Ilam - "Queen of Hills" situated in the hilly Eastern Region of Nepal surrounded by Panchthar in the North, Jhapa in the south, West Bengal (India) in the east and Morang district in the west. It lies to the south of the mahabharat range in the lap of Shinghalila range famous for its natural sceneries and landscapes.
Geographically it is hilly district, with the elevation ranging from 140 meters Banjho VDC to 3636 meters Sandakpur above the sea level. It is surrounded by four rivers known as “Mai Khola", "Puwa Khola", "Jog Mai" and " Mah Mai". It is also called Char Khol “Surrounded by four rivers.
The climatic condition of the district as a whole is dry and cold in winter, while it is hot and rainy in summer.
l am is one of the richest districts in Nepal in terms of its bio-cultural diversity, natural landscape and flourishing professionalism in agricultural especially in cash crops sector. Ilam is the most famous District of Nepal for the production of tea. It is widely famous for 6 major cash crops all - initiating from the same vowel sound in Nepali, so it is also known as the district of ‘6’ as Potato, Cardamom, Ginger, Red Round Chilly, Milk and broom grass are the major cash crops, which are known as Aalu, Alainchi, akabare Khursani, Olan & Amilso respectively in Nepali language.
It is rich in its own kind of social and cultural heritages. People here live in peace and harmony irrespective of caste, creed, race, religion and culture. A wide range of ethnic – groups with their typical customs, traditions and cultures resides here. These include Lepchas (tribes entitled as proper natives of Ilam), Gurungs, Rais, Limbus, Sherpas and many more.
It is rich in its own kind of social and cultural heritages. People here live in peace and harmony irrespective of caste, creed, race, religion and culture.Shree Antu: A place from where a spectacular sunrise and sunset and lightening Himalayas can be viewed. The tea estates and the terraced agriculture are additional attractions.
Mai Pokhari: It is a lake located on the lap of the hills 2100 m above sea level. It includes thick forest all around with rare flora and fauna.
Shankatapur: It is a snow land 3636 m above sea level on the international India-Nepal border line provides majestic view of Himalayas. Rare wildlife like Red panda, Musk deer and wild bird Danphe can be seen in the forests of this area.
Kanyam and phikkal: These tea plantation areas are popular among tourists for picnicking, sight seeing and taking photographs. Phikkal is the business center which provides deluxe accommodation.
Chhintapu: It is the second snow land of Ilam 3400 m above the sea level offering the scenic forests of rhododendron, herbal plants and various species of birds. Besides these there are lots of other scenic places in Ilam like Todke fall, Sidhithumka etc. with various importance and attraction.
ITINERARY:
Day 01 : leave Ktm. Early in the morning, B/F and lunch on the way, reach birtamode (Jhapa) via Mahendra highway. O/N at Birtamode.
Day 02: B/F, leave birtamode, drive to ilam, sight seeing on the way (Kolbung, Pathivara, Kanyam tea estate). Reavh Phikkal bazaar, after lunch drive to Ilam bazaar, sight seeing on the way (Karfok, Panchankanya, Simpani, Mai Khola). After refreshment and hot drinks at Ilam bazaar walk for the sight seeing of tea estates. O/N at ilam bazaar.
Day 03: B/F, leave Ilam bazaar, drive to Mai Pokhari, sight seeing on the way via 1 hour adventurous walk on foot. After having lunch at the Mai Pokhari sight seeing of the lake, forests, rare plants and animals and walk to Deurali bazaar, sight seeing there and return back to Ilam bazaar. O/N at Ilam bazaar.
Day 04: B/F, leave ilam bazaar and drive to Pashupatinagar, a gateway to Darjeeling. After lunch drive to Darjeeling and visit the famous 7 points there. After refreshment return back to Pashupatinagar. O/N at Pashupatinagar.
Day 05: B/F, drive to Mirik (a small hill city with a beautiful lake), sight seeing there. After lunch walk to Shree Antu (approx. 1 hour walk). After refreshment at Shree Antu sight seeing there of beautiful Antu Pokhari and tea estates. O/N at Dharan.
Day 06: View the spectacular sunrise and Himalayas from Antu hill top early in the morning and after B/F walk to Phikkal bazaar (approx. two hours walk). After lunch and refreshment drive to Dharan (a famous city) and on the way touch with Ithari and Tarahara. Refreshment and sight seeing. O/N at Dharan.
Day 07 : B/F, drive to Bhedetar (Dhankuta) a hill top view beautiful Dharan city. After sight seeing, refreshment and after having lunch return back to Dharan and then drive to Koshi Tappu wildlife reserve. Sight seeing there and drive to Lahan. O/N at Lahan.