Ilam
Nepal Travel Destination

Sitting on the foothills of Mount Kanchanjunga (the third highest peak in the world) is the town of Ilam. It is in the far east of Nepal near the famous Indian town of Darjeeling.

Ilam is decorated with numberous lush-green tea gardens and is famous for producing tea. If you traveled to Ilam, you could get a first-handed look at where your next cup of tea might be coming from. The rolling hills are covered with tea leaves which makes the surrounding areas a lovely place to rest. When a thick white fog comes down from the mountain it seems to imitate a magician who seems to be a professional at the disappearing magic trick because the gardens seem to vanish under its coat. The beautiful greenery of Ilam lasts all year round and continues up the surrounding hill sides.

The two main tea gardens in the area are the Ilam Tea Garden located near the Ilam Bazaar and the Kanyam Tea Garden which is located halfway between Ilam Bazaar and the plains of the Terai.

Besides teahouses, the Ilam District in eastern Nepal has many other treasures. At Antu Danda, at an elevation of 1677 meters, you can find breathtaking sunrise and sunset views of Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) and Kanchanjunga. There is also a drivable road from Ilam to Chhipitar from where one can reach Antu Danda on foot. Those wishing to travel along the lush green hills by trekking would enjoy three hours of beautiful sights.

Another place of interest for travelers is Mai Pokhari. It sits at an elevation of 2438 meters, Mai Pokhari is a famous pilgrimage destination in Ilam district. Lying at about 13 kilometers north of Ilam Bazaar, this beautiful jewel consists of a pond whose circumference is more than 1 kilometer. Altogether there are nine ponds in the area some of which are large enough for boats and possible boatrides.

Ilam is easily accessed via road linked with Nepal's East-West Highway. Pashupatinagar, situated at northern boarder of Ilam, is an important entry point for travelers from Sikkim, Darjeeling and Mirik. Darjeeling, a famous hill station of India, is just two hours drive from Pashupatinagar.

To get to Ilam there are regular bus services to Pashupatinagar and Ilam from Kathmandu and Biratnagar.