Birat Anupam

State 1, popularly referred to as east Nepal, has the biggest altitude difference in the whole of the world. Starting from Kechanakalan, the lowest point of Nepal with an altitude of 60 metres above sea level, to 8,848-metre high Mt. Everest, State 1 has dozens of beautiful hill stations for tourists to explore. Only few of them have been developed for tourists to stay overnight.
Hill stations in state 1 have been touristic magnets both for domestic and neighbouring tourists from India in summer. People flock to these hill stations to avoid the scorching heat. Over the last few years, people have started visiting the hill stations even for sunbathing during freezing cold of winter in the plains of Nepal and bordering Indian States of Bihar and West Bengal.
A brief description of three most alluring hill stations is given below.

Pattale Danda
Located at an altitude of 2,800 metres from sea level, Pattale Danda borders Solukhumbu and Okhaldhunga districts. Mostly spanned over ward number 8 and 10 of Solududhkunda Municipality of Solukhumbu, Pattele is a perfect natural view tower to peep tallest peaks of the planet. In crystal clear skies, Mt. Everest, Mt. Nuptse, Mt. Numbur, Mera Peak, Mt. Thamserku, Mt. Pumori and other adjoining peaks are seen in close distance. People travelling to Salleri, the district headquarters of Solukhumbu, and other parts of the districts by road, stop by this beautiful place for some amazing transit clicks. Covered with scenic rhododendron forest, Pattale Danda has stunning breathing culture of Tamang, Rai and Sherpa communities. Pattale Danda is a sort of an all-weather destination for travellers. In summer, travellers frequent this heavenly place for chilling winds, clear Himalayan views and picnics. During winter, people gathering here for playing in the snow. With both facilities of tourist standard hotels and cultural homestays run by local indigenous communities, Pattale Danda can be reached in a one and a half hours’ drive from Phaplu Airport of Solukhumbu. For travelling by road, the place is around 150 kilometres away from the district headquarters of Okhaldhunga.

Bhedetar
Standing as a beautiful hill station bordering mid-hills and southern plains of State 1, Bhedetar lies in Sangurigadhi Rural Municipality-6 of Dhankuta and Dharan Sub Metropolitan City- 4 of Sunsari. Bhedetar’s elevation starts from 1,420 to 1,705 metres above sea level. This is a most popular hill station for people of mega cities of State 1 such as Dharan, Itahari and Biratnagar. In the last half decade, Bhedetar has attracted Indians from bordering States of Bihar and West Bengal. Surrounding by other touristic attractions like Pathibhara temple, CNN-recommended Namje village, Sangurigadhi fort, Namaste falls, Dwaje Danda, Rajarani lake and Bishranti temple as well as two view towers named Okhre and Charl’s Point, Bhedetar is a year-round tourist destination for its beautiful volatile weather. Located 16 kilometres away from Dharan, Bhedetar is the prime gateway to various hilly districts like Dhankuta, Terhathum, Sankhuwasabha, Bhojpur and Taplejung. According to tourism entrepreneurs of this hill station, it can accommodate around 1,000 guests per night in its 65+ hotels and 25 homestays. Since Bhedetar mostly spans over the State government-declared touristic rural municipality, investments from the governmental and private sector have been on the rise.

Kanyam
Located at Suryodaya Rural Municipality of Ilam district, Kanyam is famous for picnickers, horseback riders and travellers both from southern plains of Jhapa and bordering Indian State of West Bengal. Kanyam is the green-carpeted hill with old tea gardens spanning around 200 hectares of area. It lies close to Darjeeling, known as the ‘queen of hills’ in India. Lying against the backdrop of magical mountains, including Kanchenjunga, make Kanyam an attractive hill station in the far-eastern district of Nepal. Located at an altitude of 1,828 metres above sea level, Kanyam is a magnetic place along the Mechi Highway that bridges southern plains and northern hills of Mechi corridor. It is some 44 kilometres east of Ilam district headquarters. One can reach there in a two-hour drive from Birtamod. Kanyam has sizeable tourist-class accommodation facilities in its nearby city called Fikkal and around. Besides being a destination in itself, Kanyam is also a transit point for five-hour-long Red Panda trail from Harkate to Shree Antu, the best sunrise venue. The trail includes Harkate, Phaji Gaun, Siddikhola, Mahendra Beshi, Gorakh to Shree Antu.