SALAKPUR – NEPAL
Salakpur lies in the south eastern part of Ilam district of Nepal. It is known as tourism spot for its popularity in orange and cardamom production. It is bordered with India (Darjeeling, Mirik) in the east, Irautar VDC in the west, Samalbung VDC in the north and Bahundangi VDC in the south. There is a popular saying behind the name of Salakpur that once King of Sen Dynasty had ruled over the kingdom. He was well brave as well justice favoured. He was near to Kirat kings and expanded his territory upto Mechi in the east, Biring River in the west, Pashupati in the north and Jhapa in the south. Just then so called Santalpur was centred as capital by him and ruled over it. The same Santalpur has been renamed as Salakpur today.
Orange: Shree Gauri Lama “Syangbo” (1930 – 2007) had started orange farming in 1970 linking to Sikkim of India to Jirmale – 1, Salakpur (Kartika side). Form the nursery, most of the farmers started carrying new orange plants to different parts of Nepal along with Mirik of India since 1980. But professional orange farming has been started in Salakpur since 2015. Now big or small about 150 professional orange gardens are available there. The farmers here are successful in growing their annual income by selling their products in Jhapa, Siliguri as well to tourists. The oranges produced in Salakpur are comparatively a little bit expensive than the oranges produced somewhere because of its more demand in market.
Bee Keeping: Bee keeping and agriculture have the relation like nail and meat. The history is that bee keeping started with Jirmale Salakpur. The name Mr. Dal Bahadur Moktan is at the core for developing and uplifting bee keeping. He conducted eastern level regional training in Salakpur, so that bee keeping farm has been started with modern hive. District Agriculture Office has decided this area as bee pocket area. Due to this bee development branch, through Godawari has been established for its better management that is Eastern Regional Lavel “Salakpur professional bee keeping resource centre”. The resource person (instructor) Mr. Kumar Moktan has been has been instructing the related VDCs through his resource centre. About 200 bee hive has been keeping in this area.
Cardamom Farming: The so called black diamond of stream, Cardamom farming, is supposed to be the best source of income of the country. The situation is not good everywhere for cardamom farming because of the infection of insecticides, but due to new species it has been developed as a profession and got popularity in Salakpur. The then people back to Nepal due to Gorkhaland revolution in 1985 AD, some Cardamom plants were brought to Salakpur, which has been professional now. Most of the people of Salakpur are interested in Cardamom farming because of the income generated from it. The residents of Salakpur are able to get revenue annually. Salakpur has been distributing this species of plant to almost all the districts of Nepal.
Mixed Professional Farming System: Salakpur is the only name in Nepal where almost all kinds of farming which are available in Terai, Hill and Mountain, can be done and got an amazing result.
Flower Farming: Flower farming has been an additional charm of Salakpur for the purpose of enhancing Eco-tourism along with natural and agricultural tourism. Considering to the saying “women without ornament and house without flower”, the people of Salakpur have a very good culture of decorating their houses with different colour of flowers. “Salakpur Tourism Development Centre” has used Mr Prem Moktan to encourage the farmers in flower farming as well to discourage the import of Indian flower market in Nepal because more than 50% of flower market has been captured by Indian products. Here we find different species of flower like Sayapatri, Godawari, Gulaf, Delia, Injelia, Sineria, Cycleman, Orchid, Cactus, Lalupate, Jirnem, Begunia, etc.
Gurdumdanda (Sunrise and Sunset): Gurdumdanda, naturally decorated site which is situated in Jirmale VDC ward no.1, has been one of the best sites for tourist. From here one can view the magical scenario of sunrise and sunset, plane land of Nepal and India, Mt. Kanchenjunga, tea estate of Darjeeling, India, western mountain part of Bhutan and the historical border of Nepal and the Teesta River. The Gurdhumdanda is situated at an altitude of 1050 feet from sea level.
Goddess Siddhadevi: The devotees believe that their desires are fulfilled as they worship goddess Siddhadevi, and the religious site of 108 devisthal is situated in Siddhi Mechi Dovan. The freedom fighter of Gorkhaland revolution Mr Subhas Ghising continued his revolution to get Gorkhaland promising goddess Siddhadevi to come for the worship and perform some religious rites. Later he came back too and organized a huge mela with some religious rites for his success.
Saktalseel Peak and Pandavtol: Salakpur is a place of historical and religious background. There was a kingdom of Saktalsen king and there was a kingdom of one demon king named Lohasur in Lohagadh beyond Mechi River. There was a chance of war between Lohasur king and Saktalsen king. Saktalsen king sought help from Pandavas and Kirat kings. During this process, to see the enemy they had used a peak, which was later called as Pandavtol and Saktalsen peak that can be seen today too.
Motiram Secondary School (Salakpur): In the field of education, Motiram Ma.Vi. has been serving it’s people which is situated in Jirmale VDC ward no.2, Salakpur. It was inaugurated by the founder chairman as well teacher Late Gauri Syanbo and registered by secretary Late Pushpa Lal Ghimire in the year 2005. The then Nepal government (Rana Government) had granted a certain amount per year to the school and that declared paper is still safe in the school record.
Bhimsen Dhunga: During the war between Saktalsen king and Lohasur king, the Pandav troops got victory over the troops of Lohasur king. While back to their place after killing, cutting and escaping their enemies beyond Mechi River they threatened the Lohasur king saying “If you come back again, you will be cut like the stone that I am cutting”. At the mean time Bhimsen cut a stone into two pieces in front of him, till date it is called Bhimsen Dunga. The Bhimsen Dunga can be seen today too.