Third Red Panda Festival to be Held in Ilam from Chaitra 20 to 23

The third Red Panda Festival will be held in Ilam from Chaitra 20 to 23. The festival is being organized with the objective of conserving the rare wildlife Red Panda and promoting tourism.

Speaking at a press meet in Kathmandu on Monday, the festival organizing committee coordinator Sanam Rai stated that the festival is being organized focusing on trail tourism based on the 'Red Panda Trail'. This approximately 40-kilometer long trail connects various tourist destinations from Maipokhari to Jaubari. On this route, one can study and observe various species of birds, wildlife, and biodiversity, including the Red Panda. The festival will be held at Kalpokhari in Sandakpur Rural Municipality-4.

According to the organizers, the main attractions of the festival will be the Red Panda trekking experience, jungle safari, and bird watching. Additionally, one can study 18 species of Rhododendron found here and observe the culture of indigenous communities. Coordinator Rai mentioned that one can observe Mount Everest, the world's highest peak, along with more than 60 mountain ranges and hundreds of bird species. The organizers aim to bring 10,000 domestic and international tourists to Sandakpur during the festival.

Dilkumar Limbu, the Chief Administrative Officer of Sandakpur Rural Municipality and an organizer, expressed confidence that this festival will contribute to the promotion of the municipality's major destinations. The first Red Panda Festival was held from Chaitra 27, 2080, to Baisakh 1, and the second from Chaitra 20 to 23, 2081. It has been stated that the objective is to revitalize Eastern Nepal's forest tourism through the Red Panda.

Ilam Bazaar is located 75 kilometers from Charkali in Jhapa, and after traveling 18 kilometers from there, one can reach the Ramsar area of Sandakpur Rural Municipality. Travel to the tourist destinations here can be undertaken with the support of the local tourism information center.