Attraction
Mai Pokhari
A sacred Ramsar wetland lake cradled in misty eastern hills
Mai Pokhari is a sacred natural lake at 2,100 metres in the hills of Ilam District, listed as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance. The lake and its surrounding forest are protected as a religious site and a biodiversity hotspot, with the Rani Ban (Queen's Forest) providing habitat for hundreds of bird species, red pandas, and leopards. Mai Pokhari is revered by local Hindu and Kirant communities and hosts religious gatherings during Rana Panchami. The lake sits surrounded by oak and rhododendron forest with distant views of the Kanchenjunga massif on clear mornings.
Highlights
Ramsar listed wetland and biodiversity hotspot
Red panda and over 200 bird species
Sacred site for Hindu and Kirant communities
Rani Ban rhododendron and oak forest
Kanchenjunga views on clear mornings
Trips in Nepal
Practical Info
Address
Mai Pokhari, Ilam District, Koshi Province
Opening Hours
Daily sunrise to sunset
In This Destination
Ilam
Queen of tea gardens, rolling hills of green gold
Travel here with HSJ