Photo: rajan_skillful / Pixabay - Region
- Koshi Province, Ilam
- Best time to visit
- Autumn and spring for clear views of Kanchenjunga
- Getting there
- Fly from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur, then drive about 77 km (roughly 3 hours) up the Mechi Highway.
Ilam is Nepal’s tea country. Tea was first planted here in 1863, with saplings brought from China, and the Ilam tea factory opened in 1868, making the Ilam Tea Estate the first in Nepal.
What to do
- Walk through Ilam Tea Estate and the open, rolling gardens of Kanyam.
- Wake up early for sunrise at Antu Danda (about 2,328 m).
- Visit Mai Pokhari (about 2,121 m), a sacred lake and Ramsar-listed wetland.
- Hike or drive to Sandakpur (about 3,636 m) for views of both Everest and Kanchenjunga on a clear day.
What to eat
Fresh tea, of course, plus tongba, millet pancakes, dried meat, chhurpi and buckwheat bread.
Our tip
Ilam is far from Kathmandu, so give it time. Three or four nights lets you enjoy the gardens, the sunrises and the slower pace of the eastern hills.
Advisories for travellers
788 climbers on 31 peaks this autumn; Manaslu the busiest
Beni to Jomsom road: track cleared at Kunauta, full reopening expected soon
Reopening times depend on weather and work progress. We will update this when vehicles are confirmed moving.
Source: Rising Nepal, Ekantipur ·
Tatopani and Rasuwagadhi border points remain closed
No official reopening date has been announced.
Source: Rising Nepal, The Kathmandu Post ·
Langtang, Gosainkunda and Helambu routes closed or restricted after the Rasuwa flood
Section-by-section reopening has not been officially confirmed. Conditions may vary along the trail.
Source: Asia News Network ·