are going and whether the transportation options will get you to your destination on time. Because along with changes in time, information can also be subject to change.) |
| Train |
[There is no direct train from Rajshahi to Sylhet. You will need to first go to Dhaka and then take a train from there.] Popular trains to Dhaka:
[Since you have to catch the Dhaka mail train. So first it is better to go to Dhaka by fast express from Natore] |
| Air Plane |
Air Planes:
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Ways to go from Rangpur |
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| Bus |
Bus Stands:-
Buses:-
(Before traveling, always make sure to confirm where you are going and whether the transportation options will get you to your destination on time. Because along with changes in time, information can also be subject to change.) |
| Train |
[There is no direct train from Rangpur to Sylhet. You have to go to Dhaka first and then take the train.] Popular trains to Dhaka:
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| Air Plane |
[Since there is no airport in Rangpur, you will need to travel to Sylhet from Syadpur.] Air Planes:
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Ways to go from Chittagong |
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| Bus |
Bus Stands:-
Buses:-
(Before traveling, always make sure to confirm where you are going and whether the transportation options will get you to your destination on time. Because along with changes in time, information can also be subject to change.) |
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Popular trains:
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| Air Plane |
Air Planes:
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Ways to go from Mymensingh |
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| Bus |
Bus Stands:-
Buses:-
(Before traveling, always make sure to confirm where you are going and whether the transportation options will get you to your destination on time. Because along with changes in time, information can also be subject to change.) |
| Train |
[There is no direct train from Mymensingh to Sylhet. You have to go to Dhaka first and then take the train.] Popular trains to Dhaka:
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Ways to go from Khulna |
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| Bus |
[There is no direct bus service available from Khulna to Sylhet. You have to go to Dhaka first and then take train or bus or airplane.] Bus Stands:-
Buses to Dhaka:-
(Before traveling, always make sure to confirm where you are going and whether the transportation options will get you to your destination on time. Because along with changes in time, information can also be subject to change.) |
| Train |
[There is no direct train from Khulna to Sylhet. You have to go to Dhaka first and then take the train] Popular trains to Dhaka:
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| Air Plane |
[There is no direct flight from Khulna to Sylhet. You have to go to Dhaka first and then go by bus or train or airplane.] Air Planes to Dhaka:
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Ways to go from Barishal |
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Bus Stands:-
Buses:-
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Accommodation and food |
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(It is possible to visit the places of Sylhet in one day. In that case you have to start the journey from dawn. Or should be. Sylhet has all kinds of facilities for staying and eating.) |
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| Residential Hotels |
(If you search the internet with the name of the residential hotels, you will get all the information related to booking.) |
| Restaurants |
Restaurants at Jinda Bazar:
Restaurants at Jaflong Road, Mirabazar:
Other Restaurants:
(You will find many restaurants anywhere in the city or around residential hotels.) |
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(There are quite a few rest houses on Lala Bazaar and Dargah Road.) |
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- Improved Guide Facility.
- Beautiful And Pleasant Environment.
- Suitable For Trekking Or Adventurers.
- Facilitation Of Spending Quality Time With Family/Couple Or Friends.
- If Necessary, Take Water Bottle, Umbrella Or Raincoat And Water Proof Bag.
- Get Full Charge On Mobile, Torch, Power Bank.
- With The Help Of A Local Guide You Can Tour The Whole Region Beautifully.
- Don’t Forget To Take Necessary Materials For Trekking.
- Travel In Groups Of At Least 6 People.
Note- Beware of all kinds of brokers/scammers. Be very careful on the way so as not to get into any kind of danger. In case of any problem, take the help of local administration or call the National Emergency Service of Bangladesh – 999.
→ Email- admin@biratbazar.com
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Other Attraction Places
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2. Jaflong
3. Lalakhal
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