ILAM: With the onset of summer, the number of tourists has surged in Kanyam and Shree Antu of Suryodaya Municipality. Visitors enjoy the green tea plantations, cool weather, and the sunrise over Antu.
Enchanted by the scenic beauty, tourists not only return with memories but also carry local souvenirs. Popular items include lollipops, chhurpi, bombaysan ( a sweet dish popular in Ilam), tea, and Akabare chilies.
At Fikkal Bazaar in Suryodaya-10, returning tourists can be seen selecting sweets and souvenirs from local shops. Roshan Sapkota from Chitwan said, “My friends told me not to return empty-handed from Ilam. Many people love the lollipops here. The more I see, the more I feel like buying.”
Shops in Fikkal Bazaar sell chhurpi, ghee, tea, Akabare chilies, lollipops, and bombaysan. Some shops have queues of tourists waiting to buy souvenirs. Local businessman Sujan Sapkota said, “On regular days, five to ten thousand items are sold. During peak season, sales rise sharply. Last year, up to 30,000 souvenirs were sold in a single day.”
According to traders, most visitors to Ilam purchase souvenirs. Businessman Amir Achayra said, “When tourists come here, they are expected not just to take photos in the tea gardens but also buy chhurpi, lollipops, and other local products.”
Deepak Khadka, a Kathmandu-based entrepreneur, is a regular customer of Ilam souvenirs. “If I know someone is coming from Ilam to Kathmandu, I order lollipops and chhurpi. When I visit myself, I cannot leave without buying them. Everyone at home loves Ilam sweets,” he said.
Lollipops and bombaysan, made from milk and sugar, have supported local cottage industries, with production increasing in villages. According to Urgen Bamjan, ward chairman of Suryodaya-5, these products are now known as the ‘Ilam brand.’
Around two dozen lollipop industries operate in the district. Entrepreneur Shivlal Pradhan said demand extends to Kathmandu, India, and the local market. Small packets sell for Rs 50 and large packets for Rs 100, with gift-packaged lollipops also available.
The dairy sector in Ilam is also expanding. Eighteen cheese factories collect about 27,000 liters of milk daily. The local market consumes 5,000 liters, chhurpi industries use 15,000 liters, and lollipop and bombaysan industries consume 5,000 liters, with 3,000 liters exported to India.
According to the Veterinary Hospital and Animal Service Expert Center, 18 cheese factories, 150 chhurpi industries, and 13 dairy confectionery industries operate in the district. Annually, 116,086 metric tons of milk are produced, and 33,371 advanced breed cows are reared.
Tourism is helping promote local industries, said center chief Ragabendra Tiwari. “Tourism not only promotes tea plantations and tourist spots but also markets local products, boosting livelihoods for small entrepreneurs.”
Suryodaya Municipality Acting Chief Durga Kumar Baral said efforts are underway to promote local products, including potential subsidies for producers in the upcoming fiscal year.
“With increased tourism, production is also rising. We plan to collaborate with other municipalities to expand markets and support local producers through subsidy-based policies,” said Acting Chief Baral.
Tourism in Ilam is thus not just about scenic beauty; it is a strong foundation for local farmers and entrepreneurs. Alongside the greenery of tea plantations and the Antu sunrise, the sweetness of local souvenirs fills tourists’ bags and reaches across the country. Locals say greater benefits can be achieved through stronger branding and marketing of these products.
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