Tehrathum Sankhuwasabha

This is an area of mixed pastures, stunning mountain views, beautiful sunrise and sunset, and friendly Limbu people. Offering excellent respite from city life, the diverse landscape includes terraced fields as well as the Terai plains covered with different types of vegetation.

Basantapur (2,200 m) in Tehrathum also hosts trekkers on the way to Taplejung and Mt. Kanchenjunga. The little Basantapur Bazaar is set up in an enchanting surrounding of mountains and greenery.

The weather here is cool and temperate most times of 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 Celsius, while winters mild.

Tin Jure

From Tin Jure Danda (3,066 m) (ridge) 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 a half hour away from Basantapur Bazaar.

Tinjure Milke Jaljale Trail, also known as the Rhododendron Trail, spreads across Taplejung, Terathum and Sankhuwasabha districts. Hille, north of Dharan, is a 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 Hille, 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 barley 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 (mountain). From here, a shorter trek follows the Milke Danda ridge due north, climbing to 4,700 m into the Jaljale Himal, a remote area spotted with lakes and inhabited by mountain peoples from Tibet.

You can then descend east to the Mewa Khola (stream) and continue to Taplejung's airfield and further to the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area.

Milke

On the way to Taplejung is another popular rhododendron forest known by the name of Milke Danda (2,905 m). 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

Pattek Danda (2,500 m) is equally beautiful for sunrise, sunset and also offers a wide view of the Himalayas including Mt. Everest and Mt. Kanchanjungha. 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 west from Basantapur Bazaar. Pattek Danda, about 3 km from Basantapur can also be reached via Chitre that is 15-minute drive away. From here Pattek Danda is a 30-minute trek.

Gupha Pokhari

It is 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 Pokhari (pond) is culturally significant and is also a good resting place for trekkers to Taplejung

Marg Pokhari

Marg Pokhari (2,600 m) is another natural pond on the lap of the hills. The pond holds religious value and scenic beauty. The pond has contributed to keep the surroundings green. The Marg Pokhari watershed area has a dense forest that habitats popular species of rhododendron and precious plants. Marg Pokhari is on the way to Basantapur from Sindhuwa, which is 5 km from Basantapur Bazaar.

Panchakanya Pokhari

Panchakanya Pokhari is another popular tourist site. Also known as Chhathar Pokhari, Panchakanya Pokhari is approximately 2 hours walk further down from Sukrabare Bazaar. Among the many ponds here, the largest pond in the area is Panchakanya.

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 is popular for homespun cloth called khadi (cotton). The village can be reached via Sindhuwa Bazaar, another popular area of Basantapur.