March 31: The Tinjure-Milke-Jaljala area in eastern Nepal, which is renowned for a variety of Rhododendron species, has started attracting visitors with the beginning of the flowering season.

Resorts and lodges from Sanghu of Taplejung to Gufa Pokhari of Sankhwasabha district have started gearing up to welcome visitors, who are keen to watch the beauty of nature.

Domestic tourists from Kathmandu, Pokhara, Dharan, Itahari as well as Indian tourists from Sikkim and Darjeeling visit the place, known as the capital of Rhododendron, says Donga Sherpa, operator of Hotel Yak in Gufa Pokhari.

Owner of the nearby Makalu Hotel, Hari Prasad Khanal, says that his family has been tending to the needs of the tourists since generations.

According to him, the spring season witnesses massive inflow of tourists, especially to watch the bloom of Rhododendron.

Hotel entrepreneurs say that the flower started blossoming late this season. Normally, Rhododendron starts blossoming from mid-March but the locals say that the blooming of flowers might have been delayed due to excessive snowfall this year.