Ilam District

Ilam district (Nepali: इलाम जिल्लाListen ) is one of 14 districts of Province No. 1 of eastern Nepal. It is a Hill district and covers 1,703 km2 (658 sq mi). The 2011 census counted 290,254 population.[1] The municipality of Ilam is the district headquarters, about 600 km (370 mi) from Kathmandu.

This article is about Nepali District. For Irani Province, see Ilam Province.
Ilam District

इलाम जिल्ला
District
Lush Green Tea Gardens are what makes Ilam district popular.
Country   Nepal
ProvinceProvince No. 1
Admin HQ.Ilam
Government
 • TypeCoordination committee
 • BodyDCC, Ilam
 • HeadMr. Ganesh Prasad Baral
 • Deputy-HeadMrs. Chitrakala Baraili
 • Parliamentary constituencies2
 • Provincial constituencies4
Area
 • Total1,703 km2 (658 sq mi)
Highest elevation
3,636 m (11,929 ft)
Population
 (2011[1])
 • Total290,254
 • Density170/km2 (440/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+05:45 (NPT)
Main Language(s)Lepcha language, Nepali, Rai, Limbu
Websitewww.ddcilam.gov.np

Introduction
Kanyam Tea Garden

Ilam attracts many researchers who come to study rare birds and the red panda. Ilam stretches from the Terai belt to the upper hilly belt of this Himalayan nation.

The name Ilam is derived from the limbu language in which "IL" means twisted and "Lam" means road. Ilam was one of the ten self ruling states of Limbuwan before the reunification of Nepal. Its ruler King Hangshu Phuba Lingdom of Lingdom dynasty ruled Ilam as a confederate state of Limbuwan until 1813 AD. The treaty between the other Limbuwan states and the King of Gorkha (Gorkha-Limbuwan Treaty of 1774 AD) and the conflict of Gorkha and Sikkim led to the unification of Ilam with Gorkha. Ilam was the last of the ten kingdoms of Limbuwan to be reunified into Nepal. The King of Gorkha gave the ruler of Ilam full autonomy to rule and the right of Kipat. Ilam was an independent Limbu kingdom until 1813 CE/1869 BS.

Ilam is today one of the most developed places in Nepal. Its ILAM TEA is very famous and is exported to many parts of Europe. The main source of income in this district is tea, cardamom, milk, ginger, potato, orlon, and broom production on a large scale.

This place also has a religious importance. The devi temples have a great importance attached to them and many people come here just for pilgrimage.

The major attraction of Ilam is the nine-cornered Mai Pokhari lake. Also known as the abode of the goddess many tourists as well as Nepalese people come to visit this place. Similarly, Gajurmukhi is also the religious spot for pilgrimages from Nepal and India. Mai river and its four tributaries also emerge in Ilam district. The famous Mane Bhanjyang (Mane pass) connects Ilam with Darjeeling district of West Bengal, India.

Antu Pond, reflecting the color of its surroundings

Ilam was much in the news in the past during the Maoist insurgency, from here the Maoists launched frequent, massive attacks.

Tourists going to Ilam can expect to pay around 7000 rupees a week for accommodation and food.

Geography and climate
Climate Zone[2] Elevation Range % of Area
Lower Tropical below 300 meters (1,000 ft) 15.5%
Upper Tropical 300 to 1,000 meters
1,000 to 3,300 ft.		 33.5%
Subtropical 1,000 to 2,000 meters
3,300 to 6,600 ft.		 40.1%
Temperate 2,000 to 3,000 meters
6,400 to 9,800 ft.		 10.6%
Subalpine 3,000 to 4,000 meters
9,800 to 13,100 ft.		  0.3%

Demographics

At the time of the 2011 Nepal census, Ilam District had a population of 290,254. Of these, 42.8% spoke Nepali, 14.3% Limbu, 8.3% Bantawa, 8.3% Rai , 6.0% Tamang, 4.6% Magar, 2.1% Gurung, 2.1% Newari, 1.2% Sherpa, 1.0% Chamling, 1.0% Sunuwar, 0.9% Lepcha, 0.6% Kulung, 0.5% Yakkha and 0.5% Sampang as their first language.

45.7% of the population in the district spoke Nepali, 1.5% Rai, 1.4% Bantawa, 1.3% Limbu and 0.5% English as their second language.[3]

Divisions

Ilam is divided into 4 urban and 6 rural municipalities.

No. Type Name Nepali Population (2011) Area Website
1 Urban Ilam इलाम 48536 173.32
2 Urban Deumai देउमाई 32927 191.63
3 Urban Mai Municipality माई 32576 246.11
4 Urban Suryodaya सूर्योदय 56691 252.52
5 RuralPhakphokthumफाकफोकथुम21,619108.79
6 RuralMai Jogmaiमाईजोगमाई21,044172.41
7 RuralChulachuliचुलाचुली20,820108.46
8 RuralRongरोङ 19,135155.06
9 RuralMangsebungमाङसेबुङ18,503142.41
10 RuralSandakpurसन्दकपुर16,065156.01
District Ilam ईलाम

Former Village Development Committees and Municipalities
Map of the VDCls in Ilam District

See also

References
  1. "National Population and Housing Census 2011(National Report)" (PDF). Central Bureau of Statistics. Government of Nepal. November 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-04-18. Retrieved November 2012. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  2. The Map of Potential Vegetation of Nepal - a forestry/agroecological/biodiversity classification system (PDF), . Forest & Landscape Development and Environment Series 2-2005 and CFC-TIS Document Series No.110., 2005, ISBN 87-7903-210-9, retrieved Nov 22, 2013
  3. 2011 Nepal Census, Social Characteristics Tables

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