Nepal’s first Tea Garden (Photo Feature)

Illam: Illam Tea which is considered as the first tea plantation in Nepal, was started by then Commander–in–Chief Colonel Gajraj Singh Thapa in 1920 Bikram Sambat (B.S).

Prime Minister Junga Bahadur Rana while returning from a visit to China in 1920 B.S. received Chinese tea seeds as a gift.  He gave to the Chief Minister and his son-in-law Gajraj Singh Thapa. The establishment of Illam Tea in 1920 B.S. will be found in history.

Likewise, the tea processing factory under the plantation in Illam Municipality -7 was constructed in 1935 B.S. According to Statistics, 12 thousand households are engaged in tea cultivation in Illam. It has been spread over an area of 13000 hectares in the district.

More than 90%  of tea produced in Illam is orthodox tea.

(Glimpses of Illam Tea Garden)

 (Photo Courtesy: Saroj Basnet)