Rara Lake: a unique and surprising gift of nature

The huge and beautiful Rara Lake is a very clean and beautiful water body located in the Mugu district of Karnali state of Nepal.

Nepal’s largest and most picturesque Himalayan Lake, located in the hilly district of Nepal, will give any traveler heavenly pleasure.

That is why thousands of tourists from all over the world visit the lake area every year.

Late King Mahendra of Nepal had compared Rara Lake to an angel from heaven to earth.

Rara Lake, also called Mahendra Lake, is about 11 square kilometers and is 2,990 meters above sea level. Beautiful, lush green hill forests surround it. Its maximum depth is 167 meters.

There is a footpath around this lake, which takes about 5 hours to walk around. A temple called Thakur Baba is on the southeast corner of the lake.

According to the local people, the Thakur Deity once shot an arrow and stopped the lake’s opening, reducing the damage caused by the flood and saving the people.

What to see in Rara

The surprising thing is that Rara Lake is considered the bluest water lake in the world, yet the lake shows three different colors in a day, and the background of the lake changes again and again.

There are also Malla-era stones around Rara Lake. There are tall stone pillars representing the inscriptions of the Sun and the Moon. It is believed to be a legacy of the time of the Malla kings, who ruled the region in the 12th century.

The huge and beautiful Lake Rara is located in Rara National Park, considered one of Nepal’s most amazing parks. The view of snow-covered mountain peaks reflects the unique beauty of Rara Lake.

From here, you can see a unique view of Mount Saipal and the snow-covered Dhaulagiri, Dolpo, Kanjirova, and Tibetan Himalayas, which can also be seen from a distance when the weather opens.

Rara National Park

Rara National Park is home to forests of blue cedar, black juniper, oak, cypress, and rhododendron trees. These forests are also home to the Himalayan black bear, musk deer, leopard, goral, Thar, and red panda.

These forests are also a favorite habitat for colorful birds and butterflies. Two hundred fourteen species of birds and more than 500 flowers and herbs are found here, including the national bird of Nepal, the Dafey.

This park is also a hilly wetland area during the winter months, where you can glimpse migratory birds from different countries worldwide.

Similarly, Himalayan flowers bloom around the lake during summer, creating a unique landscape.

After the area was declared a national park in 1976, residents were resettled elsewhere. Therefore, the Rara Lake trekking route is one of the most peaceful places in Nepal. Sometimes, there is no one else here except the guard soldiers.

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Therefore, this place can be the best choice for those who want to enjoy the secluded nature of the world or a sheltered spot away from the urban noise.

As you trek through Rara, you will cross some interesting villages like Gorusingha, Sija, and Jaljala and finally end the trek at the peaceful destination of Rara Lake.

On this trip, you will also experience the many unique local Karnali art cultures and lifestyles, which feel very different from the rest of Nepal.

For all these reasons, the Rara Lake excursion is a great destination for enjoying Nepal’s secluded and peaceful mountain beauty and seeing the wildlife.

Best Travel Season

The best time to visit this lake is September/October and April to May. From December to March, there is freezing and heavy snowfall.

Please note: If you go trekking to Rara Lake, it may take anywhere from 6 days to two weeks, depending on your pace. During this time, many villages may not have luxurious facilities for food, hotels, and accommodation for tourists. Despite this, you will not have to go hungry and get basic services.

How to reach Rara?

Although the lake is not connected to the national road network, there are three main options to reach Rara Lake. These are:

Airway

To reach Rara Lake by air, the nearest airport is Talcha Airport in Mugu district or Jumla Airport in Jumla district, as there is no direct air service from Kathmandu to Mugu.

You must leave Kathmandu to Nepalgunj or Surkhet by air and then drop at Talcha Airport.

Rara Lake is mainly located near Talcha Airport, only 4 kilometers east of the Rara Lake area. Nepal Airlines Corporation, Sita Air, Summit Air, and Tara Air operate regular flights from Nepalgunj Airport to Talcha Airport and Jumla Airport.
Reaching Rara Lake by foot from Talcha Airport takes only three hours.

Road route

Surkhet Valley City is a hill road beside the Kohalpur to Karnali Highway. Public buses run from Surkhet city to Gamgarhi, the headquarters of Mugu district, to reach Rara.

Another option is to reach it by road from the Karnali Highway via Manma in Kalikot and Barki in Jumla. After walking for about three hours from Badki, you can reach Rara.

However, roads may not be paved everywhere, so road travel may be difficult, or landslides may cause obstacles.

Walkway (Trekking)

It takes four days to reach Rara from Kathmandu via the Karnali highway and three days by trekking from the nearby town of Jumla.

There are two routes from Nepalganj to the lake: the salt transport route to Humla, and the other can be reached through the Dolpo area by following various trekking routes. A walking route can be determined in multiple ways.

But remember, if you don’t know about all the places, walk with a guide or in a group with a knowledgeable friend.

Happy Journey !!!