Tourism destination
Ilam’s tourism potential waiting to be discovered

BY BISHNU GAUTAM

Ilam, Mar. 22: At this time of the year, the people inhabiting this magnificent land of rolling green hills are busy in the enthralling tea and cardamom estates. They are unaware that Destination Nepal 2002 is barely nine months away.

"Destination Nepal 2002 does’nt have any promotional scheme for Ilam, and the locals are unware about the mega tourism extravaganza either," says academician Judda Prasad Vaidhya.

Vaidhya seems to be the lone crusader, who has dedicated himself to promote Ilam as a tourist centre. He is the co-author of the first-ever book on Lepchas entitled The Lepcha of Nepal that recently hit the market.

Destination Nepal 2002 is the government’s one more push to take tourism where it should go after a similar drive four years ago. But the irony is that the Visit Nepal Year ’98 failed to tap the tourism potentials of this bountiful district. Nevertheless, the number of domestic tourists is gradually increasing, says Rajendra Baral, a trained tourist guide who is now teaching English at the local campus. You can well guess the reason why?

The local people blame the government for the present state of tourism in Ilam, especially the officials designated to explore new destinations.

Not a single study has been made to explore the tourism potentials of this famous district for tea let alone the presence of other facilities and infrastructure essential for the development of tourism here, claims Vaidhya.

Ilam basically offers two things: panoramic green hills affording a grand view of the rising sun, with Siddhithumka giving extra view of sun set, and exquisite cultural heritage of the different tribal people.

Sri Antu, Sandakpur, Chhintapu and Siddhitumka are the famous hills of the district to observe sun-rise. Siddhithumka, a grand hill located to the west of Ilam Bazaar, is famous as a vantage point to see the setting sun.

Come every autumn, local people throng these hills in a great number. However, in the absence of facilities for accomodation and communication, these hills, except for Sandakpur, are yet to become popular among the visitors.

The hill of Sandakpur is becoming a major attraction for tourists coming to view the sun rise as well as icy peaks to the north — just because the Indian side offers facilities for transportation, communication and accomodation.

But Nepal is far from getting any dividend from the popularity of the hill, which is situated between Mabu and Maimjhuwa VDCs. Due to the lack of basic services, even the Nepalese visitors have to use Indian transportation facilities to reach Sandakpur, except for those who hike to the top from the Nepali side, and spend the night at the guest house in India.

"There are facilities of three guest houses, solar system and communication on the Indian side but in the Nepalese side there is nothing. The visitors have to spend the night at a dusty and old kuti (aut) of a saint," Vaidhya tells bitterly.

According to Vaidhya, India promoted Sandakpur as a tourist destination because it is the only hill in India from where Mt. Everest, the highest peak in world, can be seen.

"But we failed to understand the importance of the hill because Mt. Everest can be seen from so many hills of Nepal," Vaidhya says.

Gorkha Hill Council Tourism Department is working for the promotion of tourism right across the border, including the Indian side of the Sandakpur hill. The Council has launched round trip packages for tourists in India. Similarly, Singhalila National parks located in the border has also helped promote tourism in the Indian side. But on the Nepalese side there is no tourism related agency in existence.

"We do not have any tourism agency even in the district headquarters. Who will tell the guests about our Maipokhari or Siddhithumka?" questions Vaidhya.

Maipokhari is a holy pond located at the top of a hill, a three-hour walk from Ilam Bazaar.

There is no official record as to how many tourists visit Ilam every year.

Two years back, an organisation was opened to promote tourism in the district through the initiative taken by of Rajendra Baral. It is nowhere now.

"Since the Social Welfare Council refused to register the organisation, it disappeared," says Baral.

"Nothing has been done to develop the ideas and concepts of tourism among the locals in Ilam," say Vaidhya and Baral.

The unique cultural activities among the Ilam people is another potential source for the promotion of tourism in Ilam.

"Several Sirubaris can be created in Ilam if efforts are made in that direction," says Vaidhya.

Sirubari, a Gurung village in Syngja district has been developed as a model tourism village.

Lepchas, the endangered tribe living only in Ilam district can be an attraction to tourists. They live in different 16 VDCs of the district. But the locals say that nothing has been done to preserve and explore Lepcha culture and traditions.

Besides Lepcha, there is the Limbu community with their unique cultural tradition waiting to be discovered by the visitors.

"Following the experiences of Darjeeling, it is not difficult to develop Ilam as a tourist centre. Like in India, a Round Trip Programme can also be launched in Ilam. But the tourism development authorities are doing nothing in this direction," Vaidhya says in a tone of gloom.