KATHMANDU: The third Red Panda Festival is set to take place in Ilam from April 3 to 6, 2026, aiming to conserve the endangered Red Panda and promote tourism.
Festival organizing committee coordinator Sanam Rai said the event will focus on trekking tourism along the “Red Panda Trail.” The approximately 40-kilometer route links key tourist destinations from Maipokhari to Jaubari, offering opportunities to observe diverse bird species, wildlife, and biodiversity, including red pandas.
The festival will be held in Kalpokhari, Sandakpur Rural Municipality-4. According to the organizers, major attractions will include Red Panda trekking, forest safaris, and bird watching. Visitors will also have the opportunity to study 18 species of wild animals and experience the culture of indigenous communities.
Rai added that more than 60 mountain ranges, including the world’s highest peak, as well as hundreds of bird species, can be observed from the area. The organizers aim to attract around 10,000 domestic and international tourists during the festival.
Dil Kumar Limbu, Chief Administrative Officer of Sandakpur Rural Municipality, expressed confidence that the festival will help promote the area’s major tourist destinations.
Sandakpur can be reached by traveling about 75 kilometers from Charali in Jhapa to Ilam Bazaar, followed by an additional 18-kilometer journey. Visitors can then access various tourist sites with the support of the local tourism information center.
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