Ilāvṛtavarṣa is a varṣa of Jamvudvīpa. In Mahābhārata (Mahabharata) and Purāṇa (Purana), Ilāvṛtavarṣa has been referred to as the middle part of Jamvudvīpa. Arjuna, at the time of his conquest, crossed Harivarṣa and Hiraṇyavarṣa to come to Ilāvṛtavarṣa. At the farthest north of Ilāvṛtavarṣa, there is Airāvatavarṣa and at the south of it, there is Bhāratavarṣa. The land covers nine thousand yojana–
dhanuḥ samsthe mahārāja dve varṣe dakṣiṇottare.
ilāvṛtaṃ madhyamantu pañcadīrghāṇi caiva hi.

At the middle of Ilāvṛtavarṣa (Ilavritavarsha), the great Meruparvata is situated like the ‘Kulaparvata’. In the north, the mountains called Nīla, Śveta and Śṛṅgavān (Sringavan) have separated Ilāvṛtavarṣa from Hiraṅmaya and Kuruvarṣa, and in the south, Niṣadha, Hemakūṭa and Himālaya parvata have separated it from Harivarṣa, Kimpuruṣavarṣa, and Bhāratavarṣa. The mountains Mālyavān (Malyavan) and Gandhamādana (Gandhamadana), in the east and the west, determine the boundary of Ilāvṛtavarṣa, as separated from Ketumālavarṣa (Ketumalavarsha) and Bhadrāśvavarṣa (Bhadraswavarsha).

In the lineage of Priyavrata, eldest son of Svāyambhuva Manu, we have the mention of a king called Ilāvṛta who used to rule a land or varṣa in Sumeru. It was possibly after his name that Ilāvṛtavarṣa was named.

Again, according to Matsyapurāṇa, this land is named after Ila, the eldest son of Vaivasvata Manu.

Several information can be found in Purāṇa(s) regarding this land and its inhabitants. According to Purāṇa(s), Ilāvṛtavarṣa is like a platter, its climate is very comfortable, because the sun shines mildly over Ilāvṛtavarṣa. Other stars and the moon also shine gently upon the land, so its climate is rather cold, and the inhabitants enjoy longevity, and they are of bright white complexion. There is a waterflow called Jāmvūnada, which is filled with the sweet juice of jamvu (berry) fruits. So it can be assumed that the land is abundant in berry trees inhabitants of this land drink the juice of jamvu, which is basically berrywine. This may be another reason for the bright whiteness of the complexion of these people. In Purāṇa, it is further said that this Jāmvūnada, filled with berry-juice produces gold, and this gold is of such a high quality that even the gods of heaven prepare their ornaments with that gold.
tatra jāmvūnadaṃ nāma kanakaṃ devabhūṣaṇam.

There can be two rational observations behind this– first, it is because of high-quality berrywine, which is of golden colour, it is said so that Jāmvūnada produces gold. Second, there might have been a gold mine near this place. Scholars are of the opinion that Jāmvūnada means the modern Jordan river. The present river Jordan flows across Israel, Jordan and the Middle East. Gold of a rare quality and colour– as fine as the colour of Indragopaka (a kind of crystal-coloured insect, with glimpses of red and bluish glow). This kind of gold is mentioned in the Bible, too. This rare-quality gold is basically a gold mixed with nicel and meteoric iron. The people of ancient Akkad were used to this rare metallic substance.

Considering the above two reasons, it can be assumed that the location of ancient Ilāvṛtavarṣa was actually in Middle East and west Asia. This area is famous for producing berries, and berrywine of a good quality. The presence of river Jordan or Jāmvūnada also points towards the Middle Eastern region. Thinking in a deeper way, if Ilāvṛtavarṣa is thought to be located in the middle of Jamvudvīpa, it is all the more probable that the Middle and Western parts of Asia would cover its domain, because that region is also located in the middle of Asia.

Ilāvṛtavarṣa was a very sacred place. This was the birth-place of gods, and the yāga, yajña and wedding ceremonies of gods were performed here. Mahādeva, along with his associates, wander about the place.In Purāṇa it is said that Vali, the demon-king, performed a great yajña here.