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JK Urbanscapes Developers Limited (JKUDL), a member of the JK Organisation and a real estate and hospitality developer, has partnered with Minor Hotels, a global hospitality group, to develop Anantara Retreat Darjeeling Hills, a 70-key luxury retreat within the Tindharia Tea Estate in West Bengal. Entailing an investment of ₹110 crore by JK Urbanscapes in partnership with Mr Kaushal Kumbhat, the retreat is scheduled to open in 2031 and will mark the debut of Anantara Retreats in India. The development will bring the brand’s wellness-led hospitality philosophy to a distinctive tea-growing landscape in the Eastern Himalayas, combining a nature-led setting with a considered luxury retreat experience.
Spread across 849 acres, the working Tindharia Tea Estate is located in Tindharia, approximately 40 km from Darjeeling town. Situated at elevations ranging from 450 to 1,000 metres above sea level, the estate is characterised by rolling tea gardens, mist-covered slopes and expansive views of the surrounding valleys. The retreat will be planned around the estate’s natural topography, allowing the landscape to shape the guest experience while the plantation continues its tea-growing operations. The development seeks to bring together the character of the tea estate, the region’s natural setting and Anantara’s distinctive approach to luxury hospitality and wellness.
Anantara Retreats is a specialised luxury hospitality concept under Anantara Hotels & Resorts, part of Thailand-headquartered Minor Hotels. Focused on secluded, sanctuary-style settings, the concept combines premium accommodation and personalised service with wellness programmes spanning spa treatments, yoga, fitness, nutrition and mindfulness. It also offers immersive experiences rooted in local culture and the natural environment.
Commenting on the signing, Abhishek Singhania, Chairman and Managing Director, JK Urbanscapes Developers Limited, said, “At JK Urbanscapes, we believe that exceptional developments begin with recognising the inherent potential of a place and preserving what makes it distinctive. Tindharia Tea Estate offers a rare opportunity to create a luxury hospitality destination that draws from the character of its landscape and the legacy of its tea-growing heritage. Our partnership with Minor Hotels brings together this distinctive setting and a globally renowned hospitality brand, reflecting our vision of building a portfolio of thoughtfully conceived destinations that offer enduring value while remaining deeply connected to their surroundings.”
Anantara Retreat Darjeeling Hills will comprise 35 suites and 35 tented villas positioned along the estate's slopes. The planned facilities include an Anantara Spa, a fitness centre and a swimming pool overlooking the plantation and valley. Wellness programmes will draw on the region's natural surroundings and tea-growing heritage, while a tea factory and tea garden will form an integral part of the guest experience, offering an opportunity to understand the journey of tea from garden to production. The development will also include 750 sq. m. of meeting and event space for small MICE gatherings and destination weddings.
Maneesh Mansingka, Joint Managing Director, JK Urbanscapes Developers Limited, said, “The development of Anantara Retreat Darjeeling Hills calls for an approach that is as thoughtful as it is commercially sound. The vision is to create a distinctive hospitality destination that draws from the natural character of Tindharia Tea Estate and its rich tea-growing heritage, while complementing the landscape in which it is set. By integrating accommodation, wellness and immersive tea-led experiences, we aim to create a retreat that offers guests a deeper connection with the destination while establishing a sustainable, long-term hospitality asset.”
Located approximately 33 km from Bagdogra International Airport, the retreat will be accessible by road from the airport in around an hour. Bagdogra offers air connections to major Indian cities, including Delhi and Kolkata, as well as select international destinations.
Dillip Rajakarier, Group CEO of Minor International, the parent company of Minor Hotels, said, “Anantara Retreats belong in places that shape the stay, and Darjeeling does exactly that. Guests will settle into a working tea estate above the valley, follow the leaf from garden to factory and return to a wellness programme built around the same unhurried pace. We look forward to welcoming guests to Anantara Retreat Darjeeling Hills in 2031.”
The signing adds to JK Urbanscapes' hospitality development portfolio and reflects its focus on destinations where the setting and local character can inform the hospitality offering.
