Polo Hotels & Resorts and Ellenbarrie Tea announce new luxury resort in Doars, West Bengal

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaAugust 31, 2025

Polo Hotels and Resorts, the largest hospitality group in Northeast India in terms of number of hotels as of March 31, 2025, has announced a collaboration with Varun Tea Plantations Private Limited, the owner of Ellenbarrie Tea, to launch the Polo Planters Lodge Resort in the Doars, West Bengal.

The project brings together Polo Hotels & Resorts’ expertise in curating immersive, locally inspired guest experiences and Ellenbarrie’s long-standing tradition of tea craftsmanship. Spread across 20 acres, the property will be an all-villa resort, including pool villas overlooking lush tea gardens, offering visitors a blend of luxury and authenticity.

The resort will feature dining that combines garden-fresh produce with heritage recipes and tea-inspired pairings. Guests will also have access to the Planter’s Lounge, a space overlooking vast tea fields where Ellenbarrie’s signature blends will be served. Tea-based wellness rituals, including infusions, therapies and meditations, will form another key part of the experience, reflecting the planter lifestyle of the region.

Speaking on the launch, Deval Tibrewalla, CEO of Hotel Polo Towers Group, said the new venture marks a fresh chapter in the company’s journey. “Our vision for Polo has always been to create not just hotels, but experiences that capture the local essence of surroundings. With Polo Planters Lodge Resort, we are opening a new chapter, where Ellenbarrie’s planter heritage and Polo’s narrative-driven hospitality will together create an immersive experience in the Doars,” he said.

Aradhita Agarwal of Ellenbarrie Tea said the partnership builds on the region’s rich planter culture. “The Doars have always been the heart of India’s planter culture, and Ellenbarrie has been a proud custodian of this tradition. By collaborating with Polo, we are transforming that heritage into an experience guests can live, breathe, and carry home,” she said.

Polo Hotels & Resorts currently operates nine properties, including destinations such as Cherrapunjee and Kolkata’s Polo Floatel, with more under development. Ellenbarrie Tea, meanwhile, continues to uphold its legacy of cultivating fine blends while preserving the traditions of the planter community in the Doars.