SATV June 26, Kathmandu: When people hear the word Ilam, they immediately think of tea. In recent years, Ilam and tea have become synonymous. For both local and foreign tourists visiting Ilam, tea is the main attraction.
The mesmerizing view of Kanyam tea garden that greets visitors at the border of Ilam captivates every visitor.
Picking tea leaves, taking photos and making videos, and playing hide-and-seek in the tea garden have become common activities. However, for the local governments in Ilam, the district known for its tea gardens, figuring out what more they can offer to tea-loving tourists remains a major challenge. The Ilam Municipality, home to the country’s oldest tea garden, has started considering how to preserve and protect this historic garden.
With the old tea garden deteriorating, the municipality has adopted a policy of planting new tea plants. From the upcoming fiscal year, the municipality plans to establish tea stations at various locations to serve free-of-cost tea to tourists, as stated in its policy and programme. Planted in 1920 B.S., Ilam’s tea garden is the oldest in the country and is of research value for scholars. The tea factory located in the middle of this garden, established in 1935 B.S., is said to be the country’s oldest agricultural factory.
The municipality has requested the central government to designate the garden as a research centre. “The government privatised it, but the garden is now in dilapidated condition. The old tea bushes have died. The private sector has not focused on its preservation,” said Mayor Kedar Thapa.
“Tea is Ilam’s jewel. It’s not just important for locals but also for visiting tourists. We are now working to make tea the central attraction for tourists,” he added.
Meanwhile, tea gardens in Suryodaya Municipality, referred to as the tea capital, attract domestic and international tourists round the year.
From ambassadors of various countries to foreign visitors on different missions, many enjoy the tea experience here.
“It’s the tea that mainly attracts tourists,” says Suryodaya Municipality Mayor Rana Bahadur Rai. “We offer tea picking and tasting experiences to foreign visitors. The tea tasting centre established in Kanyam with the support of the provincial government has helped bring in foreign buyers. We expect this will also help market Ilam-produced tea.”
However, despite the visible beauty, it is also important to inform tourists about the internal of tea, says Keshab Kumar Dhaurali, Executive Director of the Kechana–Kanchenjunga Tourism Promotion Committee. “Only when we can show tea planting, weeding, plucking, processing, and tasting, can we fully achieve tea tourism,” Dhaurali said. “Local governments have not been able to reach the grassroots. The state needs to invest there.” He also emphasised the need to secure tea gardens for tea tourism.
Despite the strong potential for tea tourism in the district, none of the concerned authorities have shown interest in it, said Devi Poudel, President of the Ilam Hotel Association.
“Taking tourists around tea gardens, arranging overnight stays, showing tea picking and processing, and preparing souvenirs for those returning from Ilam are actually not taking place,” Poudel said. “Just taking pictures in a tea garden does not constitute tea tourism. That’s a misunderstanding.” Poudel believes that small boxes made from local pinewood and bamboo could be used to pack tea as affordable souvenirs, which could also help increase farmers’ income.
Since researchers and scholars coming to study tea often spend long periods in tea-growing areas, both the government and private sector need to increase investment in tea, said Krishna Poudel, President of the Ilam Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
“The potential is strong. Even if one or two industries are encouraged to invest in the tourism sector, it could attract more tourists who want to spend time in the tea gardens,” he said, adding, “If private investors want to enter this field, we are ready to support them.”
