The Jalpaiguri district administration has drawn up a plan in association with a tea estate of the district to promote tea tourism ahead of the upcoming festive season.

Moumita Godara Basu, the district magistrate, was in Baradighi on Sunday where the management opened a swimming pool for tourists.

At the tea garden, the management has readied a bungalow of the colonial era for tourists. Set amid pristine greenery, the bungalow has a number of suites.

The DM said on Sunday that they would organise trips of school and college students to Baradighi, a tea estate in the Malbazar block, along with nearby forests like the Gorumara National Park.

“The management of Baradighi tea estate is running a nice facility for tourists who intend to spend a couple of days in a tea estate. We have consulted with them and it has been decided that we will bring students’ groups to the garden. We want them to encourage their families and acquaintances to visit the tea garden,” said Basu.

According to plan, students and tourists can reach the Baradighi garden and visit the century-old bungalow to experience the heritage of the place. They can go to the tea garden’s factory to see how tea is made.

“We will take them to Gajoldoba where they can spend time at the mega tourist hub with multiple attractions,” Basu added.

The DM also said that in Baradighi, there would be a knowledge centre for local youths.

“Job-oriented training, including training sessions for tourism and hospitality industries, would be conducted for them,” she said.

Rajvinder Singh, the managing director of Baradighi, said the tourism infrastructure in the garden in in sync with the state’s tea tourism policy.

“Ahead of the festive season, we will introduce a Sunday buffet facility in the garden. People can come for a day trip and lunch. We have an organic garden here. Vegetables grown in it will be used in the cooking,” said Singh.