Ilam Travel Guide

  TORKEY FALLS WITH RAINBOW ILAM NEPAL
by pratikcool
 
  • TORKEY FALLS WITH RAINBOW  ILAM NEPAL
      TORKEY FALLS WITH RAINBOW ILAM NEPAL
    by pratikcool
  • View From CHINTAPU NEPAL
      View From CHINTAPU NEPAL
    by pratikcool
  •   Hotels
    by pratikcool
  •   Hotels
    by pratikcool
  •   Hotels
    by pratikcool
 

Explore Ilam

Things to Do  

Ilam,Tapleyjung, Darjeeling, Sikkim and India

Ilam,Tapleyjung, Darjeeling, Sikkim and  India, Ilam

 pratikcool Says:  we make your trekking trip to illam highest hills Sandakpur and Chintapu ..we Also planning our advantageous Trek to Mt Kanchenjunga base Camp .Art of Tea making in Ilam .tea tourism.And many more . 

Socialize with the locals, Play Basketball, Hike

Socialize with the locals, Play Basketball, Hike, Ilam

 bikasgrunge Says:  I know things have changed a lot and for good in the last nine years, I used to go to Illam during the festival, I would end up going to a 4 1/2 hour Hike to Mai Pokhari, its a beautiful nine cornered lake, along the way, there are plenty of small liquor places ( bhatti, to... 

Tongba & Sukuti

Tongba & Sukuti, Ilam

 Rabbin Says:  I spend more than 25 years of my life in ilam as i it's my hometown. The best things in ilam is Furee Dai ko Tongba & Sukuti, I really miss it. I used to go to that Kanchanjanga Restaurant with my friends (Bombay, Chuke, Aslam Bhai, Pitre, Suke) i really miss you guys, and... 

History of ethnicity and settlement of Ilam

History of ethnicity and settlement of Ilam, Ilam

 Saagar Says:  Ilam was the district of Nepal - apart from Mustang - that remained independent, or rather unoccupied by the forces of Gorkha that formed Nepal into a single kingdom toward the end of the 18th century.The dominant political and economic group at that time was the Limbu... 

Mai Beni river confluence

Mai Beni river confluence, Ilam

 Saagar Says:  Mai Beni site is where the rivers Maikhola and Jog Maikhola meet, and it is a major site of pilgrimage, with thousands of pilgrims and devotees converging here once a year. In fequent use, the temple and site is worth a visit most days with local religious activities going... 

Maipokhari lake

Maipokhari lake, Ilam

 Saagar Says:  Maipokhari is a small star-shaped lake (1.6 hectar) located in Sulubung VDC, 11 km from Ilam Bazaar and at 7200 ft altitude. This is a beautiful spot surrounded by very nice forests protected by religious belief and a smallish temple complex. The Maipokhari Lake has... 

Sandakpur viewpoint

Sandakpur viewpoint, Ilam

 Saagar Says:  Sandakpur lies at the northern edge of Ilam District, and is Illam's highest point at 3636 meters. Sandakpur provides a fantastic view of the eastern Himalayas from Bhutan to Everest. But the main view of Kanchenjuga is what takes your breath away.Sandakpur straddles the... 

Kanyam tea

Kanyam tea, Ilam

 Saagar Says:  The best teas in Nepal come from the Kanyam area. Most of the tea fields here are owned by the Kanyam Tea Estate, on private lease from the government.The tea fields are a popular picninc spot, scenic as it is. You are able to look into India toward Darjeeling.... 

Ilam tea

Ilam tea, Ilam

 Saagar Says:  Ilam District (along with Jhapa and a few other eastern Nepal places) is a major tea producer. The tea quality here is just as good as Darjeeling's across the border to India. In fact, much tea is carried across the border and added to Darjeeling's production of "Darjeeling... 

Cardamom fields

Cardamom fields, Ilam

 Saagar Says:  The darker side of Ilam? Perhaps not, but in the shadowy, soggy side valleys and foggy slopes of Ilam's huge hills the cardamom is a major cash crop. Under tree cover normally, you will find huge amount of these leaves (photo). Underneath are knobbly scaly roots, that are... 

Hotels  

Hotel Shikhar: The Best Hotel in Fikkal, Ilam

Hotel Shikhar: The Best Hotel in Fikkal, Ilam, Ilam

 pratikcool Says:  The only hotel in Fikkal, Ilam, however, this is the place to stay if you are anywhere in Ilam, Nepal. Great services and facilities along with home cooked meals, something out of the ordinary for the location. Highly recommended! Great Hosts! Great views of the tea gardens... 

guesthouses: Past Green View...

guesthouses: Past Green View..., Ilam

 Saagar Says:  If you don't find space at Green View Hotel, you can proceed further along that side road (toward the college) where it is located, and you will find three more guest houses. They are said to be fine. In the middle of the tea fields, howling jackals at night... 

Green View Guest House: In Ilam Bazaar - the Green View!

Green View Guest House: In Ilam Bazaar - the Green View!, Ilam

 Saagar Says:  I spend two-three nights here twice every year. That doesn't make me a fan of this place, but, hey! - it's the best in Ilam!They have a restaurant on the third floor that serves average food. If you order your breakfast the evening before you're assumed a veteran of this... 

Shikar Hotel: Surviving overnight in Fikkal, Ilam District

Shikar Hotel: Surviving overnight in Fikkal, Ilam District, Ilam

 Saagar Says:  If you for some reason have to stay overnight in Fikkal, choose Shikar. Shikar is a decent place with good standard Nepali food and relatively sheltered (from the traffic) rooms. Like the momo-place here in Fikkal (see restaurant tip), Shikar is run by a Gurung family.Just... 

Restaurants  

"Muska" (Smile): The best momos in Nepal, and the cleanest kitchen!
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2.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

Saagar 2171 reviews
Muska momo restaurant

On the way to Ilam in East Nepal, you will pass through Fikkal 2/3rds of the way up from the Terai.
Fikkal has this great little place specializing in momos, called "Muska", advertised in Nepali Devanagari script. It is run by a gurung couple.
The place is located just at the intersection a tad down on the Pashupatinagar-India road.
It has the cleanest pots and pans and kitchen in all of Nepal, if not on this side of the moon.
They serve momos in a varity of ways, but mainly steamed veggie or meat momos with a spicy "momo-soup" made partly from broth. Very tasty, cheap, clean and a good place to break off the journey and settle your guts after the twisting road up from the Terai. They seem to be expanding into accomodation services, too, but for this I wouldn't recommend the place - too noisy here. Moreover, the police post across the street was just blown up by the Maoists. For Fikkal accomodation , see my tip on this.

Favorite Dish: Momos, of course!

Written Apr 21, 2004

Address: Fikkal, the crossroad with the Pashupatinagar road

Related to:
 Road Trip
 Budget Travel

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Warnings and Dangers  

Independent reporting banned by maoists in Ilam

Independent reporting banned by maoists in Ilam, Ilam

 Saagar Says:  Maoists have recently (July 05) banned sales, distribution and reporting of a local daily newspaper (Blast Times Daily) which was the only popular independent new press publication in this part of Nepal. Interestingly, also the military authorities have given Blast Times... 

Update on the Maoist control of Ilam

Update on the Maoist control of Ilam, Ilam

 Saagar Says:  Over the last year and a half maoists have by and large taken control of Ilam District outside the main roads and the two main bazaar areas and district headquarters. Every VDC has now a maoist secretary as the semi-functional control figure. However, the government forces... 

Update on the Maoist situation in East Nepal

Update on the Maoist situation in East Nepal, Ilam

 Saagar Says:  This info is taken from Nepali Times online version on NepalNews.com on 21 November 04."From Kathmandu to the eastern hills and down to the tarai, there are increasing indications that all is not well with the Maoists’ legendary control and unity.Factionalism, desertions and... 

Off The Beaten Path  

Tsunami in Maipokhari
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2 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

Saagar 2171 reviews

"Wave erupts in Maipokhari Lake

Two metre-high waves erupted in the sacred Maipokhari Lake in the eastern district of Ilam on Sunday creating fears among locals in the area. The locals have taken the incident in the sacred lake as a bad signal for the country.

Following the incident, hundreds of locals thronged around the sacred lake, and have begun offering pujas to avoid any possible bad incident in the country, radio reports said Monday morning.

Reports quoting 78-year-old Dambar Bahadur Shahi said that it was the first time ever that a series of wave erupted in the sacred lake. Moreover, according to reports, day-long mild waves were noticed in the lake on Sunday. nepalnews.com pd Dec 27 04"

Written Dec 28, 2004

Related to:
 Backpacking
 Eco-Tourism
 Religious Travel

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Favorites  

Tea Town
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bikasgrunge 4 reviews

Favorite thing: Illam is without doubt one of the beautiful places in nepal//////// yess the hotel and guest service is below the par in this place but the residents are so friendly and If u run out of place for a night or two...Juss run into some residential house,,,You will be fine,,,,,They will let you in...I lived in Illam for 15 years and its the coolest of people...
As far as greenview resturant is concerened....the Owner Bidur Sapkota is a friend of mine and Just tell him that You are a Friend of mine(BIkas Sapkota).....He will get some discounts for you......

destination anywhere....
bikasgrunge@gmail.com

Fondest memory: ropai jatra, Inter school football(soccer).....ummm.....maipokhari trip....kanyam tea estate.....Its my home town,.,,,, too many.....the best is the daily basketball game at the campus court,,,,

Written Nov 29, 2005

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Map of Ilam