Kadmane Tea Estate

I have been hearing about this place, Kadmane since years, my dad who served for Karnataka PWED then, was appointed here. But never did anybody else in the family visit the place.

Till years it was just a tea estate with a factory, which produced the best tea in the region. With present interest in travel and exploring untravelled, this place attracts lot of crowd. The estate is open to the visitors only on Sundays.

Driving from Bangalore, as you near Sakleshpur, you enter that coffee zone, where you are surrounded by coffee, cardamon, pepper and areca plantation. As we drove towards the estate, we wondered where excately could we find tea estate amist the thick coffee zone. As you enter the estate, you are taken to all together a different place, where you find just tea plantation till your sight reaches and the fragrance stimulates your sense.

Situated in the edge of Western Ghat, this is said to be once a hunting ground for the Earl of Warwick. Which was then taken up by Tea Estates India Ltd who began tea plantation, cleaning the forest. Presently, this 1000 acres of land is owned by Murugappa family.

You can have the complete experience of fresh green leaves been hand picked by labours till the tea powder is processed and packed. You will be guided by an employee at the factory as he explains how hand picked tea leaves are cleaned, dried, powdered and sieved to get different quality tea powder. Unfortunately photography is not allowed inside the factory. Don't forget to buy a pack of fresh tea powder from their store.

My little one remembers our visit to the Estate, whenever she watch Kashmir tu Main Kanyakumari song from Chennai Express on TV.

Travel Guide:

Driving from Bangalore on Bangalore - Mangalore National Highway NH13, after 2km from Sakleshpur, take right turn to Mudgere Road. A 24km drive reaches you to Kadmane Estate.

Driving from Mangalore, drive 115km on Mangalore- Bangalore National Highway NH13, take left at the end of Shiradi Ghat. A 15km drive reaches you to the Estate.

Both Bangalore and Mangalore are well connected by Air, Rail and Road to major cities of the country.

Accomadation:

You can stay in Sakleshpur, which is 26kms from Estate. There is also a Resort in the estate.