Ilam district ( ne, इलाम जिल्ला) is one of 14 districts of

Province No. 1 Province No. 1 (proposed names: Kirat, Limbuwan, Khambuwan, Sagarmatha, Birat and Koshi) is the easternmost of the seven provinces established by the new constitution of Nepal which was adopted on 20 September 2015. The province covers an ...

of eastern

Nepal Nepal (; ne, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne, सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is ma ...

. It is a

Hill A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain. It often has a distinct summit. Terminology The distinction between a hill and a mountain is unclear and largely subjective, but a hill is universally considered to be not a ...

district A district is a type of administrative division that, in some countries, is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or counties, several municipalities, subdivision ...

and covers . The 2011 census counted 290,254 population. The municipality of Ilam is the district headquarters and is about from

Kathmandu , pushpin_map = Nepal Bagmati Province#Nepal#Asia , coordinates = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = , subdivision_type1 = Province , subdivision_name1 = Bagmati Prov ...

. Ilam attracts many researchers and scientists for the study of medicinal and aromatic plants, orchids, rare birds and the

red panda The red panda (''Ailurus fulgens''), also known as the lesser panda, is a small mammal native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China. It has dense reddish-brown fur with a black belly and legs, white-lined ears, a mostly white muzzle ...

. Ilam stretches from the

Terai , image =Terai nepal.jpg , image_size = , image_alt = , caption =Aerial view of Terai plains near Biratnagar, Nepal , map = , map_size = , map_alt = , map_caption = , biogeographic_realm = Indomalayan realm , global200 = Terai-Duar savanna a ...

belt to the upper hilly belt of this Himalayan nation.

Etymology

The name ''Ilam'' is derived from the limbu language in which "IL" means twisted and "Lam" means road. Ilam was one of the ten self ruling states of Limbuwan before the reunification of Nepal. Its ruler, King Hangshu Phuba Lingdom of Lingdom dynasty, ruled Ilam as a confederate state of Limbuwan until 1813 AD. The treaty between the other Limbuwan states and the King of Gorkha ( Gorkha-Limbuwan Treaty of 1774 AD), and the conflict of Gorkha and

Sikkim Sikkim (; ) is a state in Northeastern India. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China in the north and northeast, Bhutan in the east, Province No. 1 of Nepal in the west and West Bengal in the south. Sikkim is also close to the Sil ...

, led to the unification of Ilam with Gorkha. Ilam was the last of the ten kingdoms of Limbuwan to be reunified into Nepal. The King of Gorkha gave the ruler of Ilam full autonomy to rule and the right of Kipat. Ilam was an independent Limbu kingdom until 1813 CE/1869 BS.

Development and culture

Ilam is today one of the developing places in Nepal, even though the Western parts are still struggling with the basic facilities (road networks, drinking water, health, etc.). The migration rate is very low, compared to other districts, due to the adoption of farming by individual families. Ilam Tea, a very famous leaf tea, is one of the finest quality teas in the world and is exported to many parts of Europe, Australia and the USA. The main source of income in this district is commercial agriculture (especially cash crops) like tea, cardamom, ginger, potato, broom grass (Thysanolaena latifolia) production on a large scale and dairy and dairy related products like milk (Olan), cheese, Chhurpi (Traditional hard cheese) and lollipops (local sweets). Ilam is also considered to be an educational hub, where students from Ilam, Panchthar, Taplejung and Jhapa are plentiful. There are several institutions that offer secondary, higher secondary and university level programs. For a decade, there has been growing number of technical and vocational programs at secondary and university levels. Mahendra Ratna Multiple Campus, the oldest institution in Ilam, is one of the constituent campuses of Tribhuvan University. The first autonomous campus of Nepal, it is well known for its programs such as Agricultural Science, Education, Humanities and Commerce. The campus launched a Bachelor of Science program in Horticulture in 2012 (B.S. 2069), which has attracted students from all over the Nepal. Ilam is well known for its religious importance too. The Devi temples have a great importance attached to them and many people come here just for pilgrimage. The major attraction of Ilam is the nine-cornered Mai Pokhari lake. Also known as the Abode of the Goddess, many tourists as well as Nepalese people come to visit this place. This place is also one of the most famous places for flora and fauna, which attracts biologists. Similarly, Gajurmukhi is also a religious spot for pilgrimages from

and

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area, the List of countries and dependencies by population, second-most populous ...

. The Mai river and its four tributaries also emerge in the Ilam district. Sano Pathivara is another place that is famous for pilgramage. The famous Mane Bhanjyang (Mane pass) connects Ilam with the Darjeeling district of West Bengal, India. Ilam was in the news a great deal during the Maoist insurgency, as it was from there that Maoists launched frequent, massive attacks. Tourists going to Ilam can expect to pay around 7000 rupees a week for accommodation and food. People can get easy options for hotel and restaurant facilities of various levels.

Geography and climate

Demographics

Divisions

Ilam is divided into 4 urban and 6 rural municipalities.

Former Village Development Committees and Municipalities

* Amchok * Banjho *

Barbote Barbote was a town and Village Development Committee in Ilam District in the Province No. 1 of eastern Nepal. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census it had a population of 4,739 persons living in 876 individual households. It was superseded by ru ...

Chamaita ''Chamaita'' is a genus of moths in the subfamily Arctiinae. The genus was erected by Francis Walker in 1862. Species are distributed throughout India, Sri Lanka, and Borneo Borneo (; id, Kalimantan) is the third-largest island in the ...

(now deumai municipality) * Chisapani * Chulachuli * Danabari * Deumai Municipality * Dhuseni (now Deumai Municipality) * Ibhang *

Ektappa Ekatappa is a town and Village Development Committee in Ilam District in the Province No. 1 of eastern Nepal. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census it had a population of 4,320 persons living in 784 individual households. Education Ektappa VDC is ...

* Erautar * Gajurmukhi * Ghuseni *

Godak Godak is a town and Village Development Committee in Ilam District in the Province No. 1 of eastern Nepal. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census The 1991 Nepal census was a widespread national census conducted by the Nepal Central Bureau of St ...

Gorkhe Gorkhe is a town and Village Development Committee in Ilam District in the Province No. 1 of eastern Nepal. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census The 1991 Nepal census was a widespread national census conducted by the Nepal Central Bureau of St ...

* Jamuna *

Ilam Municipality Ilam ( ne, इलाम ) is one of four urban municipalities of Ilam District, which lies in the Mahabharata hilly range of Province No. 1, eastern Nepal. Ilam also acts as the headquarters of Ilam District. Being the largest producer region fo ...

Jirmale Jirmale is a town and Village Development Committee in Ilam District in the Province No. 1 of eastern Nepal. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census The 1991 Nepal census was a widespread national census conducted by the Nepal Central Bureau of S ...

* Jitpur *

Jogmai Jogmai is a village and Village Development Committee in Ilam District in the Province No. 1 of eastern Nepal. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census The 1991 Nepal census was a widespread national census conducted by the Nepal Central Bureau of ...

Kolbung Kolbung is a town and Village Development Committee in Ilam District in the Province No. 1 of eastern Nepal. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census The 1991 Nepal census was a widespread national census conducted by the Nepal Central Bureau of S ...

Lakshmipur Lakshmipur ( bn, লক্ষ্মীপুর , Lokkhipur) is a city and headquarter of Lakshmipur District in the Chittagong Division Chittagong Division, officially known as Chattogram Division, is geographically the largest of the ei ...

* Lumde * Mabu * Mahamai * Maimajhuwa * Maipokhari *

Mangalbare Mangalbare is a town located in the Deumai municipality in Ilam District in the Province No. 1 of eastern Nepal. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census it had a population of 5,593 persons living in 1005 individual households. Now, Mangalbare and dh ...

(now Deumai Municipality) * Namsaling * Naya Bazar * Pashupatinagar *

Phakphok Phakphok is a town and Village Development Committee (VDC) in Ilam District in the Province No. 1 of eastern Nepal. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census it had a population of 4,233 persons living in 734 individual households. Phakphok VDC bord ...

* Phuyatappa * Puwamajhuwa * Pyang * Sakphara *

Sakhejung Sakhejung is a town and Village Development Committee( ''now ilam municipality word no. 01'') in Ilam District in the Province No. 1 of eastern Nepal. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census The 1991 Nepal census was a widespread national census c ...

* Samalbung *

Sangrumba Sangrumba साङरुम्बा is a town and Village Development Committee in Ilam District in the Province No. 1 of eastern Nepal. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census it had a population of 4,607 persons living in 839 individual household ...

Shanti Danda Shantidanda is a town and Village Development Committee in Ilam District in the Province No. 1 of eastern Nepal. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census The 1991 Nepal census was a widespread national census conducted by the Nepal Central Bureau ...

* Shantipur *

Siddhithumka Siddhithumka is a village and Village Development Committee in Ilam District in the Province No. 1 of eastern Nepal. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census The 1991 Nepal census was a widespread national census conducted by the Nepal Central Bur ...

Soyak Soyak is a town and Village Development Committee in Ilam District in the Province No. 1 of eastern Nepal. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census The 1991 Nepal census was a widespread national census conducted by the Nepal Central Bureau of Sta ...

* Soyang * Shree Antu * Sulubung * Sumbek * Suryodaya Municipality

References

External links

* {{Coord, 26, 54, N, 87, 56, E, type:adm2nd_region:NP_source:enwiki_dim:100000, display=title Districts of Province No. 1 Districts of Nepal established during Rana regime or before