Plantation stays are a different category from heritage hotels — most are working estates that take guests as a side line. Each pick is verified active production, registered with the Coffee or Tea Board, and runs walk-throughs as part of the stay.
Coffee plantations cluster in the southern Western Ghats (Coorg, Chikmagalur, Wayanad); tea estates cluster in Darjeeling, Munnar and Assam. Pair one of each on a longer trip — the morning routines are completely different.
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