Phidim  Phidim Municipality is the headquarters of the Panchthar District in the Mechi Zone of eastern Nepal. Phidim was upgraded to a 'municipality' from a 'village', when a development committee merged with other VDCs (village development committees) - including the Phidim, Chokmagu and Siwa villages - on May 18, 2014. It offers a route for trekkers and locals, who travel to and from the Taplejung district bordering with the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China. It is also a commercial hub for the rural surroundings. Phidim is connected to the rest of the country through the Mechi Highway, a road which begins in Kechana of Jhapa district and ends in Phungling. Passenger buses and jeeps to Phidim are available at Birtamod and Ilam. A new gravel road connects Phidim to the Sakranti VDC of Terhathum district, which is linked to Koshi Highway in Myanglung (headquarters of Terhathum District). Madhya Pahadi Rajmargha, one of the roads linking east and west Nepal through hilly areas, starts from the Panchthar district and is connected to Phidim. Phidim has hotels and inns for accommodation and food. Phidim is within a valley in the foothills of the Himalayas in eastern Nepal. It is a hill township. Phidim is a six-hour drive from Birtamod through a winding road via Ilam. Phidim, offers views of the Himalaya and other hills. Phidim is characterized by tin-roofed houses and small concrete buildings. Two rivers —Phewa and Hewa— surround the hill where the town is located. At the time of the 2001 Nepal census, Phidim had a population of 13,652 people. The inhabitants are Limbu, Magar, Yakha, Gurung, Rai, Tamang, so-called Dalit, Brahmin and Newar, which makes it one of the most culturally diverse places in eastern Nepal. The climate of Phidim remains mild during the summer and is cold and misty in the winter. Maximum temperature in the summer is 25°C, whereas in winter, it falls to 2°C. Because of its fertile soil and irrigation, Phidim produces rice, potato, cardamom and tea. Kanchenjunga Tea Estate, one of major producers of Nepal tea, has a field office in Phidim.