Ilam's Maipokhari Attracts Tourists with Religious Significance and Biodiversity

Ilam. Green forests all around, peaceful environment. In the middle, a large 'Maipokhari' with nine corners. The pond is so big that one corner cannot be seen from another.

Maipokhari, located at the confluence of Sandakpur Rural Municipality-1 and 3 in Ilam, has been attracting visitors in recent times. Anyone who reaches here takes a mandatory photo and makes a video along with observation. In recent times, there has been a crowd of people coming here to take pictures, make videos, and perform puja.

Located at an altitude of two thousand one hundred meters above sea level, Maipokhari is an attractive religious tourist area in the eastern hills. Maipokhari's 1.8-hectare reservoir and 12-hectare wetland are considered very sensitive.

There is a religious belief that wishes are fulfilled by performing puja at Maipokhari. Maipokhari, where the practice of animal sacrifice is prohibited, has been worshipped as a living goddess. There is a tradition of making vows and releasing pigeons here with the wish that their desires be fulfilled.

There is a legend that at the end of the Dvapara Yuga, the five Pandavas, while living in exile, came to Maipokhari in Ilam via Barahachhetra in Sunsari and Arjundhara in Jhapa and returned. Maipokhari is considered a place of faith for Hindus, Buddhists, and Kirats.

The attraction towards Maipokhari is equally strong among domestic as well as foreign tourists in recent times. Its promotion is making Sandakpur Rural Municipality, full of tourist potential, even more popular. Maipokhari can be reached from Ilam headquarters by traveling north via Biblyante Bazaar for 13 kilometers, half of which is blacktopped and half is unpaved.

Local Lila Bhattarai said that tourists from various parts of India and other foreign countries, including Nepal, come here. "Hundreds of tourists come to visit Maipokhari daily," she said, "The number of tourists visiting Maipokhari is increasing due to the ease of transportation." Maipokhari has become a favorite destination for young people as it can be easily reached by four-wheeled and two-wheeled vehicles.

With the hustle and bustle of tourists, hotels are also expanding to target tourists coming to Maipokhari. Local people are earning a good income by operating hotels and homestays, said Nimtenji Sherpa, a hotel operator from Sandakpur Rural Municipality-3.

"Young people come and go in groups every day to visit Maipokhari," Sherpa said, "If it is promoted further, Sandakpur residents can benefit greatly." Maipokhari was included in the Ramsar Convention's list of world heritage sites at the tenth meeting of the Ramsar Convention held in Changwon, South Korea on October 28, 2008.

Annual Multireligious Festival for Promotion

A 'Maipokhari Multireligious Festival' is organized annually for the promotion of Maipokhari. Sandakpur Rural Municipality organizes a two-day multireligious festival every year on the occasion of Haribodhini Ekadashi.

The festival is organized with the objective of developing Maipokhari as a religious tourist center and promoting it as a multireligious pilgrimage site, said Rural Municipality Chairman Tularam Gurung. The Rural Municipality has been organizing the multireligious festival annually since 2080 BS.

"Sandakpur Rural Municipality wants to develop Maipokhari as a major tourist destination," said Chairman Gurung, "We have been organizing the multireligious festival here for the past three years, and we believe that further promotion will contribute to the development and prosperity of Sandakpur."

The Rural Municipality has stated that it is preparing to further manage Maipokhari and make it a center of tourist attraction. Rural Municipality Vice-Chairman Haribahadur Lungeli said that the municipality will always provide support for the promotion of Maipokhari.

Important from the Perspective of Biodiversity

Maipokhari is considered important not only from a religious perspective but also from the perspective of biodiversity. This area has four species of rhododendrons, three species of Champa, 16 species of orchids, 62 species of herbs, and 300 species of flowers, as well as plants like Galainche Jhyau, moss, and lichen found only in Nepal.

Similarly, 12 species of aquatic animals, six species of amphibians, three species of fish, 14 species of mammals, and more than 200 species of birds are found here.

Tourists visit Maipokhari for religious faith, to observe natural beauty and heritage, and for environmental study and research. Those who visit Maipokhari can observe Satyadhuni, Pathshala, Shivalaya, Yagyakunda, Sadhukuti, Buddhist Monastery, Tinchulo, Yumathan, etc. in the Maipokhari complex along with the darshan of Maipokhari.