The tea rows
Green lines on the hills.
Hari gurung77 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Hari gurung77 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Hari gurung77 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Hari gurung77 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Hari gurung77 — CC BY-SA 4.0
The Tea Garden at Ilam is a series of green terraced slopes near the centre of this hill town in far eastern Nepal, closely tied to the earliest tea growing in the country. Clipped bushes cover the hills in neat lines, so visitors find it calm and uncrowded, and Nepalis often come here for outings and photographs. Most sources say planting began in 1863, when the governor of Ilam, Gajraj Singh Thapa, planted saplings given by China to Jung Bahadur Rana. Another source gives 1878 for the founding of the estate. Press reports say this historic estate has shrunk as the town has grown, but it remains a symbol of Nepali tea. You walk on narrow paths between green rows of tea, with pine trees, small houses and a winding road nearby. The scene changes quickly with mist and cloud, so the slopes look bright one moment and grey the next. The light is finest in the afternoon and towards sunset. The estate lies at about 1,300 m, so the air stays mild. The garden is near the town centre. Ilam is about 3 hours from Bhadrapur airport on a road of about 95 km, and guides give 4 to 6 hours from Biratnagar. Do not pick the leaves, keep to the paths and ask before photographing tea pickers. It combines well with the nearby Kanyam area.
Green lines on the hills.
A view that changes fast.
A walk among the bushes.
Near the centre of Ilam city, eastern Nepal
Most sources say planting began here in 1863, while others give a later date.
Fly to Bhadrapur, then drive for about 3 hours to Ilam on a road of about 95 km.