This time I, along with my friend made a plan to visit the Eastern part of Nepal, and to be honest It was my first time there. I was excited about the trip as we started our trip on the night bus from Koteshwore.
As October is the festive season in Nepal we have holidays during this time of the month every year and we decided to explore Eastern Nepal i.e. Kanyam, Shree Antu, Fikkal bazaar, and Bhedetar.
Due to its diverse landscape, no wonder that Nepal never fails to mesmerize us with its beautiful and lush tea gardens, and plain rice fields on the way to Kanyam, Fikkal bazaar, Shree Antu and Bhedetar which left us speechless.
Highlights of Eastern Nepal
Kanyam
Kanyam lies in the Illam district. To get there, you can either take a morning hiace, choose night buses or hire a private vehicle from different transport service providers. You may also take a flight to Bhadrapur Airport. We’re awestruck by the picturesque view of the tea gardens of Kanyam. We felt a sense of serenity as we strolled around the tea gardens. We also discovered the famous iskus (Chayote – a type of vegetable) momo in Kanyam which is a must-try as we had not expected vegetable momo would be that tasty. Sipping a freshly brewed tea and viewing the lush tea garden adds another level of joy to your day.
Shree Antu
Shree Antu is also known for its lush tea gardens, panoramic landscape, picturesque villages and one can experience another level of tranquility there. Personally, Shree Antu is my favorite destination among the three being a nature lover and the friendly homestays and locals there. One can experience the breathtaking view of the sunrise from the Viewpoint. To get to the viewpoint we need to walk for around 20 to 30 minutes and as you reach the viewpoint you have to get a ticket to enter the viewpoint area. After you see the sunrise, you can try local foods there. We can find locals selling freshly brewed tea, bhakka (Fluffy rice cake famous in southeastern Nepal), and one can enjoy such local delicacies which adds joy to our trip.
Fikkal bazaar
Fikkal Bazar is located in the lush hills of eastern Nepal. It is a getaway to many places like Kanyam, Pashupatinagar (Nepal’s Eastern Border where we can enter Darjeeling district), and Shree Antu. The town welcomes you with charming little stores each selling churpi (hard cheese), a famous eastern sweets lollipop. One of the charms of Fikkal Bazar is the warm hospitality of its people. The homestays and guesthouses offer a family environment to the visitors. The meals are prepared with organic produce from the gardens and are straightforward but tasty. We’re grateful to experience such homely services there.
Bhedetar
Bhedetar lies in the hills of eastern Nepal. Mainly Rai and Limbu communities reside here. As we strolled through the market, we got a glimpse of people wearing traditional attire. The hospitality here is of top-notch as everything from food to accommodation service was outstanding. You’ll come across charming shops and stalls offering locally crafted goods and fresh produce, each providing a glimpse into the heart of rural life. We were surprised to see people selling and eating chatpatey in the morning hour as we usually do not take sour and pungent food early in the morning but as we saw the people here are very used to having chatpatey as their first meal of the day. One must not miss when you are in Bhedetar (Dharan) is Thukpa (Tibetan noodle soup) and sekuwa. So, we can say that Bhedetar is famous for food and the local culture.
Also read: Travel Enthusiasts