Illam, the hilly region in the eastern region of Nepal, is a small hill town with pristine landscapes of slopes tea gardens, mountain streams, dense natural forests, holy sites and a unique culture. Neighboring the famous Indian hill town of Darjeeling, it is situated on the foothills of Mount Kanchanjunga, The third highest peak in the world. Illam is adorned with an almost limitless range of lush-green tea gardens. The rolling hills covered with tea leaves are simply majestic. The thick white fogs alternatively descend to veil the gardens and then suddenly vanish. Greenery prevails all over the hills of Ilam all around the year. Ilam Tea Garden located near Ilam Bazaar and Kanyam Tea Garden located halfway between Terai plain and Ilam Bazaar is the major tea gardens of Nepal. The famous sights in Illam which worth a visit are, Antu Danda: Antu Danda, situated at an altitude of 1677m in Ilam District, is famous for its unique views of Everest and Kanchanjunga. It is the best vantage point for viewing sunrise and sunset. There is a motorable road from Ilam to Chhipitar from where one can read Antu Danda on foot. This exhilarating trekking along the lush green hills takes about 3 hours. Mai Pokhari: Mai Pokhari (2,121m), one and half hour drive from Ilam Bazaar, is a pristine little lake surrounded by a variety of flora and fauna which consists of the pond whose circumference is more than one kilometer. Altogether there are nine ponds in the area some of which are large enough for boats. Mai Pokhari is a religious and historical spot in Ilam. The lake is considered the sacred abode of Goddess Bhagawati. This place becomes alive every year during ‘Harisayam Ekadashi’ when a one-night fair is held. On the way to Mai Pokhari are the villages of Chureghanti, Bakhaute, Dharapani and Hasbire Bhanjyang, which offer commanding views of the snowy peaks towards north. Different species of medicinal plants, herds and orchids are found in the Mai Pokhari area. Rare animals like the musk deer, leopard, porcupine, jackal as well as numerous migratory birds and rare insects are also found in the area. Pashupatinagar, situated at northern border 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. In the same way, Kanyam, on the way to Ilam Bazaar, has large tea estate that has made Ilam famous for more than a hundred years. Kanyam tea garden is popular among tourists for picnicking, sightseeing, and photography.
