The gentle rain of the subsiding monsoon was refreshing the air. In the tea gardens of Ilam, the light drizzling rain appeared to be falling like the morning dew. As the evening descended, Shree Antu wore a different look. A light mist floating over the settlement was visible from afar. The electric lights cast a magical glow over the chorus of chirping crickets.
Tourists from Bengal, Kolkata, and Bihar of India were gradually gathering in the courtyards of homestays and hotels. Some were sipping tea, while others were sharing the inner tales of Antu. Some were searching for stories of the distant Himalayas visible from here. Local Dhan Kumar Ale was explaining about the local Syaal Wine, "This is the flavor of our hills, it's original."
Rain or sunshine, a unique joy always fills the air in Shree Antu. As night falls, the mist pouring down densely and the breeze sweeping in from the Antu hill provide an inner coolness to everyone.
Its true form unfolds even more in the morning. The sky, which seemed lethargic and unwell the previous night, turns golden and adorns itself early in the morning. Standing on the Antu Hill at an altitude of 2,328 meters above sea level, when the weather is clear, Himalayan ranges like Makalu and Kangchenjunga can be seen wearing golden crowns in the first rays of the sun.
Monrning rays of the sun touch the peaks of the mountains, turning them golden, and then gleam upon the tea gardens below. It feels as though the morning is bringing new hope to everyone here.
Shree Antu is an open courtyard for those who come to see the snow-capped mountains in winter, for those seeking mist and greenery during the monsoon, and for those who desire the vibrancy of flowers in spring and the liveliness of tea gardens in summer. Just as the morning sun turns the mountains golden, Shree Antu fills everyone with bright memories.
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