Please click on the photos above to view the gallery
There is a more updated collection of bungalows on my PINTREST BOARD titled “Colonial tea garden bungalows of India” (check it out by clicking HERE).
Tea planters please share with me any tea garden bungalow photos you may have and let me know how you want to be credited. If any of the photos used in this blog or PINTREST are yours, please let me know. Only we tea folks know how lucky we are to have lived in these beautiful bungalows. Many thanks for your comments and contributions to my TeaBuddy blog. If you have any questions please CLICK HERE to drop me a line.
Cheers!:) Shona
Photo Specifications
* Jpegs of photos (the bigger the better) color or b&w are acceptable
* Please include your name, name of tea garden/bungalow and which years you lived here
* email photos as attachments to teabuddy7(at)gmail(dot) com
Many thanks – you guys are awesome!!
Tea Buddy 
Love all this Shona… so much nostalgia…… we have met before , in MHS as well as through Minku de… infact you visited us in our garden , Taipoo, while holidaying with them….. Also a friend of mamlu’s and Nina’s.
keep it up , keep the memories alive.
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Sreerupa, I remember the visit. We drank tea on your lovely verandah.This was during my college days when I visited the Deys at Siliguri, I think. Please send me pix of your bungalow to post on my blog and many thanks for your comment.
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I too spent my childhood in the Tea gardens-although Dad was a Doctor and not a Planter. These pics bring back a lot of memories as i have visited them! I think the PMO’s Bungalow in Labac in Cachar on top of a little hillock was by far the most beautiful that i have seen…but thats my opinion….
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Souri, many thanks for your comment. Cacher bungalows are very picturesque as many are set on top of “tillas’ and have winding driveways that overlook a lake or waterway. If you have a photo of the Labac bungalow please share. I would love to see it.
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Infact we did have a huge picture of the Labac Bungalow that i am referring to, but will require to search for a smaller one in the old albumns. Another beautiful bungalow was the one at Rungagora-“White House” as it overlooked the River….Rupa or Munmun Ghosh should have a few snaps of it
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Many thanks. That will be great if you can locate the photos. The Rungagora bungalow is famous. I have visited it. Must ask Munmun if she has pixs. Cheers!
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Great Blog!!!! I am an Anglo Indian, born in Guwahati, Assam. My father was born in Chabua, Dibrugarh Dist. His father was a scotsman (worked as a tea plantation manager) and his mother an Anglo Indian. i understand there were many Anglo Indians working in the tea plantations in the years gone by.
Did you meet any such people during your research you conducted for your novel?
Thanks,
Leonard Cormack.
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Leonard,
Indeed, I have met several Anglo-Indians while doing my research. Many have emigrated to Australia and New Zealand, it seems. Anglo-Indians have a whole different perspective on tea life. Interesting how the tea industry attracted such diverse people. Many of us have gone on to different things, yet the tea bond runs deep. Many thanks for popping by my blog.
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Thanks for replying to my post. I am desperately trying to track and locate the few AIs left, if any, in our beautiful part of India. Do you know of any families still residing in Assam or any of the other NE states? If possible, can you direct me as to how I may get in contact with them and possibly gauge how many are still living in Assam and the surrounding areas?
Thanks alot,
Leonard Cormack
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Absolutely. I am forwarding your email to some ex tea planters with AI connections. Hopefully you will get some response. Cheers!
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Thank you so much for your prompt response. I am very grateful and with a bit of luck get some feeback and learn how many AI families are still around. I live in the UK, but still have family living there, and my aim is to organize the few AIs left in region to come together and collectively work towards a better future for our tiny and almost unheard of community. I am so glad that you’ve met a few AIs in your travels. I hope they left a positive impression on you, Thanks again!!!!!
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Thanks a million for your help, I have received a response from David. I wish you all the best and you have my email, please feel free to keep in touch if you so desire
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Also I was wondering if I could get in touch with x tea planters in Assam. Please help. Thanks, Shona and best wishes,
Heidi
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My Grandmother Margaret Ferrier Cormack was born in Purncah, India the daughter of a Scottish tea planter, John Taylor Cormack and mother Christina Ross. Do you have any idea where Purncah is in India?
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Purncah does not ring a bell. Do you know which district this is in? Assam or elsewhere? Perhaps another reader will be able to answer this. Thanks for stopping by my blog,
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Hello Shona,
My great, great grandfather, Peter Ferrier Ross was a brother of Christina Ferrier Ross, Rosemary Huntley’s great grandmother, married to tea planter, John Taylor Cormack – who, back in the 1860s was living in Darjeeling.
I would very much appreciate corresponding with Rosemary about our family connection. Your assistance in connecting us would be much appreciated.
Best regards,
Diana Thomson
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I an emailing Rosemary asking her to get in touch with you. Hope it helps! Cheers!
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I would be most grateful to communicate with Diana Thomson & Rosemary Huntley because of family connections to the Ferrier Ross family of Tain. as well as the Taylors & Cormacks from Thurso. Thanks for your help
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Sending you a separate email to connect you to them. Cheers!
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@Rosemary Huntley – perhaps you meant Purneah? It is now known as Purnia and is a district in North East Bihar. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purnia
Regards, VC
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Thanks for this input! 🙂 Shona
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Mrs Charmars is living in Silchar, near SMC Hospital. Mr Channarayapatra worked in Derby T E. He expired 15 years back.
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Sorry, Mr Chalmars.
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Hi Shona,
My name is Anirban and i head the kitchens at the new Taj in Guwahati Assam, wish to know more about anglo Indian settkements and their food during those days…wish if you can help to get an insight.
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Hi Anirban, replying to your queries in a separate email.Thanks!
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Dear Shona.
I was born in Chabua in 1955 and have many memories of my times in India- I am busy putting together a journal to share with my children.
My father started on Maijan moving onto to Dinjan. He spent nearly all his years as manager on Rungagora TE building it. up I am curious as to the white bungalow overlooking the river. When we were there I do remember a bungalow being built overlooking the river, but somehow recall it was for the Superintendent. I have some old photographs of the old estates which I am busy scanning and will let you have copies when finished. Are there any pictures of the “white building”?
We finally departed from Khoomtaie TE in the late sixities (1969?).
Love the site, pity about the lost pictures
Thanks alot
David Meadows
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Please check out the second this photo on my Pintrest board. Is this the white Rungagora bungalow by the river you are talking about? Here is the link: http://pinterest.com/teabuddy/tea-garden-bungalows-of-colonial-india/
Cheers and happy new year to you. 🙂 Shona
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Shona- Nee Bagai- correct? wonderfully done this. Wish you would include pictures of other Bungalows as well, i am sure you have them available somewhere. Once again- Great- Oma’s bit was lovely reading.
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Actually, this is another Shona (nee Nag) but I do know of a Shona Bagal who has connected with me through this blog. If there are other bungalow pixs you want to add, please let me know and thanks for visiting. Cheers!
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dear shona,
would request you to include the south indian part of the indian tea saga also. my father was with carritt.s so i grew up on the sounds and smell of estates and tea. very nostalgic and rich in history.
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Hi Roy, Many thanks for your suggestion. Tea is such a vast and involved subject that I have to limit myself to Assam Tea just to stay on track. Perhaps you can champion the cause of South Indian tea, yourself?? Munar is very beautiful. I have been there. Best wishes, Shona
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Hi Shona, I am want to connect to other AI please give them my email address.
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Hi Shona
I noted David Meadows’ e-mail about the Rungagora white bungalow. I do not recall this particular building but as I had mentioned about the Nagaghoolie bungalow photo, that was demolished and rebuilt at Rungagora TE as the Superintendents abode – subsequently consumed by the Dibru River. Maybe the ‘white’ bungalow is Rungagora of Jorehaut Tea Company. I will suggest to another ‘koi-hai’, Ron Aston, to log on to your blog and make a comment about the white building. Ron was Rod Meadows’ assistant at Rungagora in the 1960s. I stayed with Rod and Joan at the chung bungalow at Rungagora when inspecting the Crossley engine there in 1965. I was amazed at the number of ‘jungli moorgies’ that used to come to the burra bungalow lawn – I believe they were Joan’s special ‘pets’ – maybe David Meadows may remember them.
Great site as ever Shona – I had not logged on to it for some time but glad to see that people are corresponding on the tea gardens.
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Alan, thanks for your comments. Yes, there has been a lot of interest from readers and ex tea planters regarding these bungalows and tea in in general. Shona
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I spent my early childhood in Hantapara, seeing your lovely picture of the bungalow brought back many memories. I was born in Darjeeling, my parents and grandparents were tea planters in the Dooars. Grandparents surname Bird-Wilson, my father’s surname Scott.
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Many people have connected through this blog. You may ring a few bells with someone somewhere. Nice to “meet” you Philippa!
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Season’s greetings and best wishes to you Shona
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Many thanks and joys of the season to you as well. Shona
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Hi Shona,
Stumbled upon your blog while searching for bungalow designs. We were in Assam between 1968 and 1985 in Singlo and Empire Tea Plantations, in North and South Banks. I spent my entire childhood in Assam- in Napuk, Suffry, Borjuli, Dhulapadung and Sessa tea estates. My father was a marine and mechanical engineer who was a shippie before leaving the Bank Line( Tweed Banks was his last ship) and joining Tea( Both owned by Gillanders at that time). I studied in HHMI, Jorhat and St Edmund’s Shillong. Your Blog has brought back treasured memories of almost another world, difficult to imagine these days. Will try to send whatever pictures I can trace. You have done a truly wonderful job! Must read your book, – is the second one out yet? All the Best. Don
( Sumanta Kumar Chatterjee, Dubai / Pune)
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Thank you for your email. Yes, my second book FLAME TREE ROAD is just out and available in stores in the US and Canada. Check it out! Cheers!
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I have got few collections
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Would love it if you could share them. Thanks!
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Hi
I’ve started researching the establishment of Tea Estates by the British in colonial India for my presentation on your novels at the Assam University in Shilchar.
After reading Teatime for the Firefly, I have found sufficient material that will help me to relate your work to a few concepts of post-colonialism. In the meantime, I’m waiting for your second novel to reach me in a few days. Thanks for your support.
Regards
G. Sarwar Chowdhury
University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh
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Hi Sarwar, I mailed you a copy of FLAME TREE ROAD a week ago. Please let me know when you receive it. Many thanks! Shona
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Hello Shona, I chanced upon your blog today and loved it. Sumanta Kumar Chattterjee’s comments were particularly interesting because I was the Manager of Borjuli Tea Estate from 1973 to 1981. Sumanta’s father B.K.Chatterjee was with me for two years in Borjuli while I was there. I would love to get in touch with Sumanta. My two years in Ghoirallie followed by 8 years in Borjuli both in Thankurbari district of Assam was certainly the best.
I also had some good Anglo Indian planter friends who have emigrated to Australia and England. Would Leonard like to get in touch with them? Ask him to contact me should he be interested.
Aloke Mookerjee
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I am sending both Samantha and Leonard an email getting you in touch with them. Hope this helps. Best wishes, Shona
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Hi Mr Mukerjee,
This is Sumanta ( Don- to all who knew me as a little boy at that time). I just received a mail from Tea Buddy and saw your response in the trail. My father B.K.Chatterjee retired in March 1985 from Sessa TE after almost 20 years in Assam with Gillanders and Apeejay, and moved to Calcutta and then finally settled in Himachal, where he passed away in 1991. I am currently settled in Pune after 20 years in the Middle east. My eldest brother Jayanta is also settled in Pune after retiring from Axis Bank. Would love to reconnect with you. Please mail me at skchatterjee03@yahoo.com.
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I have forwarded your email to Alok Mookerjeee so you can connect. Shona
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HI This is Madhumita I am also a planters daughter and going through your posts brought back many fond memories of my life in tea.My father was the Manager of Tonganagao T.E in Dumduma then in Bubrighat in Cachar and then worked in Tejpore Tea of Shaw Wallace . Tea garden life was really great the huge bungalows the fleet of servants the swimming pool etc etc.The clubs the parties are all fresh in my mind even after staying in Delhi for the last 30 yrs. Life in Tea was a luxury pampered by servants who used to call us babas and babys.But it really brings tears to my eyes seeing the detoriating condition of the Tea Gardens .I hope government takes measures to revive its past glory.
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Thank you for popping by my blog and sharing your memories.Cheers! Shona
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Pl keep in touch and posted
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Hi Shona,
Great reading your blog about the old tea garden bungalows, which have really brought back memories. Dad was an old tea planter in Darjeeling, Cachar and the Dooars, me and my siblings grew up on the plantations.
I myself finished off from Bordubi at the end of 1969 and went to work on plantations in Papua New Guinea, left tea in the early seventies and joined the coffee industry and still very active in coffee.
I left PNG in late 2012 and now back in Kalimpong where I have started the first organic coffee project with the local Lepcha tribals and also doing a spot of advisory for the Bhutan Coffee Programme.
I also read the blog from Alok Mukerjee whom I knew quite well from our PNG days.
Thank you for your blog and bringing back memories
Regards
Lue
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Hi Lue,
Great to hear from you and thanks for stopping by my blog. I wonder if you know Davey Lamont, ex Assam tea planter who also went to work in PNG. Dave now lives in the Gold Coast Australia. Best wishes, Shona
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We were regular in this bungalow from 1996 to 2000 when Mr. And Mrs. BOBBY GAREWAL were here. We were at Koomsong those days and often visited the fantastic couple for unlimited joy and learning!!!!!!!
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This is a lovely bungalow. I remember visiting here a very long time ago. Thanks for stopping by to share your memories!
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My GrandMother Grew up on a Place called the Poloi Tea Estate in She is Anglo Indian, her Father was called Archibald Fairlie and not sure identity of mother still in process of trying to find out, GrandMother is Freda Fairlie now deceased, wondered if anybody could tell me if the place still exists?
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Hi there!
Let me send some feelers out to the tea community and see what we come up with. Somebody seeing your comment may respond too, on this blog. I will keep you updated. All the very best, Shona
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If you are talking about the Poloi Tea Estate, in Cachar district (near Silchar), then it is very much there, owned by a private company, having another garden called Jiajuri in Nagaon.
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Would it be possible to find a picture of it?
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Thanks for reply’s, I found out that she lived on the estate with father Archibald Douglas Fairlie who died 1890 – 1923 only young not sure about cause of death, Freda Jean Fairlie 1915 – 2002 then ended up in Dr John Graham’s School, Kalimpong, then met her first husband working in a hospital in Dehra Dun he was called David Mealing, they married and came to England in 1938.
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Hello Shona,
We have exchanged emails before regarding Amgoorie.
Thanks to Alan Lane have finally had contact with Larry on the Gold Coast. Can still only find the one photo of Amgoorie,a shot up the driveway, so wondering if you had uncovered any other photos of the house ?
Thank you,
Kind Regards,
David
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Hi David,
Let me see if I can uncover any more photos of the lovely Amgoorie bungalow for you. This era is fast fading and I’m trying to gather as much material as I can. I hope you are keeping safe in these strange times. Larry, is one of my most favorite people in the world. He is an immense storehouse of knowledge and stories and all kinds of interesting things.
Shona
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