VISIT NEPAL 2011 Basantapur(2,200 m) is set up in an enchanting surrounding of
mountains, lakes and greenery. Offering excellent respite from city
life, the diverse landscape includes terraced fields as well as the
Terai plains covered with the different types of vegetation. The mixed
pastures, hills of colorful Rhododendron and jasmines, beautiful
sunrise and sunset, friendly people and a rich Limbu culture offer
additional appeal. Basantapur also hosts trekkers on the way to
Taplejung and Mt. Kanchenjunga .
The weather here is cool and temperate throughout the year, making
Basantapur ideal to visit anytime. The best times to visit are autumn
and spring, between October-December or from February-April. Summers
are pleasant with temperatures ranging from 10 to 20 degree Celcius.
Places of Interest
Tinjure Dada From Tin Jure(3,660m) edge one can see magnificent views of sunrise and
sunset,, and majestic view of the mountains. Thirty four varieties of
Rhododendron are found here. Tin Jure Danda is about half-hour away
from Basantapur Bazaar.
Tinjure Milke Jaljale Trail, also known as the Rhododendron Trail,
spreads across Taplejung, Terathum and Sankhuwasabha districts. Hile,
north of Dharan, is good place to start out. Alternately, you can start
from Phidim at the end of a newly completed dry season dirt road that
traverses Ilam's young tea estates.
Heading northeast out of Hile, the trail climbs gradually through
settlements of recent migrants from the northern Olangchung region,
trans-Himalayan yak drivers who live for months on tsampa (roasted
barely flour), dried yak meat, and cheese. Gupha Pokhari is a serene
lake set on a ridge looking east at the Kanchenjunga massif and west at
Makalu and the Khumbu Himal. From here, a shorter trek follows the
Milke Danda ridge due north, climbing to 4'700m into the Jaljale Himal,
a remote area spotted with lakes and inhabited by mountain people from
Tibet. You can then descend east to the Mewa stream and continue to
Taplejung's airfield and further to the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area.
Milke Danda On the way to Taplejung is another popular Rhododendron forest known by
the name of Milke Danda (2,905). Milke Danda provides a closer view of
the Kanchenjunga and Kumbhakarna mountains and offers beautiful sunrise
and sunset surprises when weather is clear. It is on the trekking trail
between Taplejung and Basantapur Bazaar.
Pattek Danda Pattek Danda (2,500m) is equally beautiful for sunrise, sunset and also
offers a wide view of the Himalayas including Mt. Everest and Mt.
Kanchenjunga . Pattek Danda is ideal for short treks and is also a good
area for picnics. There is a popular Goddess Kali temple, 2-hour walk
from Basantapur Bazaar. Pattek Danda, about 3 km from Basantapur can
alo be reached via Chitre that is 15-minute drive away. From here
Pattek Danda is a 30-minute trek.
Gupha Pokhari Gupha Pokhari us a natural pond that lies on the trekking trail to
Taplejung from Basantapur. Picturesque views of mountains, sunrise and
sunset can be seen from here. This pond has religious significance and
is also a good resting place for Taplejung trekkers.
Margh Pokhari Margh Pokhari (2,600m) is another natural pond on the lap of the hills.
The pond holds religious value and has scenic beauty. The pond has
contributed to keep the surroundings green. The Margh Pokhari watershed
area has a dense forest that habitats popular species of Rhododendron
and precious plants. Margh Pokhari is on the way to Basantapur from
Sindhuwa, which is 5 km from Basantapur.
Panchakanya Pokhari Panchakanya Pokhari is another popular tourist site. Also known a
Chhathar Pokhari, Panchakanya Pokhari is approximately 2-hour walk
further down from Sukrabare Bazaar. Among the many ponds here, the
largest pond in the area is Panchakanya.
Sukrabare Bazaar A fair known as Sukrabare Bazaar (Sukrabar is Friday in Nepali) is held
every Friday in Hammarjung VDC, showcasing the mixed culture of
settlements. Majority of the inhabitants here are Limbu. Thus, it is an
ideal place and time to experience the rich Limbu culture. The village
popular for homespun cloth called Khadi (cotton). The village can be
reached via Sindhuwa Bazaar, another popular area of Basantapu