Lower Fagu Tea Estate-West Bengal

Lower Fagu is a small tea garden located in the Kalimpong district of West Bengal, India. The area falls under the 43rd constituency of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA). It is situated on the eastern part of Chel river, Sombaray Bazar. The area is bordered in the south by Bhuttabari forest area, in the north by Ahaley Busty and in the east by Mission Hill Tea Estate. It lies about 60 km far from Siliguri, 20 km from Mal Bazar and 2 km from Sombaray Bazar. Lower Fagu Tea Garden has population of 2070, of which 1017 are males and 1053 are females as per the Population Census 2011. In Lower Fagu Tea Garden, male literacy rate is 86.15% and female literacy rate is 61.13%. The nearest market of Lower Fagu is Sombaray Bazar (Weekly Market organised on Monday/Sombaar). People go for weekly marketing on Monday and purchase their necessary household items. Ganti (Village market) is organised every Saturday just in front of Fagu tea factory where some local vendors sell locally cultivated items like vegetables, food items etc. The one and only school of Lower Fagu is Lower Fagu Primary School (Estd-1956) being run by District Primary Board. Many of students enrolled are mainly children of Tea Garden worker. Apart from this another school namely Sanatan Vedic Primary School (Estd 1986) which is situated near Lower Fagu also attended by some students of Lower Fagu. One Private school namely Morning Glory English School is also run by some individual here. After completing the primary school, the students enrol themselves either in Judhabir Higher Secondary School or at other private schools as well as educational institutions at Kalimpong, Darjeeling & Siliguri etc. The one and only Degree College of Gorubathan is Government Degree College, Gorubathan and offers Arts & Science courses. It was established in the year 2015 and is located in Lower Fagu (Fagu - Mission Hill Road). The major attraction of Lower Fagu is green Tea Garden. The green foothills around Fagu are really breathtaking. Apart from this one can enjoy at Fagu bungalow which is located at the northernmost tip of Lower Fagu. The Fagu Bungalow was constructed by the then British tea garden owner during colonial era. Now it has been converted as The Fagu Reserve. One can enjoy the beauty of some parts of Tarai areas, rivers and Dooars from here. Gupteswar Temple of Lord Shiva is also located at Lower Fagu. It is one of the famous Hindu temples in the area. One Roman Catholic Church named St. Francis of Assisi also located here in the heart of Lower Fagu. A temple of Sri Satya Sai Baba is also situated here at top line.