Panchthar पाँचथर

Panchthar occupies the far-eastern Koshi hills between Ilam and the Taplejung highlands, its ridges growing both orthodox tea — the Kanchenjunga Tea Estate has field offices at Phidim — and large cardamom in the river valleys. The saddle at Sadhutar, above the headquarters, gives unobstructed views of Kanchenjunga (8,586 m) and Kumbhakarna without entering the conservation area or paying a trekking permit. The district sits on a western approach to the Kanchenjunga circuit, and Phidim's old name in Limbu — Pheden, 'land on top of hills' — describes the open, airy character of its ridgelines accurately.

Panchthar is Limbu country: the Dhan Nach dance, Chyabrung drumming and the Sakela harvest festival are markers of an indigenous culture that has remained comparatively intact. The population also includes Rai, Tamang, Gurung and Brahmin communities alongside Limbu villages. It is very lightly touristed by foreign visitors, which makes it a genuine off-the-beaten-track option; travel between October and May, and combine it with Ilam to the south or Taplejung to the north for a coherent eastern-hills circuit.