Ilam
Ilam is a hill town 83 km north of the intersection at Birtamod on the East West Highway. Ilam is known for its tea gardens. Sacred sites include Mai Pokhari, where pilgrims take holy dips on Haribodhini Ekadasi on Oct/Nov. You can take car from www.carhirenepal.com with competitive rates.
Ilam is on the far eastern boarder of Nepal. It is well known for its rolling hills and valleys, covered with tea gardens. It is accessible by road and the journey from Kathmandu takes around 19 hrs by bus. Phone, fax, post office, internet services are available in the district center. The cheapest airstrip is Bhadrapur, around 4 and half hrs away by bus or jeep. It is also known as district of Sunrise. We have many rural locations in Nepal where we can place volunteers anywhere from one month to 5 months. Volunteers opportunities exist in: teaching conversational English in the local school; creating awareness about basic health issue; environmental issues, sanitation issues, building business skills and self-confidence. During this time volunteers will benefit from cross-cultural experiences through the home-stay program. Llam is a pleasant town that has some nice walks and tea plantation in the area. The area is similar to the area around Darjeeling Not many visitors come here. There are no mountains views in the area.
 
Tea Gardens and Factory
There are tea gardens all around Ilam. Tea picking takes place between April and November. The tea plantations were nationalized in the 1960s. The tea factory, just above the town, can be visited. The tea here is some of the finest in the world.
 
Where to Stay and Eat
The lowest priced places are near the bus stand. These places can be quite noisy. Mai Valley Guest House, near the bus stand, is a decent budget place. Tamu Guest House is away from the bus stand and is quiet. It has decent rooms for Rs 175. Danfe Guest House, a few minute walk from the bus stand in the middle of some tea plantations, has basic, clean rooms for Rs 150/250. It is a good value. To get here to go up the steps at the rear corner of the bus stand, turn right and then turn left at the T-intersection. Green View Guest House (21030) has big, clean, modern rooms with common bath for Rs 300 and Rs 400with bath. It has hot water and some rooms have balconies overlooking some tea gardens.
 
Travel from the Birtamod (4 hr), 12km away on the Mahendra Highway, it is a steep road to here that has excellent views. Buses depart between 7 am to 2 pm and costs Rs 95. If you know of information that is not listed here, or if you would like to help update our listings, please e-mail us at: www.carhirenepal.com
Antu Danda 

of Mt. Everest and Mt. Kanchenjunga that it commands. It is one of the best places for sunrise and sunset viewing. There is a motor able 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 
Situated at an altitude of 2438 meters, Mai Pokhari is a famous place of pilgrimage in Ilam district. Lying at about thirteen kilometers north of Ilam Bazaar, this beautiful place 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. This place becomes alive every year during 'Harisayam Ekadashi' when a one-night fair is held. This place is a famous picnic spot for nearby people Mai Pokhari can be reached in four hours from Ilam Bazaar in jeep. On the way are the villages of Chureghanti, Bakhaute, Dharapani and Hasbire Bhanjayang, which offer commanding views of the snowy peaks towards north.