Soom Plantation

The Soom Plantation is located in the northwestern part of the Darjeeling district, about 18 kilometers from Darjeeling. It is one of the region’s most historic tea gardens. The name Soom comes from the Lepcha language and means “triangle,” referring to the shape of the garden.

The plantation’s history dates back to 1860. Captain J. Jerdin is credited as the first planter. Later, the plantation belonged to Williamson Magor & Company for many decades. In 2001, Soom was acquired by the Chamong Group.

The total area of the plantation covers approximately 535 hectares. Of this, about 237 hectares are planted with tea. The cultivation areas are located at altitudes ranging from about 800 to 1,700 meters. Publicly available data on annual production is not consistently reported across sources, which is why no clearly confirmed figure is often cited.

Due to its long history, its size, and its location in the Darjeeling hills, Soom is still considered a plantation rich in tradition and historical interest.