Eastern Nepal
Tea gardens, sacred caves and the trails to Kangchenjunga and Makalu.
28 placesIlam: Tea Gardens and Kanchenjunga Sunrises in Eastern Nepal
Ilam in eastern Nepal: rolling tea gardens, Kanyam, Antu Danda sunrise views of Kanchenjunga, Mai Pokhari lake, and how to get there via Bhadrapur.
Explore 02Pathibhara Temple: A High Pilgrimage in Taplejung
Pathibhara Devi Temple (about 3,794 m) in Taplejung, eastern Nepal: a sacred pilgrimage for Hindus and Kirat people, the hike, views of Kanchenjunga and how to get there.
Explore 03Halesi Mahadev: A Sacred Cave for Hindus, Buddhists and Kirat
Halesi Mahadev in Khotang, eastern Nepal: a sacred cave worshipped by Hindus as Shiva's refuge, by Buddhists as Maratika cave of Guru Rinpoche, and by the Kirat people. P...
Explore 04Koshi Tappu: Nepal's Wetland Paradise for Birds
Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve in eastern Nepal: a Ramsar wetland on the Sapta Koshi river famous for migratory birds and Nepal's last wild water buffalo (arna). Best time,...
Explore 05Kanchenjunga Base Camp: Remote Trekking beneath the Third-Highest Peak
Kanchenjunga Base Camp in far-eastern Nepal: Pangpema (north base camp) and Oktang (south), views of Kanchenjunga (8,586 m), restricted area permits (solo allowed since 2...
Explore 06Makalu Base Camp: Wild Valleys beneath the Fifth-Highest Peak
Makalu Base Camp (about 4,870 m) in Makalu Barun National Park: views of Makalu (8,485 m), the Barun valley, Shipton La, how to get there from Tumlingtar and when to go.
Explore 07Sandakpur: Four of the Five Highest Peaks from One Viewpoint
Sandakpur, at about 3,636 m on the Nepal–India border in Ilam, offers views of four of the world's five highest mountains: Everest, Kangchenjunga, Lhotse and Makalu.
Explore 08Antu Danda: Sunrise over Kangchenjunga in Ilam
Antu Danda, a hilltop at about 2,328 m in Ilam, is famous for sunrise views over Kangchenjunga and the plains, and is an easy trip from Ilam's tea gardens.
Explore 09Tinjure–Milke–Jaljale: Nepal's Rhododendron Capital
The Tinjure–Milke–Jaljale ridge in Tehrathum, Sankhuwasabha and Taplejung is known as Nepal's rhododendron capital, with huge forests that bloom in spring and views of Ka...
Explore 10Bhedetar: Hill Station above Dharan
Bhedetar, a hill station at about 1,420 m above Dharan, with views over the Terai plains and Koshi River, a viewpoint tower and resorts; an easy trip from Dharan or Birat...
Explore 11Kanyam: Rolling Tea Gardens of Ilam
Kanyam, on the Mechi Highway in Ilam, is famous for rolling green tea gardens, misty hills and picnic spots, and is the easiest place to see Ilam's tea country.
Explore 12Mai Pokhari: Sacred Lake of Ilam
Mai Pokhari, a sacred lake at about 2,100 m in Ilam with nine corners, surrounded by forest and listed as a Ramsar wetland, visited by pilgrims and birdwatchers.
Explore 13Hile and Dhankuta: Tongba and Hill Bazaars of East Nepal
Hile (about 1,850 m) and Dhankuta, hill bazaars on the Koshi Highway north of Dharan, known for tongba millet beer, Tibetan and Limbu culture, and views towards Makalu an...
Explore 14Makalu Barun National Park: From Tropical Forest to 8,485 m
Makalu Barun National Park, established in 1992 in eastern Nepal, rises from about 435 m to the summit of Makalu (8,485 m), protecting the wild Barun valley, red pandas a...
Explore 15Barahakshetra: Pilgrimage Site on the Koshi River
Barahakshetra, a major Hindu pilgrimage site where the Koshi leaves the hills in Sunsari, eastern Nepal, with a temple to Varaha, the boar incarnation of Vishnu, and a la...
Explore 16Tumlingtar: Gateway to Makalu
Tumlingtar, a town on a wide river terrace above the Arun in Sankhuwasabha, with an airstrip, is the gateway to Makalu Base Camp and the Arun valley.
Explore 17Chainpur: Brass and Copper Craft Town of Sankhuwasabha
Chainpur, an old hill bazaar in Sankhuwasabha above the Arun valley, known for Newar brass and copper craftsmanship and its stone-paved streets.
Explore 18Ghunsa: Tibetan Village on the Kanchenjunga Trek
Ghunsa, a Tibetan-heritage village at about 3,595 m on the Kanchenjunga North Base Camp trek, with wooden houses, a monastery and an acclimatisation stop before Khambache...
Explore 19Bhojpur: Hill Town of Khukuri Makers
Bhojpur, a hill town in eastern Nepal known for hand-forged khukuri knives and metal crafts, with an old Newar bazaar and views of the eastern Himalaya.
Explore 20Phungling: Gateway to Kanchenjunga and Pathibhara
Phungling, the headquarters of Taplejung, with Suketar airstrip nearby, is the gateway to the Kanchenjunga treks and the pilgrimage to Pathibhara Devi.
Explore 21Dharan: City at the Foot of the Eastern Hills
Dharan, a lively city at the foot of the hills in Sunsari, eastern Nepal, with the Budhasubba and Dantakali temples and the road up to Bhedetar, Dhankuta and Hile.
Explore 22Kakarbhitta: Nepal's Eastern Border with India
Kakarbhitta, on the Mechi River in Jhapa, is Nepal's easternmost border crossing with India (Panitanki), the route to Siliguri, Darjeeling and Sikkim.
Explore 23Biratnagar: Eastern Nepal's Main City
Biratnagar, the capital of Koshi Province and one of Nepal's largest cities, is the air and road hub for eastern Nepal, near Koshi Tappu, Dharan and the eastern hills.
Explore 24Num: Road Head for the Makalu Trek
Num, a ridge village at about 1,560 m above the Arun River, is the road head for the Makalu Base Camp trek and the gateway to Makalu Barun National Park.
Explore 25Khambachen: High Pastures on the Kanchenjunga North Trek
Khambachen, a yak-herding settlement at about 4,050 m on the Kanchenjunga North trek, with views of Jannu (Kumbhakarna) and an acclimatisation stop before Lhonak.
Explore 26Lhonak: High Camp below Kanchenjunga North
Lhonak, a high summer settlement at about 4,780 m on the Kanchenjunga North trek, is the last stop before Pangpema, the north base camp.
Explore 27Tashigaon: Last Village on the Makalu Trek
Tashigaon, a Sherpa and Rai village at about 2,100 m, is the last permanent village on the Makalu Base Camp trek before the climb over Khongma Danda and the Shipton La.
Explore 28Shipton La: The Pass into the Barun Valley
Shipton La, a pass of about 4,200 m with nearby Keke La, leads from Khongma Danda into the Barun valley on the Makalu Base Camp trek, with views of Makalu, Chamlang and K...
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