Ilam is one of Ilam District's four urban municipalities, situated in the Mahabharata hilly region of Province No. 1 in eastern Nepal. Ilam also serves as the headquarters for the Ilam District.
Its tea farms are a significant tourist attraction in Province No. 1 since it is the largest producer area for Nepali tea. Ilam is also known for its beautiful natural scenery and landmarks and its varied agricultural economy, which focuses on the production of horticultural crops.
What does Ilam mean?
The term 'Ilam' is made up of two words: 'I' and 'Lam.' In Limbu, the word "I" means "winding," and "lam" signifies "track." The topography of this Ilam portrays many crisscrossing twisting roads.
Demography and Area of Ilam
As per Nepal's census of 2011, the total population was 19,427, and the major residents of Ilam included people belonging to ethnic groups of Limbu, Rai, Yakkha, Newar, Lepcha, Tamang, Magar, Brahmin, Chettri, Gurung and Sunuwar.
Beautiful Kanyam valley of Illam
According to the 2011 Nepal census, the municipality spans 173.32 square kilometers (66.92 square miles) and has a population of 48,536 people. There are 12 wards in the township.
The 74-kilometre Mechi highway segment links Ilam to the east-west highway and then to Biratnagar, the provincial capital.
Background of Ilam
Ilam was established in 1818 (1875 BS) as the headquarters of Ilam Gauda and was proclaimed as "Ilam Municipality" in 1958 but only gazetted as "Nepal Rajpatra" in 1962.
Ilam Nagar Panchayat was the municipality's name during Nepal's Panchayat Scheme (which started in 1960).
Ilam reclaimed its official title of Ilam Municipality in 1990, after the demise of the Panchayat System. The township covered a total area of 30.91 square kilometres (11.93 square miles), was split into nine wards, and had a population of 34,648 people in 2007.
Later in 2015, Godak, Barbote, Soyak, of Maipokhari Sumbek, Sakhejung Village Development, Puwamajhuwa of Sangrumba and part of Siddhithumka were incorporated into Ilam district after the amendment of the new Constitution of Nepal.
Transportation Services Available in Ilam
Ilam Bazaar is 700 kilometres (430 miles) east of Kathmandu. Daily buses travel from Kathmandu's New Buspark, Koteshwor, and Kalanki to Ilam, and the trip takes about 16 hours. At Sukilumba Danda, an airport is being constructed.
Ilam is connected to Taplejung, Phidim, Pashupatinagar, Chandragadhi, Birtamod, Kakarbhitta, Damak, Siliguri (West Bengal), Biratnagar, Itahari, and Dharan by bus/bolero every day. At Sera, a new bus park is being built. Aside from that, Bus/Bolero service is available to all VDCs in the Ilam district.
Tea Production in Ilam
Tea cultivation in Ilam (also known as Nepal tea) began in 1863 when the Chinese government sent tea saplings to then-Prime Minister Jung Bahadur Rana, who cultivated them in Ilam.
Picking up the tea leaf
The Ilam tea factory was established in 1868, and tea plantations spanned over 135 acres. The tea factory was privatized in 2010 and is no longer in operation. Ilam, on the other hand, continues to manufacture tea in different ways. This offers jobs to a significant number of people in the city.
In 2010, Nepal's overall tea production was 16.23 million kilograms per year, with Ilam supplying its bulk. The herbal tea transports the international nation as well.
Economy of Ilam District
In Ilam, new hotels are being built to cater to visitors. Ilam is best known for its six "A"s, which are:
- Alu (potato)
- Alainchi (cardamom)
- Alan (milk)
- Akabare Khursani (round chillies)
- Amliso (broom grass)
- Aduwa (ginger)
Tea, flowers, bamboo, and silk are also a significant part of the people's economy in Ilam. Agricultural commodities contribute to the growth of the agricultural GDP. Aside from these, the tourism industry plays a role in Ilam's economy.
Every week on Sundays and Thursdays, Ilam Bazaar hosts a haat.
Climate Experienced in Ilam
Ilam is cool in the winter, humid in the summer, and foggy during the monsoon season.
Environmentalism in Ilam
The municipality of Ilam is also known for its sustainability developments. The municipality was the first in Nepal to remove plastic bags from the market in 2010, and this has been a big success all over Nepal.
In the same year, the district set aside 38 ropanis (over 19,000 square meters) of land to recycle biodegradable waste.
Furthermore, Ilam's micro hydropower network provides more consistent electricity than the rest of Nepal.