Eastern Nepal · Feasts, markets and the lunar calendar
Food and festivals in Eastern Nepal
Newar samay baji and yomari, Thakali dal bhat, Sherpa shyakpa, Tharu ghonghi, Mithila sweets, Ilam's tea and tongba in the eastern hills. And the festivals that bring them out: Dashain, Tihar, Indra Jatra, Bisket, Tiji and Chhath.
Trips
Eastern Nepalmax 1,850 mArun Valley and Chainpur Crafts
Seven nights from the Arun valley to the plains. Fly to Tumlingtar on its broad river terrace, spend two days with the …
Eastern Nepalmax 2,100 mEastern Hills Overland: Ilam to the Arun
Nine nights across the eastern hills by private car, from the tea gardens of Kanyam and Ilam to the Arun valley at …
Eastern Nepalmax 3,636 mIlam, Sandakpur and Kanyam
Five nights that climb from the tea gardens of Ilam to the Singalila ridge at Sandakpur, 3,636 m, where four of the …
Eastern Nepalmax 2,100 mIlam Tea Country
Four slow nights in the tea hills of Ilam, Nepal's oldest tea district. A night at Kanyam among clipped green slopes, then …
Eastern Nepalmax 1,850 mKirat Culture Trail: Bhedetar, Dhankuta, Hile
Four nights in the Kirat heartland of the eastern hills, where Rai and Limbu culture is part of daily life. Visit Budha …
Places
Eastern Nepal1,420 mBhedetar
The first ridge above the plains, with the Terai spread below
Eastern Nepal1,277 mChainpur
An old hill bazaar of brass jugs, bronze casters and khukuri smiths
Eastern Nepal1,192 mDhankuta
A tidy ridge town of oranges, tea and Athpahariya Rai villages
Eastern Nepal1,948 mHile
A misty ridge bazaar of tongba, tea and the road north
Eastern Nepal1,300 mIlam
Nepal's oldest tea hills, rolled green to the Indian border
Eastern Nepal518 mTumlingtar
A broad river terrace above the Arun, gateway to Makalu
Experiences
NatureSunset over the Terai from Bhedetar
An evening on the Bhedetar ridge to watch the sun go down over the plains of eastern Nepal, the Sapta …
FoodSekuwa evening on the ridge
Dinner at a roadside grill on the Bhedetar ridge: skewers of pork, chicken or goat marinated in spices and cooked …
SpiritualDantakali and Budhasubba temples below Bhedetar
A morning visit to two temples on the hills at the edge of Dharan, on the way up to Bhedetar: …
Rivers and lakesDown to the Tamor river at Mulghat
A drive from Bhedetar down the far side of the ridge to Mulghat, where the Koshi Highway crosses the Tamor …
CraftInside a Chainpur karuwa workshop
A morning with a metalworking family in Chainpur, watching how brass and bronze vessels, above all the karuwa water jug, …
HeritageOld bazaar walk on the Chainpur ridge
A slow walk through Chainpur's old trading bazaar with a local guide: shop-houses with wooden windows, small temples, workshops and …
CraftKhukuri forging with a local smith
A visit to a blacksmith's forge near Chainpur to see how khukuri, the curved Nepali knife, are forged, shaped, hardened …
FoodNewar food and yomari in Chainpur
A cooking session with a Newar family in Chainpur bazaar, making yomari dumplings and other Newar dishes, with stories of …