Orchid Nurseries, Mirik, West Bengal India

The slopes of Mirik in Rato Mate Basti, couple of kilometres from Mirik Lake are resplendent with Orchid plantations. It was a relatively recent discovery that Mirik can grow Orchid flowers - and top-class variety at that which could add substantially to the Economy of Darjeeling District - much like Kalimpong.

Several Government-owned Orchid Nurseries are currently cultivating Orchids in a rush to catch up with Kalimpong s big Orchid Revenues. Orchid Nurseries are mushrooming all over Mirik as this landscape is very pro-Orchids and considering that there is a huge market for Orchid flowers in India and abroad, the Indian Government is doing all it can to quickly develop the Orchid Nurseries in Mirik.

Such is the potential of Orchids in Mirik that a private enterprise has started growing the most popular variety of Orchids - the Cympidium in Rato Mate Basti. One lakh Orchids are expected to bloom in winter in white, red, pink, yellow and green colours. The 3-4-week vase-life of these flowers and their vividly colourful and pretty appearance makes them more expensive than the other flowers worldwide.