ILAM: A ‘Red Panda Marathon’ is set to be held in Ilam with the goal of promoting tourism and raising awareness about red panda conservation.
Organized on the occasion of International Red Panda Day, the marathon will take place on September 20, starting from the Ilam district headquarters and ending at Sandakpur Danda on the Nepal-India border.
According to Ram Rimal, Program Director of the organizing body Deepjyoti Youth Club, the event is being held in collaboration with the Red Panda Network and Sandakpur Rural Municipality.
The marathon will span a challenging distance of 44.2 kilometers, beginning at Chowk Bazaar in Ilam (1,120 meters above sea level) and climbing to Sandakpur Danda at an altitude of 3,610 meters.
More than 100 runners from across the country, including athletes from the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force, and Nepal Police, are expected to participate.
Winners in both the men’s and women’s open categories will be awarded cash prizes, with the first-place winners receiving Rs 150,000. The second-place finishers will receive Rs 100,000, third-place Rs 50,000, and fourth-place Rs 30,000.
In addition to the national competition, a local category has been created for participants from Ilam, Panchthar, and Taplejung. Winners in the local men’s and women’s categories will receive Rs 25,000 for first place, Rs 20,000 for second, Rs 10,000 for third, and Rs 5,000 for fourth.
“We are organizing this marathon to promote tourism alongside the development of local infrastructure,” said Rimal. “We believe that hosting the event in an area known for red panda habitat, and doing so on the occasion of Red Panda Day, will contribute significantly to tourism development in the region.”
Wangchu Bhutia, Program Director of the Red Panda Network, informed that both national and international runners will be taking part in the marathon, which has been designed to support the conservation of the endangered red panda (Habre), while also promoting sports and tourism in eastern Nepal.
Chairman Tularam Gurung of Sandakpur Rural Municipality said that road repair work along the marathon route is already underway in preparation for the event. “This marathon is being organized to promote tourism in our municipality,” he said. “We are confident it will benefit not only Sandakpur but the entire Ilam region.”
Located in Sandakpur-2, Sandakpur Danda (hill) is the highest peak in Ilam district, standing at 3,636 meters. It is a popular destination for both domestic and international tourists, offering stunning sunrise views and panoramic sights of the mountain ranges of Nepal, India, Bhutan, and China.
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