Tourism peaking up in Ilam

ILAM, Nov 1: Activities of tourists has begun in various tourism sites of Ilam district, recently.



Internal and external tourists have started to throng Ilam for viewing the sunrise and sunset from here.[break]



People of Sriantu, Sandakpur, Siddithumka, Gufathumki and Thumkedanda are seen busy informing the tourists about the destinations.



Sunrise could be nicely seen from Sunday from the hills here, they said. This year the season has just started a bit later than past years.



Sunrise can be seen nicely from Thumkedanda (hill) in the border between Jogmai and Pyang from mid-December to mid-January. Antu Danda Tourism Development Center’s Chairman Dhankumar Ale said people from Jhapa, Biratnagar, Dharan and Kathmandu of Nepal and from bordering Indian towns have started to come to see the sunrise here.



Houses here are now packed. Five to seven tourists are staying in each house every day.



People have started to come to Siddi Thumka as well even if the weather is not wholly cleared up, said a local Yubaraj Ghorsai.



As Antu is near India in Samalbung VDC, people from India come here, but in Sandakpur, tourists also come from the third countries.



Sandakpur is the highest peak in Ilam at an altitude of 3,636 meters. Siddithumka in the middle of the district is at 1,693 metres and is mostly visited by people inside the district and Jhapa.



Hotels are also being packed from Manebhanjyang to Sandakpur, said a Sandakpur hotelier Norbu Sherpa. The tourists are also living by putting up tents.



People are also thronging to Kanyam to see the tea gardens and to avoid the Terai heat.

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