Mai Pokhari
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A sacred, forest-ringed wetland with nine corners, listed as a Ramsar site and loved by birdwatchers.
Mai Pokhari is a small lake at about 2,100 m north of Ilam bazaar, surrounded by dense forest of oak, rhododendron and magnolia. It is said to have nine corners and is a place of pilgrimage, especially at Kartik Purnima and Balachaturdashi, when devotees light lamps around its shore.
Designated a Ramsar wetland in 2008, it shelters rare orchids, amphibians and many forest birds. It is a peaceful place to spend a night at a homestay and walk the trails at dawn.
