Jhapa & Ilam

Jhapa

And

Ilam

The eastern Terai, tea plantation area and check point

Jhapa:

Jhapa is one of the seventy-five districts of Nepal. The district, with Chandragadhi as its district headquarters, covers an area of 1,606 km² and has a population (2001) of 688,109.

Jhapa is the easternmost districts of Nepal and lies in the fertile Terai plains. It borders Ilam district in the north, Morang district in the west, the Indian state of Bihar in the south and east, and the Indian state of West Bengal in the east.

Home to many indigenous ethnic people such as the Rajbanshi, Satar ,Meche, Koche, Limbu, Dhimal,and Gangain . Other ethnic groups such as Rai, Dhangad, Tamang, Uraon, Magar, Gurung and many others came to Jhapa in the late 19th century, so did the Hill/mountain castes Bahun, Chhettri, and Newar.

Jhapa is diverse and rich in culture and traditions due to the influences of its different tribes. All the tribes/ethnic groups have their own languages, customs and traditions, and they celebrate their festivals every year.

Receives 250 to 300 cm of rainfall a year, and mostly during the monsoon season in the summer, and its hilly northern area receives more rainfall than the south. Its major rivers are Mechi, Kankai Mai, Ratuwa, Biring, Deuniya,(Aduwa), (Bhuteni)(Dhangri), Hadiya, and Ninda,Krishne Khola, Gauriya and Ramchandre, provide water for irrigation. Due to its alluvial soil best suited for agriculture, Jhapa has been the largest producer of rice and is therefore known as the Grain Grocery of Nepal. Besides cereal crops like rice and wheat, it is also one of the largest producers of jute, tea, betel nut, rubber and other cash crops.

Vast areas of forests, Deonia, Charali, Charkose Jhaadi, Hadiya, Sukhani, Jalthal, and others. Its name itself is derived from the Rajbanshi word "jhapa" meaning "canopy", which suggests that the area was a dense forest in the past. It was once such a dense and dangerous forest that it was called Kaalapaani and prisoners were sent here to die of malaria and other diseases in the jungle

Several religious and historical sites of great importance like Kankai Mai, Kichakbadh, Satasidham, Arjundhara, Chillagadh, Biratpokhar, and Krishnathumki among others. It is believed that Pandu's son Bhim had killed Kichak in Kichakbadh (near Kechana in the south border) in the time of the Mahabharata and a great festival is observed on that day every year. There is also the historical fort of Chandragadh which gave its name to Chandragadhi. Other sites too have their own religious and historical values. It is also the gateway to Darjeeling and Sikkim and the rest of north-east India from Nepal.

Places to stay;

Many hotels and restaurant do not provide or have their details in the Internet how ever there are plenty of cheap to expensive accommodations and restaurants and bars in the town, shouldn’t be any problem to eat and sleep comfortably. We will be listing hotels name in our website to help you but for the time being please ask any rickshaw man in the area to take you to your preferred types of hotel.

Ilam district is a part of Mechi Zone, is one of the seventy-five districts of Nepal. The district, with Ilam as its district headquarters, covers an area of 1,703km² and has a population of 282,806 (2001 census). It is situated at a distance of about 600 km from Kathmandu. The highest point is Sandakpur with lies on an elevation of 3000m. Ilam also attracts many researchers who come here to research on rare birds and the Red Panda. Ilam stretches from Terai belt to the upper hilly belt of this Himalayan nation.

The name Ilam is derived from a Limbu language meaning "Ii" means Twisted and "Lam" means Road. Ilam was one of the ten self ruling states of Limbuwan before the unification of Nepal, its ruler King Hangshu Phuba Lingdom of Lingdom dynasty was ruling Ilam as a confederate state of Limbuwan until 1813 AD. The treaty between other Limbuwan states with the King of Gorkha (Gorkha-Limbuwan Treaty of 1774 AD) and the conflict of Gorkha and Sikkim led to the unification of Ilam with Gorkha. Ilam was the last of ten Kingdoms of Limbuwan to join the union of Nepal. King of Gorkha gave ruler of Ilam a full autonomy to rule and the right of Kipat. Ilam was independent Limbu Kingdom until 1813 CE/1869 BS.

Ilam is a today one of the most developed places in Nepal. Its tea ‘ILAM TEA’ is very famous and exported to many parts of Europe. The main source of income in this district is tea, cardamom, milk, ginger and potato.

This place also has a religious importance. The Devi temples has a great importance attached with it and lots of people come here just for pilgrimage.

The major attraction of Ilam is the 9-cornered Mai Pokhari lake. Also Known as the abode of the goddess lots of tourists as well as Nepalese people come to visit this lake. Mai river and its four tributaries also emerge in Ilam district. The famous Mane Bhanjyang ( Mane pass ) connects Ilam with Darjeeling district of West Bengal India.

Ilam