(left) Vikram Oberoi, CEO, The Oberoi Group; Rudra Chatterjee, Managing Director, Luxmi Tea Co; Arjun Oberoi, Executive Chairman, The Oberoi Group, and Mitakshara Kumari, Trustee, Luxmi Foundation
After Tata Group hospitality firm Indian Hotels Company, The Oberoi Group flagship EIH Ltd will open a luxury resort at the iconic Makaibari Tea Estate in Darjeeling.
EIH, which runs hotels under Oberoi and Trident brands, on Monday announced the signing of a management agreement for an Oberoi luxury resort at the Makaibari Tea Estate, one of the world’s oldest tea estates, owned by Kolkata-based Luxmi Group.
The resort will have 25 keys and is scheduled to open in 2030. The investment for the project is expected to be around ₹100 crore.
“This will be funded entirely by Luxmi Group through internal accruals and long-term capital, in line with how we typically invest in asset-led, long-gestation projects. We are taking a patient, long-term view,” Rudra Chatterjee, Managing Director, Luxmi Tea Co Private Limited, told businessline.
“Makaibari is a 670-hectare estate spanning six different Himalayan ridges, and we believe it can thoughtfully support more than one hospitality experience. The Oberoi will be a much smaller, boutique, all-villa resort, designed very differently. It will focus on privacy, low density, and deep integration with the landscape and tea estate,” Chatterjee said.
Makaibari estate, established in 1859, includes one of the world’s oldest functioning tea factories – constructed entirely of wood, bamboo and cast iron, offering a rare view into living industrial heritage.
A living legacy
Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) opened Taj Chia Kutir Resort & Spa, Darjeeling, at Makaibari Tea Estate in December, 2020, with 72 rooms. This resort is spread over 22 acres.
The Oberoi luxury resort is designed by Nava Design Studios Co, Bangkok. “The intent is not scale, but to create an immersive experience that reflects Makaibari’s heritage and ecology. The Oberoi brand’s philosophy and approach to understated luxury align well with that vision,” Chatterjee informed.
According to him, Makaibari is a living legacy shaped by nature, craftsmanship and community over 150 years. “With its pristine forests, panoramic Himalayan views and rare biodiversity, it offers a setting that is truly exceptional,” Chatterjee added.
The project represents a significant milestone in the Oberoi Group’s long-term strategy, EIH said in a stock exchange filing. “The resort has also been master-planned with the potential for additional keys in the future, allowing for thoughtful expansion in harmony with the landscape,” the company said.
Commenting on signing of the management agreement, Vikram Oberoi, Chief Executive Officer, The Oberoi Group, said, “Makaibari is an extraordinary location, distinguished by its natural beauty, rich biodiversity and remarkable heritage. As we develop this resort, our priority is to honour this exceptional setting and contribute meaningfully to the communities that have long been its custodians.”
Tea tourism
Arjun Oberoi, Executive Chairman, The Oberoi Group, added that The Oberoi, Makaibari Tea Estate, Darjeeling, is an inspiring addition to the group’s development portfolio.
Asked whether Luxmi Group will be looking to set up resorts at its other tea estates going forward, Chatterjee said the group will selectively evaluate opportunities, stating that tea will remain its core business.
“We see growing interest in tea tourism and experiential travel, and we will selectively evaluate opportunities where the location, ecology, and heritage justify it. That said, any such development would be carefully calibrated — small, sensitive, and aligned with the primary purpose of the estates. Tea remains our core business,” he added.
Published on December 15, 2025
