Eco Park tea garden, draw for visitors

Kolkata: The tea garden at Eco Park, the only of its kind in south Bengal has become a prime location over the years.

Though tea plantation is carried out in some areas in the plains in north Bengal, the scientists of Bidhannagar Krishi Vidyalaya, Tea Board, Andrew Yule and workers of local nurseries toiled hard to grow tea in south Bengal where the tea leaves cannot grow because of scorching sun rays. In the first year many of the leaves did not survive. Also, the leaves did not survive because of the acidic soil.

To combat the situation shade trees were planted. Soil was brought from north Bengal. The supply of water to the budding leaves has been provided by drip irrigation with automatic controller. The tea garden has come up on 3 acres of land.

An exquisite tea lounge designed by renowned architect Dulal Mukherjee has been constructed. The tea lounge resembles one of the tea bungalows of Darjeeling. Tea leaves processed and packed are made for gifting. The participants of different programmes which are organized by the Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation ( Hidco) are given a packet of tea as gift. People visiting the tea gardening are not only enjoying the tea but are buying the gift packs for their near and dear ones.

The tea lounge will be thoroughly renovated and the new look tea lounge is likely to be ready before the pujas.

Eco Park has become the most popular destination in and around Kolkata. The park stands on 480 acres of land surrounded by 104 acres of water body.

It is the biggest urban park in the country. The miniature of seven wonders, the Japanese garden, butterfly park, rose garden and the replica of Ghoom railway station and the toy train have attracted the tourists all over the country.